Does Integrated Cancer Care Improve Patient Outcomes?
BETHESDA, MD (PRWEB) January 15, 2016 -- Cancer is one of the most common health care challenges in the United States, with more than 1.5 million people diagnosed each year. According to the National Institutes of Health, in 2010, cancer cost an estimated $263.8 billion in medical care and lost productivity in the United States. Abt Associates was recently awarded a multi-year contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to evaluate an Oncology Care Model that is designed to improve care and lower costs.
To help improve health delivery, CMS developed the Oncology Care Model that focuses on three main areas: linking payment to quality of care that can be complex, improving the delivery of care, and improving health information sharing while maintaining privacy. Abt Associates will use a mixed-methods approach to evaluate the effectiveness of this model.
“Abt Associates is committed to measuring how patient experiences and health outcomes improve for those living with cancer,” said Dr. Chris Spera, Abt Associates’ division vice president for U.S. Health. “Working with CMS, we look forward to leveraging our expertise in Medicare payment policy and reform in health care service delivery to provide a rigorous evaluation that will ultimately lead to better oncology care.”
Andrea Hassol, principal associate with Abt, will lead this effort as the project director, along with Sean McClellan, associate, as deputy project director. Other key project partners include the Harvard Medical School Department of Health Care Policy, The Lewin Group, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and General Dynamics Information Technology.
About Abt Associates
Abt Associates is a mission-driven, global leader in research, evaluation and implementing programs in the fields of health, social and environmental policy, and international development. Known for its rigorous approach to solving complex challenges, Abt Associates is regularly ranked as one of the top 20 global research firms and was named one of the 40 international development innovators. The company has offices in the U.S., Australia and the U.K., and program offices in more than 40 countries. http://www.abtassoc.com
Caroline Broder, Abt Associates, +1 3013475792, [email protected]
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