Vivian T E Tar
Oncology is one of the most exciting yet most challenging areas of health care. Scientific advances in immunotherapies, targeted agents, and cell and gene therapies are transforming survival, but costs are rising just as quickly. Global oncology spending is projected to exceed $400 billion by 2028, with more than half concentrated in just 5 tumor types. These dynamics present a critical challenge for payers-pharmacy benefit managers and health plans-to sustain access to innovation while protecting the long-term viability of the health care system. Traditional tools such as step therapy, prior authorization, and formulary tiers, although important in many areas of care, struggle to keep pace with oncology, where treatment is adaptive, evidence evolves rapidly, and care decisions are highly personalized. Fragmented benefits and siloed data further obscure the total cost of care and hinder coordination across the patient journey. This article outlines a sustainable path forward: a systems-level blueprint that places patient and system outcomes at the center, supported by clinically intelligent utilization management tools, aligned incentives across benefits, whole-patient support, and collaborative partnerships. Together, these levers create a unified framework that enhances patient experience while enabling payers and providers to focus on value, not volume.