Humana researchers found that cancer patients who received specialty pharmacy care coordination services had fewer hospitalizations and emergency department visits, along with lower medical costs.
The study, conducted by Humana Pharmacy Analytics and Consulting, analyzed health outcomes for people with cancer who are Humana Medicare Advantage members with Part D prescription plan coverage and who received medication adherence care coordination guidance, as compared to those who opted out of coordination.
Humana’s CenterWell Specialty Pharmacy Oncology Center of Excellence (COE) provided the care coordination services over the course of one year. That COE program provides specialized, personalized clinical care and mail-order delivery for patients managing complex cancer diagnoses and therapies. Within CenterWell, Humana’s health care services organization, CenterWell Pharmacy serves many Humana members as a mail-order pharmacy and also serves patients who are not enrolled in a Humana plan.
The research was published in the Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research.
The retrospective, observational analysis linked pharmacy-led care coordination services, which focus on medication adherence and ongoing patient support, to an 11.7% reduction in hospitalizations, a 2.7% drop in emergency department visits and a 7.7% decrease in medical costs.
The findings suggest that specialty pharmacy care coordination may improve outcomes and reduce utilization for cancer patients.
"This study shows that a differentiated, coordinated level of care is necessary to treat complex conditions like cancer," Bethanie Stein, Pharm.D., president of pharmacy at Humana, including CenterWell Pharmacy, said. "Our team’s north star is improved health outcomes, and we designed this integrated, personalized care support approach accordingly. We surround our patients with holistic support, which helps them adhere to the treatments they’re prescribed so they work as intended."
Led by CenterWell Specialty Pharmacy pharmacists, nurses and specialists, COE care coordination is an optional Part D plan benefit that provides patient support throughout the course of treatment. Designed to improve medication adherence and treatment effectiveness, COE services include follow-up care, adherence support and side effect monitoring.
The study looked into the impact of COE services designed to help beneficiaries who are cancer patients and specifically prescribed intravenous chemotherapy, oral targeted oncolytics and immunotherapies.
Humana's CenterWell health services division provides primary care, home health and pharmacy services under one platform, and the business unit is emerging as a major growth driver for the insurer. In the first two quarters of 2026, CenterWell generated $12.89 billion in revenue compared to $10.63 billion in the first half of 2025, according to Humana's earnings reports and SEC filings.
Humana expects the segment's total revenues to generate at least $25 billion in 2026, according to its financial guidance.
In February, CenterWell closed a deal to buy primary care provider MaxHealth from private equity firm Arsenal Capital Partners to add 54 primary care clinics, four specialty and ancillary care clinics and 24 affiliated clinics to its network of clinics.