Top 5 Strategic Alliance Partnership Content of 2024

The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®) Strategic Alliance Partnerships (SAPs) include a diverse array of health systems, payers, oncology practices, associations, and more. Through interviews and contributed content, SAPs offer valuable insights into evolving trends in health care delivery and medicine.

AJMC's Strategic Alliance Partnerships include a diverse array of health systems, payers, oncology practices, associations, and more. | Image credit:

Here are the top stories from our AJMC SAPs, and you can learn more about our SAPs and how to become one.

5. It’s Time to Address Our Nation’s Health Care Price Crisis

A commentary piece introduced the "Price Crisis" campaign, launched by Catalyst for Payment Reform and the Employers’ Forum of Indiana, which aims to address the escalating health care costs that harm individuals, businesses, and society. The campaign seeks to mobilize individuals, employers, and policymakers with evidence, guidance, and resources to take action through marketplace initiatives, policy advocacy, and antitrust enforcement. The initiative emphasizes the need for bold state and federal policies to combat rising health care prices, which have led to wage stagnation, increased medical debt, and growing inequities. By creating a coalition of stakeholders, "Price Crisis" aims to generate political will and drive meaningful interventions to reduce health care costs.

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4. OneOncology and Coastal Cancer Center Acquire New Radiation Oncology Centers

OneOncology and Coastal Cancer Center have announced the acquisition of 2 community-based radiation oncology centers in Conway and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, from GenesisCare. The acquisition includes 40 employees and 3 radiation oncologists, expanding Coastal Cancer Center's services to provide radiation oncology to local communities. This move is part of OneOncology's mission to support independent practices by enhancing their service offerings and improving access to high-quality, affordable cancer care.

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3. Care Management Improves Total Cost of Care for Patients With Dementia

A 12-month dementia care management program, Ochsner’s Care Ecosystem program, significantly reduced health care costs and utilization for participants in a Medicare managed care population compared with matched controls. Participants had a mean savings of $475.80 per member per month, with fewer emergency department, outpatient, and professional visits. The program demonstrated a strong return on investment of 5.85, highlighting its financial and clinical benefits.

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2. QCCA, NCCA Merge to Form ONCare Among Independent Oncology Practices

The ONCare Alliance, formed from the merger of the National Cancer Care Alliance (NCCA) and the Quality Cancer Care Alliance (QCCA), will be cochaired by 2 prominent women in community oncology: Barbara McAneny, MD, of the New Mexico Cancer Center, the founder of NCCA, and Sibel Blau, MD, of Northwest Medical Specialties, PLLC, of Puyallup, Washington, who was the CEO of QCCA. The new organization combines QCCA’s strengths in clinical research and strategy with NCCA’s focus on advocacy, patient support, and education, and it is aiming to enhance independent practices in community oncology and better compete with corporate health care systems. ONCare will be based in Washington state, with Blau as CEO and McAneny overseeing advocacy and government affairs.

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1. Prescription Rebate Guarantees: Employer Insights

This study explored employers' understanding of rebate guarantees for specialty drugs, their reliance on rebate dollars, and the role of benefits consultants and brokers in selecting pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs). The majority of employers reported having rebate guarantees, with benefits consultants playing a significant role in rebate strategy decisions. Employers who prioritized rebate guarantees tended to place greater importance on them when choosing a PBM, raising concerns about the lack of transparency in drug pricing and its impact on overall health care costs.

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