Peter B. Bach, MD, MAPP

The 340B Drug Discount Program has rapidly expanded over the last few years and may be missing its original intent. Here are 3 possible steps that could enhance the program’s function and mirror Congress’ original intent to enhance access for the poor to essential medical services.

To begin the session entitled Oncology Practice in the Era of PCMHs and ACOs: Square Pegs or Round Holes?, Peter B. Bach, MD, MAPP, outlined how new payment models are changing the settings of oncology practice.

Dr Peter Bach says professionals are looking at opportunities for new payment models and care redesign, but there are also threats that might surface. Each type of insurance payment model has different levels of risk factors. New payment models, such as the UHC pathways program and CMMI demo, have limited risk.

As calls for improving the quality and cost efficiency of oncology increase, future empirical work is needed to examine the responsiveness of oncologists' treatment decision making to incentives among patients of all ages and insurance types.