Changing physician incentives for affordable, quality cancer care: results of an episode payment model.

Purpose: This study tested the combination of an episode payment coupled with actionable use and quality data as an incentive to improve quality and reduce costs.

Methods: Medical oncologists were paid a single fee, in lieu of any drug margin, to treat their patients. Chemotherapy medications were reimbursed at the average sales price, a proxy for actual cost.

Tying payment incentives to quality measurement.

The most important lesson from this program has been that collaboration, data, and measured performance are all possible for cancer care.