About the Payer Exchange Summit 

We Can Improve Cancer Care​

Many CEOs, human resource leaders, and business owners have been led to believe that controlling health care costs is almost impossible and requires tradeoffs in quality and access for their employees. This is not true. Projects across the country have demonstrated that it is possible to provide high quality cancer care and positive patient experiences, with controlled and lower spending.

The Community Oncology Alliance’s (COA’s) Payer Exchange Summit on Oncology Payment Reform series is a unique gathering of cancer care providers, payers, employers, employer health groups, and others to explore these new and improved cancer care delivery models. The Summit presents an opportunity to have a frank dialogue about what is – and is not – working to achieve overall better cancer care with lower costs.

Learn How Others Are Succeeding at the Summit

COA represents more than 5,000 independent, community-based oncologists who, collectively, treat more than half of all cancer patients in the United States. Employers of all shapes and sizes are working with community oncology practices to improve the quality, experience, and cost of cancer care. At the Payer Exchange Summit, you will learn about these initiatives and how you can get involved to improve cancer care for your employees and their loved ones.

The open collaboration that takes place during the Summit spotlights how quality community cancer care can be restructured leading to meaningful, positive outcomes for patients. Many of the current, active reform initiatives available today have begun at these Summits.

A Track Record of Successful Collaboration

The 2022 Summit will continue the emphasis on networking, enabling discussions, and idea sharing. Attendees examine different proven employer and provider designed programs and discuss how best they can promote successful models at the local level that provide value-based, continually improving quality cancer care.

Attendees will also participate in discussions about how to provide better cancer care to employees. Discussions will include:

  • Status report of what is working and not working in active models.
  • New ideas and trends that increase quality and value.
  • What changes employers are doing today to support their employees with cancer.
  • Value-based arrangements between stakeholders.
  • Where we hope to land with these changes.

The Community Oncology Alliance (COA) represents more than 5,000 independent, community-based oncology practices that treat more than half of all cancer patients in the United States. Employers of all shapes and sizes are working with community oncology practices to improve the quality, experience, and cost of cancer care. At the Payer Exchange Summit attendees learn about these initiatives and how they can get involved.

COA is a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for community oncology practices and, most importantly, the patients they serve. COA is the only organization dedicated solely to community oncology where the majority of Americans with cancer are treated. The mission of COA is to ensure that cancer patients receive quality, affordable, and accessible cancer care in their own communities. More than 1.5 million people in the United States are diagnosed with cancer each year and deaths from the disease have been steadily declining due to earlier detection, diagnosis, and treatment.

Cancer treatment can be intense and span many years requiring regular physician visits for chemotherapy and checkups. Keeping patients close to their homes, families, and support networks lessens the burden of this devastating disease. With the majority of Americans battling cancer receiving treatment in the community setting, it is imperative that the vitality of the community cancer care delivery system be preserved.

For more than 16 years, COA has built a national grassroots network of community oncology practices to advocate for public policies that benefit patients. Individuals from all levels of the cancer care delivery team – oncologists, hematologists, pharmacists, mid-level providers, oncology nurses, patients and survivors – volunteer their time on a regular basis to lead COA and serve on its committees.

By offering innovative solutions to Congress and policymakers, empowering patients, and working closely with other health care stakeholders, COA is helping to shape a future where all Americans have access to quality, affordable cancer care.