US cancer care costs totaled $80.2 billion in 2015 and are expected to grow to $206 billion by 2020. Simultaneously, novel payment programs such as the Oncology Care Model are focused on reimbursing for episodes of care rather than discrete treatments, leaving health care organizations to figure out how to cost-effectively address diverse patient needs during episodes of cancer treatment. Progression of disease, treatment complications, and end of life (particularly among patients with low socioeconomic status) are known to be linked to greater health care use among patients with cancer.
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