Samyukta Mullangi: Exploring the Future of Value-Based Care in Oncology

Samyukta Mullangi: Exploring the Future of Value-Based Care in Oncology

Samyukta Mullangi outlines a roadmap for shifting oncology toward value-based care, emphasizing outcomes, patient experience and sustainable cost management. Her analysis highlights practical steps health systems, payers and providers can take to align incentives across the cancer care continuum.

A central priority is robust measurement. Mullangi stresses the need for standardized clinical and patient-reported outcome measures that capture survival, quality of life and functional status. Consistent metrics enable fair performance-based contracts and make it possible to compare interventions across institutions and therapies.

Data interoperability and real-world evidence are essential enablers. Integrating electronic health records, claims data and patient-reported outcomes will allow continuous evaluation of treatments outside clinical trials. Mullangi points to investments in data platforms and analytic capacity as critical to scaling value-based programs.

Payment models must balance risk and access. She advocates phased approaches that start with shared-savings and episodic payments before moving to full-risk arrangements. Contract design should protect patient access to innovative therapies while incentivizing cost-effective care and care coordination across multidisciplinary teams.

Patient-centered care and health equity are core themes. Mullangi emphasizes incorporating social determinants of health into care planning and outcome measurement, expanding access to supportive services, and tailoring interventions to reduce disparities in outcomes and clinical trial participation.

Collaboration across stakeholders will determine success. Payers, providers, life sciences companies and patient advocacy groups must co-design measures, data-sharing agreements and pilot programs. Transparent governance and early pilot results can build trust and inform wider adoption.

The near-term path to value-based oncology will be incremental, according to Mullangi: start with measurable pilots, invest in data and care coordination, and iterate contract structures based on real-world results. The long-term goal is a system that delivers better outcomes, improved patient experience and sustainable costs.