Andrew Norden, MD, MPH, MBA, chief medical officer, Cota, discusses concerns surrounding cost and efficacy of molecular testing.

Molecular testing that is being used in an appropriate and clinically validated manner is often solid evidence that conducting these tests ensures that patients get the right treatment, said Norden.

For example, data suggest that the application of Oncotype DX genomic testing in breast cancer ensures patients who are treated with chemotherapy actually need chemotherapy. There is always a risk that a broad application to molecular testing could increase costs, but if carefully selected based on published evidence, then this is usually a cost-effective approach, concludes Norden.

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Dr. Norden on Cost and Effectiveness of Genomic Testing

Andrew Norden, MD, MPH, MBA, chief medical officer, Cota, discusses differences between mCODE and Cota’s CNA Network.

The mCODE initiative has been compared with Cota’s Cota nodal address (CNA) Network, but the 2 are not in competition because they serve different purposes, explains Norden. The CNA isolates homogeneous cohorts of patients in order to identify unnecessary variances in costs and outcomes. Conversely, mCODE provides a list of important data points that should be collected for patients with cancer so that further questions can be asked and addressed. These data points may come from providers, life science institutions, or payers. Everyone should have a vested interest in ensuring that these goals are met—especially Cota, says Norden.

Cota is especially supportive of the mCODE initiative and has engaged their initiative leaders to work collaboratively. If mCODE is widely adopted, one of the major advantages will be its applicability to medical record data points. This would make the ability to extract and analyze real-world data points significantly easier for the medical community, concludes Norden.

Andrew Norden, MD, MPH, MBA

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Dr. Norden on Cost and Effectiveness of Genomic Testing

Dr. Norden on Differences Between mCODE and Cota's CNA Network