The Oncology Care Model and Medicare Payments, Utilization, and Quality

Did the Medicare Oncology Care Model (OCM) lead to reduced spending or improved quality of care during 6-month episodes of care for Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries receiving chemotherapy?The OCM resulted in a statistically significant $616 relative decrease in total episode payments; however, payment reductions were offset by program payments for care coordination and performance-based incentives, yielding net losses to Medicare. There were no statistically significant differences in most measures of utilization or quality.Reductions in Medicare payments associated with the OCM increased over time but were insufficient to fully offset model incentive payments over the course of the model.

Corresponding Author: Gabriel A. Brooks, MD, MPH, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, One Medical Center Dr, Lebanon, NH 03756 (gabriel.a.brooks@hitchcock.org).

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