UnitedHealthcare Gives Physicians Free Access to National Comprehensive Cancer Network Compendium
By: Health Insurance
Submitted: 2009-11-02 09:46:36 | Word Count: 555
UnitedHealthcare is now offering in-network physicians and their staffs free
access to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Drugs and Biologics
Compendium.
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The NCCN Compendium, developed by 21 of the nation`s leading cancer centers,
contains authoritative, scientifically derived information that supports
decision-making about the appropriate use of drugs and biologics for patients
with cancer. The NCCN Compendium recommendations are derived from the NCCN
Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology, a widely used source of information
recognized as the standard for clinical policy in oncology in the United States.
The NCCN Compendium is recognized by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services (CMS) as a mandated reference for oncology coverage policy.
In January 2008, UnitedHealthcare began basing its benefit coverage for
chemotherapy drugs used in outpatient settings on the NCCN Drugs and Biologics
Compendium, which recommends the most appropriate therapy based on clinical
evidence and the consensus of leading academic cancer centers. The guidelines
suggest the correct diagnostic evaluation, such as scans, X-rays and lab tests,
optimal therapy - drug, X-ray or surgery - as well as appropriate follow-up
tests. UnitedHealthcare is the only health insurance company that provides an
online NCCN Compendium subscription for in-network physicians.
"UnitedHealthcare is the first national health plan to incorporate National
Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines into its chemotherapy-drug benefit,"
said Dr. Newcomer. "Our collaboration with NCCN reflects UnitedHealthcare`s
commitment to partner closely with the nation`s leading independent medical
societies and physician organizations in order to ensure our members receive
quality, evidence-based care."
"We applaud UnitedHealthcare`s decision to help support thousands of physicians
who use the NCCN Compendium as a reference for the appropriate use of drugs and
biologics in patients with cancer," said William T. McGivney, Ph.D., NCCN chief
executive officer. "This latest collaborative effort reflects UnitedHealthcare`s
continuing commitment to ensuring physicians and health plan participants have
seamless access to quality, evidence-based cancer care."
To use the NCCN Compendium free of charge, physicians or other health care
professionals in UnitedHealthcare`s network just need to log on to
UnitedHealthcare`s dedicated physician Web site, www.unitedhealthcareonline.com,
and register and waive the $499 subscription fee. Once signed up, physicians and
their staffs will have unlimited access to the NCCN Compendium.
"UnitedHealthcare is constantly looking for ways to enhance the quality of
oncology care for our health plan customers, and this is another important step
in doing so," said Lee Newcomer, M.D., UnitedHealthcare`s senior vice president,
oncology. "The NCCN Compendium is a trusted source of treatment recommendations
that helps eliminate guesswork about coverage of oncology drugs. Making the NCCN
Compendium available, and free of charge, saves time for physicians and their
staff by eliminating phone calls for coverage confirmation, enabling them to
spend more of their time caring for patients."
