The rate of hospitals acquiring oncology practices has increased in recent years, according to a report by Alvarez & Marsal Holdings.
The report, "A&M Healthcare Insights: Challenges Ahead for Cancer Care Providers," notes that more patients are receiving cancer care in hospital outpatient departments. In 2005, just 13.5 percent of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries received chemotherapy in a hospital outpatient department. In 2011, that grew to 33 percent.
Medicare payments to HOPDs have also grown, from $98.3 million in 2005 to $300.9 million in 2011.
According to the report, hospitals can offer cancer patients a "comprehensive and integrated range" of services, such as surgical, medical and radiation services as well as nurse coordinators, social workers and dietitians. Lower costs and higher patient satisfaction is likely in these settings, the report's authors concluded.
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