In March, iFHP members from across the globe – including the UK, Zimbabwe, the USA, Nigeria, the Dominican Republic and Switzerland – came together for our Future of Cancer Care Study Tour in Pittsburgh and New York. Over the course of several days, the group explored cutting-edge developments in cancer diagnosis and treatment, while examining innovative ways to integrate care delivery between providers and payers.
UPMC, one of our members, hosted the group on the first day, offering an in-depth look at their divisions of Health Services, Insurance, Enterprises, and International Operations. Dr. Adrian V. Lee, PhD, Director of the Institute for Precision Medicine, shared insights on UPMC’s adoption of precision medicine, highlighting oncology as the field with the highest adoption rates. Despite this progress, the primary barrier to wider implementation remains payment and return on investment (ROI), with 51% of health plans citing financial concerns as the key obstacle. Additionally, low clinician-perceived efficacy points to the need for improved communication and collaboration among stakeholders.
The group also had the opportunity to visit UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, where Charles Flach, CFO, and Devin Dressman provided a detailed tour of the research facility, showcasing their cutting-edge work. An interesting fact: Hillman Cancer Center is housed in the same building where the Model T Ford was originally built, adding a historical touch to our visit.
Harold Miller from the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform led a session on value-based funding, allowing the cohort to explore various payment structures and scenarios to ensure the sustainability of private healthcare while delivering optimal patient care. As Don Yealy, Chief Medical Officer of UPMC, emphasised in his opening address, “We are not okay with just okay.'”
The group also focused on ethical decision-making in cancer care, particularly how to integrate supportive, palliative, and end-of-life care with oncology within the private healthcare sector. This approach could present opportunities to lower costs while providing clear, compassionate guidance for the final stages of a cancer journey.
In New York, the group had the chance to meet with pioneers using genomics to stratify cancer risk and identify personalised treatment options using biomarkers. We concluded with a full day at the Cancer at Crossroads conference, where attendees gained valuable insights into the US regulatory system, FDA trends, and converging perspectives from payers, clinicians, regulators, and technology experts.
This tour underscored not only how far cancer care has come – but how much potential lies ahead if we work together to break down barriers, build smarter systems, and keep patients at the centre of everything we do.