- Center on Health Equity & Access
- Clinical
- Health Care Cost
- Health Care Delivery
- Insurance
- Policy
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- Value-Based Care
Appropriate, Value-Based Care in Immuno-Oncology
The idea of cost of care should be simple, but buying healthcare is incredibly complex, states Andrew L. Pecora, MD. Most individuals do not think about the potential for developing cancer when they make healthcare-related decisions.
Payers have to consider premium costs and risk pools, and generally have to look at their actuarial budgets over 3 to 5 years. In order to make actuarially sound reimbursement decisions, it is important to look at the total cost of care. If a drug is expensive, but changes the natural course of the disease, it provides value, explains Pecora.
There are ways for oncologists to assist patients in getting appropriate coverage for their prescribed regimen. For patients with limited insurance coverage, there are patient-assistance programs. It is important for oncology practices to communicate with payers about their treatment decisions in advance and to ensure these entities that the care is appropriate.
AI in Health Care: Balancing Governance, Innovation, and Trust
September 2nd 2025In this conversation with Reuben Daniel, associate vice president of artificial intelligence at UPMC Health Plan, we dive into how UPMC Health Plan builds trust with providers and members, discuss challenges of scaling AI effectively, and hear about concrete examples of AI's positive impact.
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Infertility Coverage Boosts ART Use and Pregnancy Success: Richard A. Brook, MS, MBA
August 26th 2025In this episode, Richard A. Brook, MS, MBA, discusses his study showing that infertility treatment coverage increases assisted reproductive technology (ART) use and improves pregnancy outcomes.
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Health Care Utilization and Cost of Diagnostic Testing for Respiratory Infections
September 17th 2025Syndromic reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction tests for respiratory infections were associated with lower health care resource utilization and costs, implicating potential for improved value in patient care.
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