5 May 2016 - The high cost of cancer drugs is widely recognized as unsustainable and poses a threat to the long-term solvency of health care systems.

To address these concerns, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced 6 pilot programs to the Part B program aimed at lowering costs and improving value. The Part B program provides payments for drugs administered in a physician’s office or outpatient clinic. In 2015, Medicare Part B spending accounted for $20 billion.

In this Viewpoint, the 6 proposed measures are considered, which will be tested prospectively with staggered implementation, and their broader implications for the oncologic community. The discussion focuses on cancer treatment because oncologic drugs are frequently administered by infusion, comprise a major portion of Part B drugs, and have been widely criticized for cost, but the lessons apply to other fields.

For more details, go to: http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleID=2521323