NASHVILLE, TN-The rising costs of oncology drugs are leadingself-insured employers in Arizona, Colorado, and Nevada tore-evaluate treatment coverage as a medical benefit. A recentWest Health Plan Analysis indicates that plans will beginmonitoring practices to identify unnecessary drug treatments.

The West Health Plan Analysis points out that health insurers inthe west typically report oncology treatment coverage as a medicalbenefit rather than a pharmacy benefit. This is because lower costsensure that patients can complete their treatment courses.

However, a report by HealthLeaders-InterStudy indicates thatoncology treatment costs will continue to rise. In response,insurers will start to more aggressively monitor treatmentpractices to identify unnecessary drug treatments that aren’tdirectly linked to member health improvement – though the insurerswon’t determine the best treatment practices.

“The challenge for health insurers and pharmacy benefit managersis keeping prices low enough that members complete theirtreatment,” said Bill Melville, market analyst withHealthLeaders-InterStudy in a press release detailing thestudy.

“Carriers have already begun to move to greater oncologymanagement. As oncology drugs prove themselves to be more effectivethan other treatments, there will be a greater shift for preferredoncology treatments, such as intravenous and injectable breastcancer drugs.”