“ There is nothing more important to me as a physician than your cancer treatment . I ’ ve been in practice for nearly two decades and have had the privilege of telling many patients that there is life beyond cancer . As president of The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders , I want to lead by example , practicing a firm belief that all patients should receive the finest medical care available , with the same concern and compassion as a cherished member of the family .”
Ray Page , D . O ., Ph . D . President and Medical Oncologist The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders
Schedule appointments by calling 817-596-0637 or online at www . thecentertx . com
Support services provided by :
The Evolution of Doctor-Patient Engagement from New Value-based Payments of Cancer Care
Recently , I gave a presentation in Washington , D . C . to the State Affiliate Council which is composed of the 48 active state oncology society presidents and other representatives . I gave them an update on the work I have been doing with a few other oncologists across the U . S . on developing a national standard and accreditation program for treatment pathways . Pathways are a great tool to give oncologists guidance on the complex cancer treatment choices available today . They often take into account effectiveness , toxicity , and costs of treatments so we can make good shared-decision choices with our patients .
In recent years there has been a proliferation of treatment pathways and guidelines by the many insurance payers out there . However , their incentives don ’ t always align with those of the doctors and patients . This has created increased administrative burdens in the oncologist ’ s office trying to get the right treatment , to the right patient at the right time .
I believe the work I am doing will make a substantial impact on protecting cancer patients and elevating their care to maximize value-based outcomes and survival .
The next day , I went to Phoenix to speak at the International Oncology Network concerning the evolution of the doctor-patient relationship in these new payment models coming from the government . However , right before I was leaving Washington , Medicare released their 2,400 pages of new rules related to a law that passed 18 months ago called MACRA . MACRA legislation fundamentally will impact how EVERY doctor in the U . S . that sees Medicare patients will get paid in the future .
So I had to scramble and network to try to understand the 2,400 pages of new rules within 24 hours where I had to change my presentation to be up to the minute with an understanding of the new rules .
Have you recently read your 100 + page smart phone terms of agreement , or do you just click “ agree ” and move on because it is 100 pages of legal gobbledygook ? Well multiply that by 24 , knowing there are numerous sections that can substantially impact patient care .
All I will say is that the new Medicare payment model is highly complex with many moving parts , relationships , and financial uncertainties .
My greatest concern is that small independent practices ( of all specialties ) are not going to be able to financially survive the massive administrative requirements that are coming our way . The physician will need to focus on triaging all the added quality measures that are required rather than spending that time face-to-face treating the patient .
Even large highly sophisticated practices like mine may not even be big enough to sustain these administrative changes . I think there are pressures that favor a move towards a centralized healthcare delivery system .
I hope that I am wrong , but I believe you will see a change in your doctor-patient interaction to where you will be interacting with everyone in the clinic to work as a team , with everyone working at the top of their degree , hoping to achieve better outcomes at a lower cost with increased patient satisfaction .
I hope this new patient care system actually works to improve care . We already have 157 government agencies driving a wedge between the doctor-patient relationships . The skeptic in me has me tremendously worried in the years to come .
To learn more about cancer care issues or to consult with a physician about a cancer diagnosis , contact us at 817.596.0637 .
NOVEMBER 2016 PARKER COUNTY TODAY
37