Enhancing Oncology Model

On June 27, 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a voluntary alternative payment model as a successor to the Oncology Care Model (OCM). The Enhancing Oncology Model (EOM) will allow ACCC programs and practices to progress in their value-based care transformation journeys and deliver high-quality, equitable, and affordable cancer care to the communities they serve. In addition to reducing spending and improving quality of care, the new model is designed to test how best to place cancer patients at the center of the care team to provide high-value and evidence-based care.

Based on feedback taken from ACCC and its members participating in OCM, the CMS is now able to make improvements in price prediction models and attribution methodology for the new EOM. In addition, the EOM will focus on improving health equity by screening patients for social needs and developing health equity plans to mitigate disparities within their own patient populations. These initiatives align well with the White House Administration’s efforts to address inequities as part of President Biden’s renewed Cancer Moonshot.

ACCC stands ready to support CMS in the implementation of this new model. We are eager to work with our members to ensure that EOM can be successful in improving care coordination, quality, equity, and outcomes for patients, while managing the total cost of oncology care.

Since the inception of the OCM program in February 2015, ACCC has been at the forefront of supporting its members and advocating for continuous improvement in high-quality patient care as healthcare transitions from volume-based to value-based payment models.

With this in mind, the ACCC Oncology Care Model (OCM) Collaborative was formed to serve as an exclusive forum for cancer care professionals who had been participating in the OCM. The collaborative developed innovative resources, deployed interactive webinars on recent trends in the model, and convened at bi-annual national workshops and regional events for valuable hands-on and peer-to-peer learning.

Building off this collaborative, the ACCC Alternative Payment Model Coalition (APMC) was formed to address broader interests and concerns beyond the OCM. This includes issues surrounding lack of preparedness to perform under these payment models, patient and provider access to the latest treatments, infrastructure, and long-term sustainability.

ACCC OCM Collaborative

The ACCC Oncology Care Model (OCM) Collaborative served as an exclusive forum for cancer care professionals who are participating in the Oncology Care Model program from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI).

ACCC worked directly with practices participating in this five-year voluntary model from CMMI to advocate for continuous improvement in value-based care delivery as healthcare transitioned from volume-based to value-based payment models.

ACCC support for OCM Collaborative participants has taken a multi-pronged approach to include:

• Development of innovative resources on the policies and processes that impact adherence to OCM quality metrics and practice transformation requirements.
• Deployment of interactive webinars and dynamic discussions on recent trends in the model.
• Convening of bi-annual national workshops and regional events for valuable hands-on and peer-to-peer learning. Through these events across the country, we have captured participation of approximately 75 percent of all OCM participating practices.
• Dissemination of participant-only content and collaborations through a private ACCC OCM Collaborative online discussion forum.
• Advocacy opportunities with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

ACCC OCM Collaborative Workshops

A series of exclusive one-day workshops that brought OCM participating practices together from across the country. Beginning in March 2016, these bi-annual workshops provided OCM participants with a valuable opportunity to discuss key successes with fellow program peers; share solutions to meeting requirements; and learn about tools, tips, and best practices to continue transformational changes to achieve the goals of the OCM.

Each workshop featured presentations by OCM practices, workgroups on hot-button topics, facilitated Q&A sessions, and networking with OCM peers. Recent workshops explored pressing OCM implementation topics, such as:

• Moving from Requirements to Care Transformation: Meaningfully Integrating OCM Practice Redesign Activities into Care Delivery
• Early Glimpses at Performance-Based Payments and Strategies in OCM Beneficiary Attribution
• Exclusive Q&A with a member of the CMMI OCM implementation team
• Understanding Utilization and Employing Cost Containment Strategies