The Medicare Rights Center (Medicare Rights) appreciates the opportunity to respond to the “Oncology Care First Model: Informal Request for Information.” Medicare Rights is a national, nonprofit organization that works to ensure access to affordable health care for older adults and people with disabilities through counseling and advocacy, educational programs, and public policy initiatives. Each year, Medicare Rights provides services and resources to over three million people with Medicare, family caregivers, and professionals.
General Comments
As the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovations (CMMI) undertakes the creation of a new Oncology Care First (OCF) Model, we urge the agency to embed a culture of meaningful consumer participation in model design, monitoring, and evaluation. This will help the model meet the needs of consumers and avoid barriers that might impede care. As we search for ways to limit the growth of health spending, we must take advantage of the potential reduced costs and better outcomes from engaging patients and activating them in their care…
