UnitedHealthcare Provides Free Access to National Comprehensive Cancer Network Compendium

UnitedHealthcare said that it is now offering in-network physicians and their staffs free access to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Drugs and Biologics Compendium.

The NCCN Compendium, developed by 21 of the nation's cancer centers, contains authoritative, scientifically derived information that supports decision-making about the appropriate use of drugs and biologics for patients with cancer. The NCCN Compendium recommendations are derived from the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology, a widely used source of information recognized as the standard for clinical policy in oncology in the United States. The NCCN Compendium is recognized by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as a mandated reference for oncology coverage policy.

In January 2008, UnitedHealthcare said that it began basing its benefit coverage for chemotherapy drugs used in outpatient settings on the NCCN Drugs and Biologics Compendium, which recommends the most appropriate therapy based on clinical evidence and the consensus of leading academic cancer centers. The guidelines suggest the correct diagnostic evaluation, such as scans, X-rays and lab tests, optimal therapy - drug, X-ray or surgery - as well as appropriate follow-up tests. UnitedHealthcare is the only health insurance company that provides an online NCCN Compendium subscription for in-network physicians, the Company noted in a release.

"UnitedHealthcare is the first national health plan to incorporate National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines into its chemotherapy-drug benefit," said Dr. Newcomer. "Our collaboration with NCCN reflects UnitedHealthcare's commitment to partner closely with the nation's leading independent medical societies and physician organizations in order to ensure our members receive quality, evidence-based care."

"We applaud UnitedHealthcare's decision to help support thousands of physicians who use the NCCN Compendium as a reference for the appropriate use of drugs and biologics in patients with cancer," said William T. McGivney, Ph.D., NCCN chief executive officer. "This latest collaborative effort reflects UnitedHealthcare's continuing commitment to ensuring physicians and health plan participants have seamless access to quality, evidence-based cancer care."

"UnitedHealthcare is constantly looking for ways to enhance the quality of oncology care for our health plan customers, and this is another important step in doing so," said Lee Newcomer, M.D., UnitedHealthcare's senior vice president, oncology. "The NCCN Compendium is a trusted source of treatment recommendations that helps eliminate guesswork about coverage of oncology drugs. Making the NCCN Compendium available, and free of charge, saves time for physicians and their staff by eliminating phone calls for coverage confirmation, enabling them to spend more of their time caring for patients."