Payor-Partnered Approach to Community-Based Referral for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (HCT)

The National Marrow Donor Program® (NMDP) proposes a project titled, Payor-Partnered Approach to Community-Based Referral for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (HCT). The goal of this project is to identify specific clinical practice gaps among community hematology/oncology physicians (hem/oncs) regarding referral of patients diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) for consultation for HCT, also known as blood and marrow transplantation. As part of this proposal, we will partner with payors to develop educational interventions for community providers that address gaps at the system level. The end product of this project will be a valid process measure of referral by community hem/oncs for HCT along with tailored educational interventions. These deliverables will result in increased frequency and proportion of patients with AML referred for HCT in 1st complete remission (CR1), when outcomes for HCT are expected to be better than HCT at a later stage of disease. Specifically our objectives are to:

Objective 1) Characterize reasons for lack of or delayed referral of patients diagnosed with AML for HCT consultation among community hem/oncs, establish preferences for education on HCT, and obtain feedback on ways to build referral relationships between community hem/oncs and HCT physicians practicing at transplant centers ((hospitals with HCT programs).

Objective 2) Develop and evaluate educational interventions tailored to meet the unique needs of the referring hem/onc community, including non-educational strategies, as identified by the needs assessment.

Objective 3) With the expertise of the NMDP Advisory Group on Financial Barriers to Transplant (AGFBT), devise recommendations for health insurance companies on the implementation of educational, and potentially incentivized, programs focusing on optimal timing of referral for HCT consultation among hem/oncs in contracted provider networks.