Fort Myers, Fla., Jan. 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American Oncology Network, LLC (AON) a high-growth oncology provider partners with the Community Oncology Alliance Patient Advocacy Network (CPAN) helping fight for patients healthcare rights by deploying advocates not just locally but taking the issues directly to Capitol Hill.
CPAN is a national advocacy organization committed to raising awareness of independent, community cancer care and the issues that affect it. CPAN plays a vital role in advocating for patients making sure cancer care is affordable and accessible in the communities where they live.
Genesis Cancer Center in Hot Springs, Ark. and Vista Oncology in Olympia, Wash. are AON practices with local chapters raising awareness about patient rights to advanced treatments, clinical trials and affordable high-quality care without having to travel long distances.
“I am happy and honored to be a part of our newly created local chapter to help fight for patients and their healthcare rights and to make sure their voices are heard,” said Genesis Cancer Center Medical Oncologist Dr. Stephen “Fred” Divers. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Community Oncology Alliance (COA) dedicated to advocating for community oncology practices and the patients they serve and is Chairman of the AON Advisory Board.
“AON’s visionary drivers are founded on helping community oncology practices thrive ensuring patients have access to exceptional cancer care close to home,” said AON CEO Brad Prechtl, MBA. “With two AON practices actively working with CPAN, we are ensuring legislative policies affecting cancer patients like less personalized medicine, increased cancer care costs and rising medication prices are being pushed to the forefront—making their voices heard.”
From an operations standpoint, community oncology practices face many challenges including economic and administrative burdens, payer complexities and high procurement costs. In fact, data from the 2020 Community Oncology Alliance Practice Impact Report shows that since 2008, 1,748 community oncology clinics/practices have closed, merged or been acquired by a hospital, or are struggling financially.
There are currently 27 active CPAN chapters across the U.S. advocating in Washington, D.C. influencing policy and expressing the importance of community oncology. CPAN advocates at local chapters include patients, survivors, caregivers, family members, physicians, staff and community members.
Rose Gerber, Director of Patient Advocacy and Education for CPAN said, “We support the cure but we advocate for the care.” Gerber continued, “Local chapters are important to our cause of educating, engaging and activating cancer care advocates across the nation, helping to ensure patients benefit from quality, affordable and accessible cancer care.”
AON practices, Genesis Cancer Center and Vista Oncology, are working together with CPAN to mobilize community oncology advocates to become politically active and raise awareness of the healthcare issues affecting cancer patients.
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About Community Oncology Alliance Patient Advocacy Network (CPAN): www.coaadvocacy.org
CPAN is a national advocacy organization committed to raising awareness of independent, community cancer care and the issues that affect it. CPAN advocates include patients, survivors, caregivers, nurses, pharmacists, oncologists and more. CPAN chapters are based within local cancer centers where they educate, engage and activate advocates around key national cancer care issues.
About American Oncology Network, LLC: www.aoncology.com
American Oncology Network, LLC (AON) is an alliance of physicians and seasoned healthcare leaders partnering to ensure the long-term success of community oncology. Launched in 2018, the rapidly expanding AON network represents 88 physicians and 61 nurse practitioners and physician assistants practicing across 15 states. The executive management team of AON encompasses more than three decades of oncology practice management experience, enabling physicians to focus on what matters most – providing the highest quality care for patients.
The organization provides unique and comprehensive protocols for managing administrative procedures and enhancing ancillary services for its affiliates. AON is able to aggregate volume and attain economies of scale, as it guides its member physicians and practices through the transition to value-based reimbursement models that improve the patient experience and help to reduce the per-capita cost of cancer care.
AON also provides a unique model of physician led, community-based oncology management. With services such as a centralized specialty pharmacy, diagnostics, pathology, fully integrated electronic medical records, a care management team and a variety of financial assistance programs, an alliance with AON ensures that patients’ experiences will be at the very pinnacle of cancer care today.
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