Keynote Highlights from AVBCC December 2020
In December 2020, the Association for Value‑Based Cancer Care (AVBCC) delivered a compelling keynote entitled “Economics and Inequities in Cancer Care”, presented by Greg Simon, JD—former Executive Director of the Cancer Moonshot Task Force and current President of the Biden Cancer Initiative.
🎙 Key Themes from Greg Simon’s Address
1. COVID‑19 as a Lens on Healthcare Disparities
Simon emphasized that the pandemic starkly exposed racial and economic systemic inequities within U.S. healthcare. These long-standing disparities are deeply embedded (“baked into the system“) and must be confronted head-on.
2. The Economic Toll of Cancer Inequity
Access to breakthrough therapies, screenings, and preventive services often varies dramatically based on income, race, and geography. Simon underscored that this disparity isn’t just a moral failing—it imposes significant economic burdens:
- Lost productivity
- Increased acute care costs
- Higher long-term treatment expenses
Closing these gaps not only saves lives—it can lower healthcare costs and drive sustainable value across the system.
3. From Dialogue to Action
Echoing AVBCC’s mission, Simon called for real-world accountability:
“We need economic models that prioritize equity… that drive budget decisions toward underserved communities.”
He advocated using value-based frameworks to align reimbursements and incentives with outcomes and access, not just volume.
Why It Matters for AVBCC Stakeholders
AVBCC exists to bring together payers, providers, researchers, policymakers, patient advocates, and industry leaders—precisely the groups positioned to create system‑wide change. By focusing on both economic efficiency and equity, the keynote reinforced AVBCC’s goal of delivering care that’s:
- Clinically effective
- Cost-conscious
- Equitably accessible
Stakeholders must work together to reshape economic models that perpetuate inequity.
🔍 A Call to Arms for the Cancer Community
Simon’s keynote wasn’t just a presentation—it was a clarion call. To truly transform oncology, AVBCC members and the broader care ecosystem must:
- Identify inequity hotspots using data and social metrics
- Integrate equity into value-based payment structures
- Monitor and reward improved access and outcomes
This aligns with AVBCC’s goal: ensuring that every patient, regardless of background, receives optimal, equitable cancer care.
In Closing
The “Economics and Inequities in Cancer Care” keynote crystallized a simple truth: without equity, value-based care is incomplete. AVBCC remains committed to enabling stakeholder collaboration that tackles both cost and justice in cancer care—because true value means everyone benefits