Aetna (NYSE: AET) and Cardinal Health's P4 Healthcare business today announced the launch of a joint program that will identify and promote the best clinical practices to improve the overall quality - the delivery and success - and cost of cancer treatment.

"We're focused on making cancer care more effective, more affordable and safer for our members," says Robert Kropp, M.D., regional medical director for Aetna's Southeast Region. "Our agreement with P4 Healthcare allows us to work quickly and directly with local doctors at the point of care to increase treatment plans based in proven science. This has shown to result in better patient outcomes, often with lower costs."

The agreement with P4 Healthcare is part of Aetna's collaborative approach to cancer care that includes:

- working with the medical community;
- encouraging the application of evidenced-based medicine;
- delivering decision support;
- providing incentives for the delivery of quality, cost-effective care; and
- sharing costs savings with participating doctors.

P4 Healthcare and Aetna will establish regional committees in Florida and Maryland, comprised of local oncologists who participate in Aetna's networks. The committees will identify evidence-based treatment regimens, or clinical pathways, for delivering patient care initially for breast, lung, and colon cancers.

"We believe that when doctors are meaningfully engaged in the process for developing clinical pathways, they are more likely to adopt the treatment regimens, because they understand and believe in the process," said Jeffrey Scott, M.D., senior vice president and general manager of P4 Healthcare. "This process also empowers physicians to identify additional opportunities to improve the quality and affordability of cancer care."

P4 Healthcare will also provide proprietary technology, tools, educational programs and training to help doctors within the Aetna network implement and monitor use of the treatment pathways. These tools also capture clinical results and track cost savings of the program - without additional administrative work. The program is expected to expand to two additional states in 2011.

P4 Healthcare is part of Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions, which provides clinical, reimbursement and distribution services to help healthcare providers, payors and pharmaceutical manufacturers deliver quality, cost-effective care to patients with complex diseases.