NCCN and McKesson Specialty Health Collaborate to Provide Oncology Quality Support System

The Woodlands, Texas (September 21, 2012) – The National Comprehensive Cancer Network^® (NCCN^®) and McKesson Specialty Health are collaborating to introduce an enhanced oncology solution to community oncologists. Through this collaboration, the organizations will build upon a solution initially developed by Proventys, Inc. as CDS Oncology. Delivered through existing practice technologies, the enhanced solution will provide an oncology quality support system to oncologists by allowing them to access the most recent evidence available in the delivery of high-quality cancer care.

"NCCN resources are the recognized standard in oncology clinical guidelines and compendia, and we are honored to work with them," said Roy Beveridge, MD, chief medical officer for McKesson Specialty Health and The US Oncology Network. "By joining forces, we can draw from the expertise of both organizations to help oncologists practice high-quality, evidence-based medicine."

In today's complex healthcare environment, clinicians are facing increasing pressure to provide high-quality, cost-effective care consistent with evidence-based standards of medical practice. The oncology quality support system was developed to meet this need and is uniquely powered by providing access to the recognized leader in the standards for oncology care, the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines^®).

The goal of the oncology quality support system and its reporting tools is to enhance best practices nationally for optimal patient care. The system will give oncologists the ability to access evidence-based recommendations efficiently within their practice workflow and smoothly integrate across different electronic health records (EHRs). Over time, the growing system will also provide seamless and simultaneous prior authorization to speed up workflow and provide relevant financial information, such as patient out-of-pocket costs. Additionally, it will provide a tool to measure quality and adherence to best practices to support value-based reimbursement that major employers request from NCCN.

"The oncology quality support system will be comprehensive and cover all major cancer diagnoses," said Patricia J. Goldsmith, executive vice president and chief operating officer for NCCN. "It will have a focus beyond chemotherapy, including radiation and molecular tests, truly encompassing the entire cancer care continuum. We are proud to have the NCCN Guidelines power the oncology quality support system and to work with McKesson Specialty Health to do so."

Phase I of the system will be available under a permanent brand name to oncologists in the coming months. Further, the organizations are working to develop additional applications and tools to measure quality and deliver value and quality-based care as market needs evolve.

About McKesson Specialty Health

McKesson Specialty Health, a division of McKesson Corporation, empowers community patient care delivery systems by proving solutions to aid in the advancement of science, technology and quality of care. Through innovative clinical, research, business and operational solutions, facilitated by integrated technology systems, our products aim to improve the financial health of our customers so they may provide the best care for their patients. For more information, visit www.mckessonspecialtyhealth.com.

About the National Comprehensive Cancer Network

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network^® (NCCN^®), a not-for-profit alliance of 23 of the world's leading cancer centers, is dedicated to improving the quality and effectiveness of care provided to patients with cancer. Through the leadership and expertise of clinical professionals at NCCN Member Institutions, NCCN develops resources that present valuable information to the numerous stakeholders in the health care delivery system. As the arbiter of high-quality cancer care, NCCN promotes the importance of continuous quality improvement and recognizes the significance of creating clinical practice guidelines appropriate for use by patients, clinicians, and other health care decision-makers. The primary goal of all NCCN initiatives is to improve the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of oncology practice so patients can live better lives. For more information, visit NCCN.org.

The NCCN Member Institutions are:

City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center
Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center
Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center
Duke Cancer Institute
Fox Chase Cancer Center
Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center / Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins
Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Moffitt Cancer Center
The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute
Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital/The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Stanford Cancer Institute
University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Cancer Center
UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center
UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
University of Colorado Cancer Center
University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
UNMC Eppley Cancer Center at The Nebraska Medical Center
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center