Color Health, a virtual oncologist-led cancer clinic, has announced formal clinical collaborations with 10 National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers.
Color and collaborating cancer centers aim to streamline time to treatment through coordinated workup (like imaging and labs) and records preparation, as well as custom intake workflows. These elements help ensure a timely start to care when weeks can be the difference between life or death, executives say. Additional partners will be announced in the coming months.
“Speed to diagnosis, speed to treatment initiation, is one of the single biggest determinants of outcomes in cancer," Caroline Savello, president of Color, told Fierce Healthcare. “Where can we make sure that there is the right clinical coordination, the right navigation coordination happening so that things can happen swiftly through the right processes."
Cancer is among the top drivers of healthcare costs and mortality. Because of its complex and variable nature, the quality and timeliness of care are the best ways to improve outcomes and manage costs. That means less duplicate testing, fewer treatment changes later and fewer avoidable ED visits and hospitalizations
Among the collaborating centers are City of Hope-Los Angeles, Memorial Sloan Kettering, Moffitt Cancer Center, Mount Sinai, Stanford Medicine Cancer Center, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center and UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer centers go through a robust evaluation for meeting quality, safety and access standards.
When care at a specific center is determined to be a good fit for a patient, Color coordinates directly to match patients with the right team, completes the clinical workup, reviews medical records and completes authorizations to each center’s specifications. First-appointment targets for most patients are set at seven days or fewer for oncology referrals placed by Color Medical. Additionally, Color verifies insurance coverage to ensure the referral is in-network. Occasionally, Color works with payers or centers on single-case agreements if something is otherwise out of network.
“Color is, above all, a very patient-centered company. When an individual faces a cancer diagnosis for the first time, Color helps to provide the information and navigation to top cancer centers. Their process balances technology with a human touch,” Karen Lu, M.D., physician in chief at Moffitt Cancer Center, told Fierce Healthcare over email.
For any patient issues, Color clinicians escalate to the collaborating centers. Patients also get ongoing wraparound support from Color during and after treatment, including nutrition, mental health, palliative and survivorship care. Additionally, Color will collaborate with the centers to identify any potential clinical trial candidates, gather the needed information and support institution-led eligibility assessment and enrollment.
UCSF Health has already worked with Color for years, so the latest collaboration is an expansion of the partnership.
“[Screening or diagnosis] can be incredibly stressful moments, and navigating a complex healthcare system should not add to that burden,” Laurel Bray-Hanin, VP at UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, told Fierce Healthcare in emailed comments. “This partnership allows us to connect Color's cancer screening and care coordination efforts directly with UCSF Health's expert patient navigators, who can help patients quickly identify and schedule the appropriate next steps.”
Color “expanded dramatically” this year, per Savello, teaming up with Independence Blue Cross and planning to serve millions more new lives in the new year through employers. Those employers continue to be laser-focused on oncology, per Savello, and are asking Color to set up partnerships with cancer centers in their regions.
“They’re all seeing, obviously, rate increases," she said. "The disease space and the market is very active."
Color partners with local providers to clinically manage all patients through its oncologist-led care team. Its virtual cancer clinic is a national center of excellence certified by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, meaning it meets rigorous standards and is subject to annual audits and reviews. The company, which started working in the cancer space in 2023, says its patients see 66% faster diagnosis and a 77% increase in screening adherence. It also claims to save $62,000 per patient in treatment and closes over three-quarters of costly care gaps.
“Cancer care isn't always a straightforward path. Sometimes, patients need answers about a possible diagnosis, and other times, they need a fresh perspective or access to new treatment options,” Bray-Hanin at UCSF said. “We want patients to feel that someone is looking out for them, helping them understand their options, and connecting them with the expertise and care they need. That commitment to providing compassionate, coordinated care is what makes this partnership so meaningful to us.”