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Policy Program Helps Oncologists Advocate for Their Patients, Fellows Say

ASCO in Action Podcast

Release Date: 07/09/2019

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Dr. Joanna Yang and Dr. Robert Daly join ASCO CEO Dr. Clifford A. Hudis to discuss the Health Policy Leadership Development Program (HP-LDP). As former fellows, Drs. Yang and Daly provide insight as to how the program has made them better advocates for their patients.

TRANSCRIPT

Disclaimer: The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. This is not a substitute for professional medical care and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of individual conditions. Guests on this podcast express their own opinions, experience, and conclusions. The mention of any product, service, organization, activity, or therapy should not be construed as an ASCO endorsement.

Clifford Hudis: Welcome to this ASCO in Action podcast. This is ASCO's monthly podcast series, where we explore policy and practice issues that impact oncologists, the entire cancer care delivery team, and the individuals we care for, people with cancer.
My name is Clifford Hudis. And I'm the CEO of ASCO as well as the host of the ASCO in Action podcast series. For today's podcast, I am delighted to be joined by not one, but two of ASCO's rising leaders, Dr. Robert Daly and Dr. Joanna Yang.
Both Dr. Daly and Dr. Yang are recent participants in ASCO's Health Policy Leadership Development Program, formerly known as the Health Policy Fellowship Program. This is a professional development program designed to build health policy and advocacy leadership expertise among our members.
It's a one-year program where fellows get practical experience working with our policy and advocacy staff and council to craft policy positions and statements, along with other educational sessions on communication, leadership, and advocacy. Starting this year, participants will be able to participate as well in ASCO's Leadership Development Program, which offers mid-career oncologists the opportunity to improve their leadership skills and gain valuable training to set them up to be future leaders in oncology.
Dr. Daly and Dr. Yang, welcome, and thank you for joining me today.

Joanna Yang: Thank you so much for the opportunity.

Robert Daly: Yes, thank you so much for having us.

CH: So Dr. Yang, I'm going to start with you. You were an ASCO Health Policy Fellow in 2017-2018. And I want to kick off our discussion by talking about what brought you to the program. Why were you interested in developing special expertise in policy work?

JY: Sure. So I've always been interested in health policy. And I had the opportunity to study health policy and health economics during undergrad. But of course, studying health policy is very different than creating or influencing health policy.
When I started residency, I saw many ways in which health policy on a national level or even state level affected the patients I was caring for. And I felt compelled to do more. But the issue is that there is never any clear way for me to get involved or even to learn how I could learn how to shape health policy.
And that's why the ASCO program is so great. I feel like it came at exactly the right time. I was looking for a way to learn more to develop the skills I needed to influence health policy.
And ASCO came out with this structured and immersive experience where I could take the things that I had studied in school, and also the things that I'd seen in practice, and use them to actually have an impact on the patients I take care of.

CH: So Dr. Daly, you as well were one of our inaugural Fellows. What prompted your interest in applying for the program, especially given I think you were the first year?

RD: Yes.

CH: Right, so you took a leap off of the ledge there and said, I'll go first.

RD: Yeah, I'm similar to Dr. Yang. I had a real interest in cancer care delivery research during my fellowship at the University of Chicago. And I was lucky enough to be mentored by Funmi Olopade and Dr. Blase Polite. And Dr. Polite was really fundamental and helped developing the ASCO Health Policy Fellowship.
And so I really saw this as an opportunity to augment that training but really gain skills in leadership, advocacy, and health policy, areas that I hadn't had exposure to in the past. So this seemed like the perfect program for me at that point in my career.

CH: I have to say parenthetically that I'm jealous of both of you, because while I was personally drawn, especially in later years in my career to the policy and advocacy aspects of work with ASCO-- and it truly is the reason that I moved from my traditional academic career to this role as CEO at ASCO-- I never, of course, had the opportunity to be trained and to learn how to do this professionally as you two have.
So I am in awe of your accomplishments, as well as the opportunities that are going to continue to unfold in front of you because of this. So given that, and given that this is really the beginning, we hope, of a career with impact, we should talk a little bit about what you actually did.
The program, as I mentioned earlier, lasts for a year. And during that time, Fellows worked very closely with our policy staff on a mentor project. So I'll start again with Dr. Yang. Can you talk about the project you worked, what it entailed, what you learned, and where this is going?

JY: Sure. So I worked on a two-part project with Alex Chen, who was my co-fellow during the past year. And as you hinted at, the work is actually still ongoing.
So the first part was we looked at whether a bundled payment model could work in oncology. And this really culminated in a white paper for us.
But the second part of the project, which built on the first part, was really the most fascinating. In the second part, it was really asking, if not bundled payments, then what?
And we actually built on some of the work that Dr. Daly did that he'll probably describe in a little bit. But we actually worked on designing a pathway-based alternative payment model.
And of course, going into this, I had no experience designing alternative payment models at all. But the beauty of the program is that from the very beginning, Deb Kamin, said, we will not be having you do any work that is not necessary. So all the work that you do is important to ASCO, is important to our patients.
And that was really true for our project. So we were able to work with the ASCO staff, and our mentors, Ray Page, and Linda Bosserman, and a whole team of experts to create an alternative payment model that we thought would allow oncologists to prescribe the right drug at the right time, without being penalized by the high drug costs.

CH: So I guess, based on that, we really should have started with you, Dr. Daly. But your mentor project was centered around clinical pathways. And I understand that ends up being the foundation for the alternative payment model that Dr. Yang just described.
So can you talk a little bit about that process, what you did as an inaugural fellow in this and what you learned as you went through the work?

RD: Absolutely. So I was lucky enough to be able to serve on the ASCO Task Force on Pathways. So that was an incredible experience for me because I really got to interact with leaders on this issue, including Robin Zon and Ray Page, who are very active in cancer care policy, both at the state level in Indiana and Texas, but also on a national level.
So to be able to gain their mentorship that early on in the fellowship was really a great asset for me. And we were looking at, how do we write the criteria for what constitutes a high-quality pathway?
So I really got to see, from soup to nuts, how do you write a policy statement? How do you solicit input from those important stakeholders? So the stakeholders in this case were fundamentally the patients, but also providers, ASCO's Government Relations Committee and State Affiliate Counsel, ASCO's board, the vendors-- get all of their input together to create a policy statement that can really influence change.
And then lastly, I played the part of representing ASCO and in discussions with the pathway vendors about these criteria for high-quality pathways. So I learned about the important role ASCO can have on influencing the development of products and services that impact patient care, but also the impact ASCO can have on legislation.
So in California, Connecticut, and other states, they started to look at policy around pathways, policies around implementing the criteria that ASCO had developed, so that those pathways that were being used in their state were high quality. So it really showed me the reach of ASCO and the impact of ASCO on patients and providers.

CH:
That is amazing because it really is a reminder-- and I'm going to come back to this idea-- about how much impact one person and one project can ultimately have. And I think that in these sometimes cynical times, people forget that.
I alluded to this before about my own engagement with ASCO was accelerated by my experience as an advocate on Capitol Hill-- again, an amateur to your professionalism. So I wonder if you would reflect on your experience during the fellowship program.
I understand you were both frequently called on to join in advocacy meetings on Capitol Hill. And this is with federal agencies, as well as, I assume, with representatives, senators, and their staff. Did either of you have any experience doing this before ASCO took it to Capitol Hill?

RD: I had never had any experience doing advocacy meetings. So it was really-- the fellowship really helped me learn how to do that and how to do that effectively.

CH: What was the first meeting like?

RD: My first meeting was here in Manhattan. It was at the office of Senator Gillibrand. And I was accompanied by Heather Hilton, who is an ASCO advocate and someone who's served on the Government Relations Committee.
And I was really nervous. I didn't know what to expect. But we met with one of her health policy staffers and really had an engaging discussion about an ASCO advocacy issue where we really felt heard. We were able to share patients' stories and also deliver data that ASCO had collected to help support our view.
So it was really an exciting experience for me. And then I got to replicate that experience on Capitol Hill, meeting with congressional representatives from New York in their offices, but then also, as you said, going to government agencies, which was a different experience as well.
So I really got to see a broad perspective of how you can advocate for policy issues for ASCO.

CH: Dr. Yang, how would you describe your initial advocacy meetings for someone who hasn't participated before? What does it feel like to walk into that first meeting and begin that first discussion?

JY: Sure. I've done that for my friends before. I've described these meetings. And they always say, it's really not at all what they expected. And I think that Dr. Daly's description is exactly right.
So you go with your group-- usually it's by state-- to the member's office. And then depending on how much room there is and how many meetings are being held that day, your meeting is either going to be in a conference room in the member's office or even, more frequently, in the hall or any room that's available.
And the member is not always there, but one of their staffers is, or sometimes multiple staffers, who are always really young but super, super, super knowledgeable about the issue. Basically, you go around, and you introduce yourselves and then describe the issues that you're here to discuss.
And it's interesting because ASCO always does a great job of making you exceedingly well-prepared with the facts. But the truth is that most members and most staffers are most interested in hearing the patients' stories, which is why it's so important that oncologists come to the Hill to have these meetings.
I think that no matter how well you try to prepare, ultimately, it really just comes down to engaging with the staffer and finding some area of common ground. And cancer is so common that most of the time in these meetings, I find that staffers or members will say, I have a family member or friend or some other loved one who has cancer. And it's really great that you guys are here.

CH: My own experience-- I mean, I'm here to talk to you. And the listeners want to hear from you. But I just can't help but share.
When I got involved in this before you all were, the key issue that we were confronting was the decade-long flat-- in dollars-- flat funding of the NIH and the NCI. And my first trips to Capitol Hill consisted of virtually beating on doors and explaining why this was a mistake for the country and for our people, and getting what felt like the cold shoulder.
Over and over again, the same arguments seemed to fall on deaf ears. But-- and this is an important "but"-- what I have learned is that repeatedly making rational, evidence-based, and appealing anecdotal arguments, just as you describe, can ultimately move the needle. And it does.
And so my personal cynicism with regard to politics and making a difference has gone down, not up, with aging. And I think listeners should think about this.
You will never go to a congressional office and change a mind in one quick phone call. But when dozens and hundreds of people do it repeatedly over months and years, we actually do have the chance to positively influence policy and legislative actions and regulations in the United States.
And you should forgive me for waxing so poetic. You should be proud that you've committed to doing this early. And I hope you start to see the rewards.
So I'm sorry to carry on about my own experience here. But it really is part of what has helped motivate all the staff to get behind this program and launch it and support it.
Looking back, I'll turn back to you Dr. Daly. You're a couple of years removed now from the program. Can you identify one or several key learnings from your time as an ASCO Policy Fellow that have stuck with you, that you find yourself coming back to in your daily life?

RD: Yeah, I mean, I think what you've just said, Dr. Hudis, about how you can really have an impact is something that I learned during this fellowship. It wasn't something that I had been aware of in the past, because I had never done advocacy work before in the past.
So I think what this fellowship really trained me to do is to be an effective advocate. And that is something that I can use in a multitude of different areas as an oncologist.
So combining the patient stories that we talked about that are so visceral and so needed when you're trying to get through to those legislators or policymakers that you're trying to reach-- but also backing that up with data, and I think ASCO really equipped us well as advocates to have the data, as well as the personal stories, to influence change.
So using tools like CancerLinQ to be able to look at broader data sets and say, we know this is impacting our patients. We can see that. And now we need to think of a solution for change.
And I think being involved in helping to create some of those solutions was also really valuable for me. So with the pathways, creating the policy paper, but also serving on committees during that fellowship year on MACRA and other issues, like opioid legislation, that were really affecting our patients, and seeing how ASCO is effecting change in those areas, was something that will stay with me throughout my career.

CH: And how about you, Dr. Yang? Do you see any practical day-to-day impact, for example, in your work with patients from your time in the fellowship?

JY: Yeah, absolutely. I think because I spent most of the past year thinking about high drug costs, both for chemotherapies, immunotherapies, and supportive drugs, I'm much more thoughtful about the costs that are passed on to our patients. And that can actually be really significant.
And one of the things that I do much more often is I ask about cost to my patients when I prescribe medications. And that I really attribute directly to work that I was doing with ASCO.
The other thing is that working with patients actually often gives me ideas. So I'll see patterns emerging. And I'll think, we really need to work on a policy that addresses this.
And the great thing about the Health Policy Fellowship is that you remain involved with ASCO. So when I see these issues, I'm able to take them back to ASCO and to the committees.

CH: Well, speaking of the committees, after you and all of our Fellows complete the one-year program, you were automatically added to one of ASCO's relevant committees. And I think you're both members of the Clinical Practice Committee.
I'm curious-- I'll start with you, Dr. Daly-- has your time as a Health Policy Fellow helped you in your work on the CPC, and how?

RD: I think, absolutely. It's made me more fluent in the issues that the CPC is confronting, the sort of things like the Oncology Care Model, rural cancer care. I now have a foundation where I'm able to contribute in a way on that committee that I never could have before or without the Health Policy Fellowship.

CH:
Yeah, I think it's often the case that sometimes-- or I shouldn't say often-- I think sometimes it's the case that people get onto committees and really do have a steep learning curve. It seems like maybe this could have accelerated your start on the committee. Is that your experience, Dr. Yang?

JY: Yeah, I think so. I think that the Health Policy Fellowship, that first year is a really steep learning curve. But it does, as Dr. Daly said, provide a great foundation to just be aware of all of the issues that affect cancer doctors and cancer patients.

CH: So I'm going to go to a little bit of a speed round, if you will, and ask you both to think about the other members of our community who have not had the opportunity to do this and might not ever have thought about it.
Dr. Yang, finishing the program last summer of course-- so it's fresher, I think, for you-- why do you think it would be important for oncologists to be aware of and engaged in policy discussions, rather than nose to the grindstone, thinking about their clinical and research responsibilities on a daily basis?

JY: Mainly, I really think that the reason for oncologists to be involved in this is that regardless if you are thinking about it or not, health policy affects you. And it affects oncologists. It affects how they practice. It affects how they are able to care for their patients and the type of care that they're able to provide.
And if oncologists aren't involved, their voice is going to be lost. And oftentimes, they're the most important voice for their patients.

CH:
And Bobby, what would you say to the old version of me, the cynic, who says, this is a waste of time-- I'm not getting involved?

RD: Well, I do think it really makes your career more exciting to be involved in health policy issues. It really broadens your view of how you think about patients and how you think about cancer care, and makes coming to work every day, I think, more exciting because you have this other lens that you're looking at issues with.

CH: And looking back more specifically, and not intending to turn this into a sales job for the Policy Fellowship-- we only have two slots a year-- but I wonder what each of you would say to young colleagues thinking about this. What's the best reason to get involved in the Health Policy Fellowship at ASCO? I'll start with you, Dr. Yang.

JY: I think that if you're interested in quality of care, the costs of care, access to care, then this fellowship is the right fellowship for you. And I think that being interested in those things doesn't necessarily provide you with the skill set you need to actually do meaningful work in that realm.
And I think that the fellowship program really does provide you with tangible skills that you can then use to write policy briefs, to hold meetings, to be an advocate, all of which are really, really, really important.

CH:
 Dr. Daly, is there anything you can add to that? Or does that pretty much sum it up?

RD: I think that's absolutely right. I would just add the mentorship of the fellowship is really incredible, so getting to interact with the ASCO leaders, like Robin Zon, or Ray Page, or Blase Polite, but also the ASCO staff as well, who are incredible in the policy area, like Deb Kamin.
I think I learned so much from being in their presence for a year and just absorbing all of their knowledge that they had, an experience they had. And when I was at the annual meeting just a couple of weeks ago, it was just such a fun pleasure to be there and see all of them and know that those relationships are something that will be with me throughout my career. And they really influenced me.

CH:
Wow. I think that's great. And I am so proud of both of you and all the participants in these and the other development programs that we offer.
I will share with you that from the perspective of the board of directors, these programs really represent the crown jewel, something that the board members take the light in. And you should be proud to have contributed the way you have.
So Dr. Daly, Dr. Yang, I want to thank you again for joining me today for this ASCO in Action podcast.

RD: Thank you so much for having us.

JY: Thank you.

And for all of our listeners, if you want to learn more about ASCO's Health Policy Leadership Development Program, please visit us at asco.org and search for "policy leadership." The application period for the 2020-2021 year is now open, and it will be open through the end of September. So there is time to get those applications in.
And with that, until next time, I want to thank everyone for listening to this ASCO in Action podcast.