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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. And while everyone is familiar with this devastating diagnosis that affects more than 5,000 Hoosiers each year, organizations are often less aware of the ways they can help employees reduce their risk.
Among women, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths. Marion County alone records about 700 new diagnoses each year. Researchers have also been alarmed by an increase in the disease among women in their 20s and 30s, before guidelines recommend regular screenings. At any age, patients need reliable access to primary care when they notice unexplained changes to breast tissue, swelling, pain, and other potential symptoms. Collaborative patient-provider relationships save lives: When caught in its earliest stage, invasive breast cancer has a 5-year survival rate of over 99%.
For organizations, early detection and prevention can also mitigate a significant factor in their healthcare spending. Nearly nine in 10 employers in one study listed cancer as a top driver of rising healthcare costs. Finding breast cancer early not only improves treatment results, the average first-year treatment cost for stage 1 cancers is about 36% lower than for stage 2. Proactive care reduces overall healthcare costs, and for breast cancer there are a number of ways that businesses can support better outcomes for their employees.
How employers make an impact
As plan sponsors face healthcare cost increases expected to average 9% this year, many are starting to look beyond their insurance benefits to improve population health and reduce the incidence of high-cost conditions like breast cancer. In Indiana, more than 180 organizations have adopted advanced primary care that makes providers and preventive measures easier to access. Marathon Health operates a network of advanced primary care health centers located where these organizations’ employees work and live. Appointments are typically available same- or next-day with low or no copays. Convenient care focused on the whole patient increases engagement when they first suspect something is wrong. Time spent with a provider at Indiana health centers averages 36 minutes—substantially longer than in other settings—allowing more comprehensive discussions of members’ concerns. For those facing complex conditions like breast cancer, Marathon care teams help them navigate treatment with referrals, medical record transfers, post-appointment follow-up, and other coordination across providers. This continuity of care is essential for the most effective treatment.
During a Grand Strides fireside chat with Marathon Health, Dr. Darshak Sanghavi, the chief medical officer at Machinify, cited data that showed about one-third of people with abnormal cancer screenings don’t complete follow-up appointments. “In other words, we estimate that about 100,000 Americans are walking around with curable cancer,” he said.
In addition to better screening, employers can support changes to lifestyle factors known to affect breast cancer risk. These include weight management, exercise, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Certified health coaches with Marathon Health measurably reduce disease risk factors through motivational interviewing, accountability, habit formation, and strategies for better sleep and stress reduction. Registered dieticians can provide individualized guidance to improve nutrition for members who want to lose weight. Marathon partners also have the option to add behavioral health services, which can address alcohol abuse alongside treatment for other mental health conditions that frequently influence physical well-being.
By focusing on the whole patient, Marathon improves population health substantially compared to fee-for-service healthcare on its own. In Indiana, 68% of health center visits are for preventive care. Among those considered high-risk, 88% have engaged with care. That’s contributed to annual savings averaging $3,100 per engaged member in year one. Even as the frequency of appointments increases, advanced primary care soon pays for itself, with Marathon partners nationally reporting 1.2x ROI in year one and 3.7x in year 5.
Risk reduction, early detection, and effective treatment of breast cancer all depend on coordinated access to the right care. Employers can make a difference by bringing together awareness, convenient preventive care, and a relationship with providers that members can rely on whenever they have concerns.
Learn more about Marathon’s Indiana network and how local organizations have reduced inpatient admissions by 41% among engaged members with advanced primary care that helps control costs.
Marathon Health is a leading advanced primary care provider, partnering with employers, unions, and health plans to improve health for millions of Americans. With nationwide onsite, nearsite, and network health centers, and virtual primary care, Marathon delivers a value-based model that enhances the healthcare experience for members and providers, while driving meaningful cost savings for plan sponsors.