FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Deborah Pettibone (716) 845-8593
UNIQUE PROGRAM CREATED AT ROSWELL PARK CANCER INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTED AT NATIONAL CONFERENCE
BUFFALO, NY - A unique pilot initiative created at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) was highlighted at the Sixth Annual Conference of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN): "Practice Guidelines and Outcomes Data in Oncology," February 28 - March 4, 2001, in Fort Lauderdale, FL. RPCI and the Roswell Park Community Cancer Network are the first providers in the United States to utilize an NCCN guideline and pricing model to develop clinical pathways and a case rate covering treatment for cancer.
The pilot initiative for early-stage breast cancer was launched in September 2000 with the support of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Western New York (BC/BS), the largest regional health insurance carrier. "This initiative represents the first breast cancer "case rate" agreement in the nation based on NCCN treatment guidelines," said Pamela Germain, MBA, Vice President of Managed Care and Outreach at RPCI. "In essence, the agreement allows services to be "bundled" under a packaged rate for approximately 140 women with stage I and II breast cancer."
As a result of this pioneering collaboration between providers and payers, data on both the clinical and financial implications of this program can be collected and analyzed to ultimately standardize quality of care for all breast cancer patients.
"Using the NCCN guidelines, we have set up a pricing model that follows the pathway to treat these women with the gold standard of care," continues Germain. "Patient satisfaction and the opportunity to prove the effectiveness of evidence-based medicine are also important to this project."
"We are concerned about the varying practice patterns in the provider community and their effect on our members. The breast cancer pilot applies a gold standard of care throughout the community, one that is determined by foremost experts using evidence-based medicine. We want all physicians and members to benefit from this kind of work," stated Cheryl Howe, RN, Senior Vice President for Health Services Management at BC/BS.
"Applications of Guidelines and Pricing Models in the Marketplace," was presented on March 2 by Ms. Germain; Maureen Kelly RN, MS, Assistant Vice President for Clinical Affairs, RPCI; Robert Zielinski, MD, Medical Director, Roswell Park Community Cancer Network; and, from BC/BS, Ms. Howe; John Gillespie, MD, Medical Director; and Scott Dewey, Director, Network Management.
The five-day NCCN Conference focused on the development of oncology practice guidelines; how clinical practice guidelines can be used to generate outcomes data; how to implement outcomes data; revisions to previously presented guidelines and completion of algorithms for breast cancer, multiple myeloma, small-cell and non-small cell lung cancer, sarcoma, fever and neutropenia, distress management, palliative care, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, and melanoma.
The NCCN is a not for profit, tax-exempt corporation that is an alliance of the world's leading cancer centers, of which RPCI is a member.
Founded in 1999, the Roswell Park Community Cancer Network is an Independent Physician's Association (IPA), comprised of community medical and radiation oncologists as well as RPCI physicians.
Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Western New York is a division of HealthNow, Inc, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Association. HealthNow has four divisions that facilitate health care for over 750,000 members throughout New York State. For more information, contact Linda Soltis, (716) 887-8722.
Roswell Park Cancer Institute, founded in 1898, is the nation's first cancer research, treatment and education center and is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Western New York.
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