Almost 2 million people in the United States are diagnosed with cancer each year, according to the National Cancer Institute. Each cancer diagnosis brings a range of emotions for the patient and family members, as well as advice from healthcare practitioners, friends, and others. Walking through the emotions associated with diagnosis while also selecting the right providers, determining the right treatment plan, undergoing treatments, and managing side effects is a huge undertaking. Patient outcomes often benefit when an expert is available to discuss the options, costs, and what to expect.

Narus Health, powered by Lucent Health, provides these dedicated experts through its oncology care management, one of its five key disease management programs. When oncology care management is integrated into your health plan administration, employees and their families get the help they need, and as the employer, you can trust that costs will be managed effectively. Choosing a plan administrator that provides specialized care management for oncology can have a positive impact on employees’ health outcomes as well as on your bottom line.

In addition to supporting the cancer patient and family, a dedicated coordinator can monitor treatments and costs, helping avoid unnecessary financial burdens and freeing the employee to continue working productively as much as possible. The coordinated care management team supports the diagnosed patient with large case management, utilization management, behavior health support and nutritional support all in one product. The patient has the full Narus Health team at their disposal for the entire diagnosis, treatment and surveillance journey. The Narus Health oncology team includes case managers with BSN and MSN degrees. The majority of the oncology team has received extensive training in oncology case management.

The oncology team works with the in-house utilization management team when authorizing chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapies.  If an oncology patient requires a transplant, nurses who are credentialed in both oncology and transplant are assigned to the case.  When chemotherapy is authorized, the large case management and utilization management teams limit the authorization period to assess evidence of disease progression or unacceptable side effects to therapy.  The team follows URAC guidelines for approvals, denials and appeals.

When the treatment is completed, the patient is monitored by the complex care team for complete 10-year support and surveillance. Narus Health supports the cancer patient’s emotional and clinical recovery from diagnosis throughout recovery.

Oncology Care Management in Action

A cancer diagnosis is a major disruption and stressor to the family who experiences it. By providing specialized attention to oncology cases, self-insured health plans can help patients and their caregivers navigate a very difficult journey and get the best options for their medical needs, with extra help meeting their psychosocial and financial needs. The Narus Health oncology care management program aims to provide employers with a turnkey solution to deliver help to members who want it.

Providing oncology care management through the employer-provided health plan makes sense because Narus Health already has extensive knowledge of health plan members and access to their healthcare data. Narus’ compassionate care, powered by daily data, enables members with cancer diagnoses to be discovered and, when appropriate, guided to the plan’s oncology care experts.

The oncology care management program’s benefits for cancer patients include:

• Decision support. As a newly diagnosed cancer patient faces decisions about choosing providers, treatment plans, and managing responsibilities alongside cancer treatments, a dedicated oncology care manager can offer education and advice about the best decisions for the patient’s health, family, and finances.
• Treatment explanations. An oncology care manager can explain exactly what to expect, discuss potential side effects, and make sure the doctor has ordered any medications needed to manage those side effects. The care manager can also help patients understand when the treatment plan must be altered.
• Coordination of care. A care manager immediately begins organizing and lining up all the different providers, equipment and help that a cancer patient will need. The care manager reviews the treatment plan, sets up a home care plan, sets up outpatient services such as physical therapy and wound care, and continually verifies medications and treatments. Narus Health’s oncology care management team includes nurses, nutritionists, and behavior health counselors, so that the patient has access to all the resources he or she might need.
• Family support. A cancer diagnosis often affects family members as much as the patient. With the Narus Health oncology care management program, a family member can have their own case manager while the patient has a separate one. When the patient’s family members have someone to turn to, they can be better prepared for what to expect and understand how they can best help their loved one fight cancer.

Learn more about Lucent’s oncology care management program and how it can cut costs for self-insured companies while boosting health outcomes for plan members. Download your copy of our e-book, Oncology Care Management: Specialized Help in a Difficult Time, today.