US Oncology Launches New Services Division: Innovent Oncology

Practice-Centric Programs to Help Payers and Providers Contain Costs and
Improve Patient Outcomes Together

HOUSTON, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- US Oncology, Inc. today announced the
launch of Innovent Oncology, a service division that offers a first-time
opportunity for oncologists and health plans to work together through
integrated programs designed specifically for the complexity of cancer care.
With a unique focus on supporting the entire patient cancer care continuum,
Innovent Oncology offers payers and oncologists solutions that combine
evidence-based treatment guidelines, patient support services and advance care
planning to improve clinical outcomes while addressing costs.
"We all want the same thing -- the most effective, compassionate care
possible for cancer patients and their families as they go through what can be
a very frightening experience," says Michael A. Kolodziej, MD, medical
director for US Oncology and medical oncologist with New York Oncology
Hematology. "This comprehensive approach helps providers and payers work
together to focus on patient services in a way that will improve patient care
and manage costs at the same time."
The need to contain cancer costs while continuing to advance clinical
science and care is growing more urgent every year. Cancer treatment costs are
expected to exceed $100 billion by 2010 with absenteeism, lost productivity
and other costs expected to exceed $300 billion in that same year(1). Every
year 1.5 million people in the U.S. are diagnosed with cancer. Each of the 300
different cancer types requires its own approach to diagnosis and treatment,
while a host of emerging therapies are creating even more treatment options.
The associated costs are nearing a breaking point that threatens patient
access to care.
Innovent Oncology offers an integrated solution that is the only
comprehensive program addressing the primary cancer care cost drivers
including: the wide variation in treatment selection, side effects that
prompt ER visits and hospitalizations, and ineffective interventions near the
end of life.
The core services offered include:
-- Level I Pathways: Physician-developed, evidence-based pathways that
reduce treatment variability and resulting costs while providing a platform
for standardization, outcomes measurement and ongoing peer review.
-- Patient Support Services: An oncology-specific disease management
program that increases treatment compliance, helps patients monitor and manage
side effects, and reduces unnecessary ER visits and hospitalizations.
-- Advance Care Planning: Transition care planning and implementation that
prepares patients early in their care process for potential end-of-life issues
by addressing clinical, social, financial and spiritual needs.
Innovent Oncology serves as the nexus between provider and payer. It
bundles the core services and offers them to health plans on a per participant
basis. By integrating these services, payers benefit from the valuable insight
available through enhanced data capture and analysis, outcomes measurement and
utilization review. The integrated approach increases efficiency and aligns
payer and provider financial incentives.
Innovent Oncology supports oncologists, both outside and within the US
Oncology network of member practices, by providing access to clinical decision
making tools and enhanced patient support and education. Physicians connect to
the program via an internet portal where summary diagnoses, staging and
line-of-therapy data can be submitted to determine appropriate Level I
Pathways evidence-based treatment guidelines. The portal is also used to
enroll patients in the Patient Support Services program. In addition to
gaining access to cancer treatment tools and resources that benefit their
patients, participating physicians also receive compensation for voluntary
compliance with Level I Pathways and utilization of the Patient Support
Services program.
"We've worked with oncologists and payers nationwide to develop this
program," says Dr. Marcus Neubauer, Chairman of US Oncology's Level I Pathways
committee and medical oncologist with Kansas City Cancer Centers. "The
physicians affiliated with US Oncology developed evidence-based treatment
pathways several years ago to reduce the high variability of drug utilization
during treatment, but this program goes well beyond drug utilization in its
quest for improved quality and reduced costs."
Innovent Oncology services were developed and have been in practical,
community-based application for more than three years within the US Oncology
network of member practices. While developed in the community setting, where
more than 80 percent of the cancer care is delivered, this integrated approach
to care is also applicable and easily implemented in hospital and academic
settings.
"The strength of this program is the complete integration of payer and
provider effort right in the physician's office," according to Kathy Lokay,
Senior Vice President of Integrated Clinical Services for US Oncology.
"Everyone wants clinically effective, cost-efficient care but, without true
integration, there's either a duplication of effort or a communications gap
that results in inefficiencies and a less than optimal patient experience."
About US Oncology
US Oncology, headquartered in Houston, works closely with physicians,
manufacturers and payers to identify and deliver innovative services that
enhance patient access to advanced cancer care. US Oncology supports one of
the nation's foremost cancer treatment and research networks, accelerating the
availability and use of evidence-based medicine and shared best practices.
US Oncology's expertise in supporting every aspect of the cancer care
delivery system-from drug development to treatment and outcomes
measurement-enables the company to help increase the efficiency and safety of
cancer care. According to the company's last quarterly earnings report, US
Oncology is affiliated with 1,220 physicians operating in 480 locations,
including 92 radiation oncology facilities in 39 states. For more information,
visit the company's Web site, http://www.usoncology.com.
For more information, go to: http://www.innoventoncology.com/

Sources:
(1) Based on American Cancer Society data for 2007 costs using an annual
cancer cost growth rate of 8 percent.

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MIT/content/MIT_3_2X_Costs_of_Cancer.asp

SOURCE US Oncology, Inc.

Lisa Henderson, +1-813-775-6208, Lisa.Henderson@hillandknowlton.com, for US
Oncology, Inc.