2019 Trending Now in Cancer Care

The 2019 Trending Now in Cancer Care Survey marks the tenth year of an annual ACCC survey designed to identify current and emerging trends across U.S. cancer programs.  ACCC and the Oncology Roundtable partnered to conduct the 2019 survey to collect information on the key issues affecting cancer care providers across the country. The survey was distributed via email in the fall of 2019. A total of 144 individuals from 126 organizations responded to the survey.
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2019 Top Challenges and Concerns

Nearly half of respondents (49%) reported that payer reimbursement requirements remain a leading deterrent to growth. This represents a slight increase over 2018, when 48% of respondents selected payer requirements as a top impediment to growth. Survey results revealed:

• 48% of respondents viewed the move to value-based payment as a top threat, up from 30% in 2018
• 40% identified lack of clarity on drug pricing reform as a top concern

Opportunities for Cost Savings

In 2019, the vast majority (88%) of respondents selected improving care coordination as a top opportunity for cost savings, more than doubled from 2018 (41%). Other areas identified for cost savings opportunities included:

• Improving symptom management (85%)
• Utilizing lower cost drugs through implementation of pathways (76%)
• Reducing variations in care (72%)

Areas of Potential Growth

Respondents named the following as top services or programs for planned growth in 2020:

• Survivorship visits and/or clinics (65%)
• Palliative care consults (60%)
• Navigation (50%)

Telehealth Adoption Slow

Survey results reflect limited adoption of telehealth for delivery of cancer services.

Fewer than half of respondents (45%) report using telehealth to deliver tumor boards.  Thirty-two percent are using telehealth to deliver genetic counseling services, while only about one-quarter (24%) are leveraging this technology to host molecular tumor boards.

If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Provider Resources.