Dr. Debra Patt shared expertise on the event’s Support Services and Survivorship Panel
The Woodlands, Texas (January 11, 2017) — Representatives from McKesson Specialty Health and The US Oncology Network (The Network) were invited to participate in a community oncology event as part of the White House “Making Health Care Better” Series, which highlights progress made in improving the health system over the past eight years. The President’s Health Policy Team collaborated with the Cancer Moonshot program to host the event and put a spotlight on the role and importance of community oncology in cancer care. The event was held on Wednesday, January 11 from 8am to 12pm ET at the White House and was only open to invited attendees.
Debra Patt, MD, MPH, MBA, vice president of Public Policy and Academic Affairs at Texas Oncology and chair of The US Oncology Network Pathways Taskforce for Breast Cancer, participated in the event's Support Services and Survivorship Panel.
“This was an exciting opportunity to collaborate with others who are passionate about improving healthcare as well as showcase the importance of community cancer care,” said Dr. Patt. “Most cancer care occurs in the community setting, and many patients can receive state-of-the-art care in their home towns, including access to clinical trials. This allows patients to be treated in and supported by their communities. Additionally, research shows that outpatient services cost significantly more when provided in the outpatient hospital setting without any meaningful improvement in quality of care or health outcomes. This is one of many reasons healthcare stakeholders must continue events like this and learn about progress and innovation in community cancer care.”
The event focused on improving innovation and access to quality cancer care in the community setting and featured panels to explore the unique aspects of community oncology, including cancer disparities, survivorship and support services, advancing clinical trials and innovative models of care delivery in the community setting, and the future of healthcare for people affected by cancer.
Representatives from McKesson Specialty Health and The US Oncology Network invited to attend the event include:
- Ben Jones, vice president, Government Relations & Public Policy, McKesson Specialty Health
- Diana Verrilli, senior vice president, Payer and Practice Management Solutions, McKesson Specialty Health
- Nicholas J. Robert, MD, medical director, Health Economic Outcomes Research and Health Informatics, McKesson Specialty Health and The US Oncology Network
- Debra Patt, MD, MPH, MBA, vice president of Public Policy and Academic Affairs at Texas Oncology and chair of The US Oncology Network Pathways Taskforce for Breast Cancer
- R. Steven Paulson, MD, president of Texas Oncology, a practice in The US Oncology Network
- Alex Spira, MD, PhD, FACP, director of the Virginia Cancer Specialists Research Institute and chair of The US Oncology Network Pathways Taskforce for Lung Cancer
- Sandy Smith, senior director, Site Services, US Oncology Research and McKesson Specialty Health
To continue the conversation around community oncology, immediately following the event McKesson Specialty Health and The US Oncology Network are hosting a Hill briefing in collaboration with the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC), American Cancer Society-Cancer Action Network, Cancer Support Community, Community Oncology Alliance (COA) and Sarah Cannon. Key members of Congress plan to attend the briefing including Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Congressman Fred Upton (R-MI).
“McKesson Specialty Health is committed to working with all stakeholders across the healthcare system to strengthen care as we are all in this together,” said Nick Loporcaro, president, McKesson Specialty Health. “Being invited to the White House ‘Making Health Care Better’ Series is a testament to the leading role McKesson Specialty Health and The US Oncology Network are playing in the industry. Our people and their expertise and dedication help drive the movement of improving and sustaining specialty care in the community setting.”
About McKesson Specialty Health
McKesson Specialty Health (MSH), a division of McKesson Corporation, works together with stakeholders across the healthcare delivery system to preserve and strengthen specialty care, passionately driven by the benefits it provides patients and the system as a whole. Through innovative provider, practice management, manufacturer and payer solutions, MSH focuses on improving the financial, operational and business health of our customers and partners so they may provide the best care to patients. At McKesson Specialty Health, we believe that we are all in this together. For more information, visit www.McKessonspecialtyhealth.com.
About The US Oncology Network
The US Oncology Network (The Network) is one of the nation’s largest networks of integrated, community-based oncology practices dedicated to advancing high-quality, evidence-based cancer care. A physician-led organization, The US Oncology Network unites like-minded physicians and clinicians around a common vision of improving patient outcomes and quality of life. Leveraging healthcare information technology, shared best practices, evidence-based guidelines and quality measurements, physicians within The US Oncology Network are pioneering new ways to achieve this vision. The US Oncology Network is committed to strengthening patient access to integrated care in local communities across the nation, including collaboration with a variety of payers, hospitals and academic institutions. The US Oncology Network is supported by McKesson Specialty Health, a division of McKesson Corporation focused on empowering a vibrant and sustainable community patient care delivery system. For more information, visit www.usoncology.com.