Evolent program achieves 20% reduction in use of low-value oncology regimens

Core Insights - Evolent has identified and reduced the use of "low-value regimens" in cancer treatment by over 20% through a comprehensive provider education and engagement campaign [2][9] - The program targets therapies across 10 common cancer types, which represent about 1% of all treatment requests received by Evolent [3][9] - The initiative aims to improve treatment outcomes while minimizing costs, as medications account for approximately 60% of cancer care spending in Medicare populations [3][10] Summary by Sections Identification of Low-Value Regimens - Evolent's oncology experts have reported efforts to identify low-value regimens that are associated with lower survival rates, severe side effects, or high costs without additional clinical benefits [1][2] - A specific low-value lung cancer regimen was found to be about 70 times more expensive than a preferred alternative, costing an additional $40,000 per quarter without better clinical outcomes [4][10] Campaign Implementation - In early 2023, Evolent partnered with a national health plan to launch a campaign aimed at reducing the use of low-value regimens through provider awareness initiatives, including forums and educational materials [5][9] - Technology was leveraged to flag low-value regimens as non-preferred in clinical decision support systems, prompting outreach from clinical reviewers when such therapies were requested [6][9] Results and Impact - From February to May 2024, the use of low-value regimens decreased by 20.1% compared to the same period in 2023, driven by a 15.5% drop in provider requests for these regimens [8][9] - Evolent's approach combines education, technology, and performance incentives to sustain improvements in treatment selection and provider engagement [9][10]