Nearly all (86 per cent) U.S. employers are reporting an increase in cancer care costs through their benefits plan, with a median increase of 11 per cent since 2024, according to a new report by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans.
It found the most popular steerage techniques that organizations are using to mitigate cancer care costs and improve patient outcomes include nurse navigators (63 per cent), second opinions (58 per cent), centres of excellence (42 per cent), treatment centre networks (24 per cent), virtual care (18 per cent), value-based contracts (17 per cent) and point-of-care testing (15 per cent).
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The report noted the goals of using these steerage techniques vary from organization to organization. Among employers using these techniques, the most common goals were outcome improvements (66 per cent), personalized support (59 per cent), negotiated prices (33 per cent) and specific fee model use (27 per cent).
“The data shows that costs associated with oncological care have increased over the past year, reflecting a trend of higher health-care costs overall,” said Julie Stich, vice-president of content at the IFEBP, in a press release. “Organizations are continuing to offer the most effective cancer care treatments, while also exploring cost control techniques.”
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