Meeting

Oncology is an area of rapid growth, both in terms of technological innovation and costs in cancer care and treatment.  This has raised concerns that the benefit to patients of many of the latest cancer treatments may not match their costs, providers may adopt new treatments in advance of existing evidence for their effectiveness, and the potential economic and medical harm to patients should be addressed.  Collectively, these concerns over the balance between escalating costs and clinical benefit have been characterized as questions of health care "value."  The National Cancer Policy Forum (NCPF) at the Institute of Medicine (www.iom.edu/ncpf) held a workshop in February 2009, on assessing and improving the value of cancer care.  This workshop addressed the implications of value considerations in cancer care at a variety of levels, from the patient bedside to the evidence base to payment systems. It consisted of a day-and-a-half of speakers, panel sessions, and discussion.