title: Improving cancer care in a Kentucky managed care plan: a case study of cancer disease management.
abstract: CHA Health (CHA) is a provider-owned managed care plan serving a predominantly rural membership in Kentucky. Quality Oncology, Inc. is a national disease management company specializing in cancer care. This paper reports the results over the first 2 years of a cancer disease management program installed at CHA. The authors also review the evidence-based health services research that has guided the development and implementation of the program. The authors conclude that cancer is a disease state where specialized management can improve efficiency, treatment effectiveness, patient coordination, and outcomes reporting.
authors.affiliation: CHA HMO, Inc., Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Costich
authors.forename: Frederick C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D019468:Disease Management; D006801:Humans; D007629:Kentucky; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000592:standards*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D019982:Organizational Case Studies