Following a longitudinal review of administrative priorities, the hospital system cautioned that treating tumors at the rival facility may be associated with catastrophic out-of-pocket morbidity.
After a longitudinal review of administrative priorities, Mass General Brigham announced Thursday that it has dropped the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute from its Medicare Advantage network, cautioning that treating tumors at the rival facility may be associated with severe out-of-pocket morbidity.
Researchers at the hospital system noted that while Dana-Farber has historically been considered a safe intervention for oncology, recent data suggests the independent facility presents a significant risk factor for MGB’s quarterly revenue. Experts caution, however, that more research is needed to determine if the network split will actually force elderly patients to change their coverage, or merely induce localized financial distress.
While self-reported patient outcomes suggest Dana-Farber is effective at treating oncology, our peer-reviewed financial modeling indicates that keeping them in-network is highly correlated with reduced market share.
The FDA has not yet issued guidance on whether corporate divorces between top-tier Boston hospitals are contagious, though a recent JAMA paper indicated that similar administrative severings are endemic in high-density healthcare markets. MGB administrators stressed that the protocol for Medicare Advantage enrollees currently undergoing chemotherapy will involve a robust regimen of navigating automated phone menus to appeal their sudden coverage denials.
At press time, a cohort of Boston seniors was reportedly entering a phase III clinical trial to determine if their remaining retirement savings could effectively cure a sudden lack of network coverage.