DUBLIN, Ohio, Nov. 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Oncologists
are growing more confident in their ability to meet the requirements of the Medicare Access & CHIP Reauthorization Act
(MACRA), according to new research from Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions. These findings were released today in the fourth
edition of Oncology Insights, a research-based report series summarizing the views of more than 160 U.S. oncologists
about the key trends impacting today's oncology practices.
The report is released in advance of the 2018 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition in San Diego.
Request a copy of the Oncology Insights report at www.cardinalhealth.com/oncologyinsights.
The report compares current views about MACRA to responses collected in early 2017, shortly after MACRA went into effect. The
number of participating oncologists who said they have some level of confidence in their practices' ability to meet MACRA
requirements while achieving financial success increased from 53 percent to 77 percent. In addition, compared to 2017, more
oncologists report having the resources and staff needed to manage MACRA (24 percent compared to 10 percent). However, one in
four participating physicians (24 percent) still do not have a strategy in place.
Other key findings on issues impacting the evolution of oncology practices:
- Nearly half of participating oncologists report experiencing significant amounts of stress at work (46 percent) and more
than a third (35 percent) would need seven or more hours of extra time each week to complete their work responsibilities.
- The top factors contributing significant or excessive stress were electronic health records (36 percent); changing
reimbursement and payment models (33 percent); and interactions with payers (31 percent).
- Hiring Advanced Practice Providers (APPs), including nurse practitioners and physician assistants, was the most common
strategy for making workloads more manageable (46 percent).
- Three-quarters of oncologists (74 percent) already use APPs in their practices and 57 percent predict the number of
employed APPs will increase over the next three years.
"Faced with growing clinical workloads and decreasing margins, oncologists are under a growing amount of pressure at work,"
said Joe DePinto, president of Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions. "But, as our research shows, many oncologists are
meeting their challenges head-on by proactively investing in tools, technology and additional clinical support staff. And today
they are feeling more confident in their ability to adapt to changing trends, such as value-based care."
The findings in Oncology Insights are based on written surveys conducted in advance of three Cardinal Health
Summits conducted in September, October and November 2018. In total, the summits brought together
more than 160 U.S oncologists, representing a diverse mix of community and hospital-based practices. The report also includes
viewpoints from Chief Medical Officers: Chadi Nabhan, MD, MBA, FACP, and Bruce Feinberg, DO.
For media: to request a copy of the report, please contact Courtney Tobin at (614) 553-3539 or
Courtney.Tobin@CardinalHealth.com.
About Cardinal Health
Cardinal Health, Inc. is a global, integrated healthcare services and products company, providing customized solutions
for hospitals, healthcare systems, pharmacies, ambulatory surgery centers, clinical laboratories and physician offices worldwide.
The company provides clinically proven medical products, pharmaceuticals and cost-effective solutions that enhance supply chain
efficiency from hospital to home. Cardinal Health connects patients, providers, payers, pharmacists and manufacturers for
integrated care coordination and better patient management. To help combat prescription drug abuse, the company and its education
partners created Generation Rx, a national drug education and awareness program. Backed by nearly 100 years of experience, with
approximately 50,000 employees in nearly 60 countries, Cardinal Health ranks #14 on the Fortune 500. For more
information, visit cardinalhealth.com,
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Facebook and connect on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/ company/cardinal-health.
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SOURCE Cardinal Health