Insurers Give Short Shrift to ASCO Pathways Recommendation

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) task force recommended that insurers allow oncologists to choose a single cancer care pathway program for all patients, citing the administrative burden of multiple payer-driven pathways. However, insurers like Anthem and Aetna opposed this idea, arguing that harmonizing pathways across different payers is unrealistic due to regional differences and varying priorities. The proliferation of pathway programs was seen as a way to reduce unwarranted variation in cancer care, but it also created complexities for oncology practices. Some stakeholders believed that as financial risk shifts from payers to providers, the latter would eventually select and implement pathways. ASCO's policy statement also included recommendations for transparency, addressing the full spectrum of cancer care, recognizing patient variability, and developing certification criteria for pathway programs. While some recommendations received support, the idea of a single pathway program was met with skepticism from insurers.