Dr. Pecora on Patient Management Payments Under the OCM

Andrew L. Pecora, MD, president of the Physician Services Division and chief innovation officer at Hackensack Meridian Health, discusses the Oncology Care Model (OCM) and other aspects of healthcare reform.

Monthly Enhanced Oncology Services payments—or MEOS payments—amount to $160 per month per patient for those who qualify for episodic care under the OCM. These payments are going to help with the costs of nurse navigators and providing other services that get patients the care they need in a timely, coordinated manner, according to Pecora.

However, MEOS payments won’t cover the costs of innovation or clinical trials. These other aspects of care that are necessary will need funding from other sources in order to continue adding vibrancy and improvement to cancer care.