For patients receiving chemotherapy, drugs represent the largest cost. Clinical chemotherapy Pathways have become a critical strategy to identify unnecessary drug costs and to implement mechanisms to deliver lower cost alternatives without sacrificing outcomes or quality of care. This paper describes the steps of development of a functioning pathways program beginning in an environment of full-risk capitation, including drugs. The next steps involved quantitating the potential impact of such a program and then collaborating with a payer to test the concept. When these studies showed promise, the practices adopting pathways used them as a backbone for drug management in the Oncology Care Model. These experiences very likely represent steps in a continuum towards placing more of the drug delivery costs at risk. The potential for again considering capitated payments is discussed.
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