Abstract Introduction Patient perspectives and preferences are important when establishing quality and cost metrics for value-based payment (VBP) models, to ensure patient-centered cancer care and VBP incentives are aligned. Methods Insights were gathered about value-based care (VBC) models from patients with Medicare and one of four common cancers (multiple myeloma, bladder, lung, and prostate) included in Medicare’s Enhancing Oncology Model. This study included four virtual 2-hour focus groups and a 2-hour co-creation session. Aspects of cost and quality important to cancer care were identified (value is defined as the ratio of quality/cost). Results Insights from the focus groups (n=20) and co-creation session (n=6) highlighted a lack of awareness about VBC and concerns about the effect of financial incentives on oncology care. Focus group participants identified shared decision-making and treatment effectiveness outcomes as the most important elements of quality. Co-creation participants highlighted a need for improved awareness about the implications of VBP incentives for oncology care decisions. Conclusion In this exploratory qualitative research, patients with cancer expressed a need for transparency of VBC dynamics to help preserve the patient-physician relationship and their ability to receive innovative, affordable, and accessible care.
Balch et al. (Thu,) studied this question.