The cost of cancer treatment is often identified by our patients and by society as one of the most pressing issues facing the cancer community. ASCO is concerned that the rising costs of health care in general, and cancer care specifically, are not sustainable. Creating a workable, realistic solution to this problem will require a major effort by all the interested parties – physicians, government, insurers, pharmaceutical companies, patients and their families, and others.

As a first step, yesterday ASCO published its Cost of Cancer Care Guidance Statement in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. ASCO’s Cost of Care Task Force developed this statement to raise awareness in the oncology community about the many factors at work that are driving the increasing costs of cancer care.

In addition to pointing out the value of the work that we as oncologists do, the statement outlines the cost issues, identifies the cost drivers, and is intended to educate clinical oncologists and other stakeholders about the role that we play in addressing the issue of cost in the context of quality care. ASCO’s statement not only highlights the need for oncologists to address the cost issue with our patients, but also makes recommendations on how to incorporate these discussions into our practice.

The Guidance Statement identifies four key areas of need:

• Patient-physician discussions regarding the cost of care are an important component of high-quality care.
• Educational and support tools for oncology providers are needed to promote effective communication about costs with patients.
• Patients need educational resources about the high cost of cancer care to help guide their decision making regarding treatment options. ASCO’s Managing the Cost of Cancer Care Booklet is an educational resource to help patients raise these issues with their doctors.
• ASCO needs to address the underlying factors contributing to the increasing cost of cancer care.
  

ASCO has positioned itself as a leader in the current dialogue about substantive health care reform. The Guidance Statement is one step in a larger effort to play an active role in overall health care reform and to improve the quality of care for people with cancer.

As you know, the cost of cancer care is but one of many challenges facing the oncology community. Another is to assure that as our health care system is modified, the proposed changes enhance, not limit, the ability of oncologists to continue providing quality care to people with cancer.

ASCO is working with other key organizations in the cancer community and is on Capitol Hill almost every day representing the interests and needs of the oncology patient and provider community to members of Congress. Our commitment is to ensure that our health care system is reformed to create an environment for the delivery and reimbursement of high-quality, cost-effective care.

I would like to acknowledge the hard work of Lowell Schnipper, MD, Neal Meropol, MD, and all of the members of the Cost of Care Task Force, including previous Presidents Nancy Davidson, MD, and Richard Schilsky, MD, who worked to develop the Guidance Statement and who are leading ASCO’s cost of care efforts. ASCO will be releasing additional tools and information on cost of care issues in the weeks and months ahead. The Journal of Oncology Practice will feature a series of articles starting in the July issue that further address issues related to the rising cost of cancer care. ASCO also will be developing an educational module on ASCO University to on how to communicate with patients about cancer care costs.


If you would like more information about ASCO’s cost of care efforts, contact ASCO’s Cancer Policy & Clinical Affairs Department at 571-483-1670 or cancerquality@asco.org.

Sincerely,



Douglas W. Blayney, MD
President