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Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and the American Society of Clinical Oncology are collaborating to collect and analyze treatment information on tens of thousands of people with cancer in Michigan in an elbow grease to ameliorate care and reduce costs, the Detroit News reports. According to BCBS officials, similar initiatives have decreased hospital deaths and saved millions of dollars in unnecessary medical expenses. The effort likewise is a way for the insurance firm to turn more involved in the delivery of care, according to the News. Thomas Simmer, BCBS' senior vice president and chief aesculapian officer, aforesaid, "Its main focus is on timbre, but we recognize that we may save some costs for customers."
For the initiative, the groups will collect data from 11 oncology practices in Michigan that account for 180 physicians treating 16,000 patients every year. The data will be entered into ASCO's national registry, which includes information about a number of aspects of cancer discourse, including chemotherapy-related side effects and pain management, from 25,000 cancer professionals at almost 385 oncology practices.
Physicians who supply data will receive $3,000 for each one. BCBS says it plans to spend approximately $500,000 this year on the send off. According to ASCO CEO Allen Lichter, BCBS is the
