Pioneering Radiation Oncology Episode Payment
- Payment Models & Affordability
Through a partnership and joint leadership with Independence Blue Cross (IBC), Penn Medicine launched the first global, prospective episode payment for radiation oncology services in the United States in August 2019. The EOC program has been a success and now encompasses both commercial and Medicare Advantage IBC enrollees.
Whereas payment for radiotherapy treatment has historically been fee-for-service, Penn Medicine has pioneered episode-based payment: bundling payments for radiation services within a defined period of care as opposed to billing separately for each service.
Through a partnership and joint leadership with Independence Blue Cross (IBC), Penn Medicine launched the first global, prospective episode payment for radiation oncology services in the United States in August 2019. The Radiation Oncology Episode of Care (EOC) program initially focused on breast cancer, which ranks highest among cancers in terms of cost and where evidence-based guidelines endorse hypofractionation, or the delivery of fewer doses of radiotherapy over a shorter duration of time. IBC and Penn Medicine rolled out the EOC in phases to enhance bi-direction learning across clinical, quality, administrative burden, reimbursement, revenue cycle, and patient satisfaction domains.
The EOC program has been a success and now encompasses both commercial and Medicare Advantage IBC enrollees. IBC and Penn Medicine intend to expand the model.
Independence Blue Cross
Radiation Oncology; Penn Medicine Cancer Service Line; Penn Medicine
