COA Introduces Quality and Value Standards to Strengthen Community Cancer Care
The Community Oncology Alliance (COA) has released a new set of Quality and Value Standards to help raise the bar for cancer care delivered in community settings. Built for independent oncology practices, the standards give teams a clear way to review how they operate, improve care, and prepare for participation in quality certification programs.
Why These Standards Matter
For practices, the standards act as a practical, plain-language roadmap. They support honest, informed conversations about what high-quality cancer care looks like—with patients who want clarity, with employers who sponsor benefits, and with payers who measure value. Their release also meets the moment: independent cancer providers face mounting pressure as treatment costs climb and the care experience becomes more complex for patients and caregivers alike.
Meeting Rising Expectations in Cancer Care
Patients expect care that is personal, timely, and rooted in evidence. Practices are being asked to show it. “Those who receive and pay for cancer care want to know that they are getting high-quality, personalized, evidence-based, and value-driven care,” said Miriam Atkins, MD, FACP, president of COA. That expectation is now the baseline for staying competitive in a fast-shifting health care environment.
The Eight Pillars of the COA Standards
The COA Quality and Value Standards are organized around eight pillars that aim to improve outcomes, experience, and affordability across the full course of treatment:
- Engage and educate patients and caregivers as true partners throughout the cancer journey—so they understand options, risks, benefits, and next steps.
- Offer access to care teams and support services outside standard office hours, reducing avoidable ER visits and gaps in care.
- Deliver evidence-based care; encourage second opinions when appropriate; and routinely share information about relevant clinical trials.
- Coordinate care across an integrated, team-based model, ensuring information flows and roles are clear from diagnosis through survivorship or end-of-life care.
- Commit to continuous quality improvement and track patient satisfaction, using real data to monitor results and close care gaps.
- Support patients with care planning and the legal documents that reflect their goals and values, tailored to their clinical and personal needs.
- Train all members of the care team in the safe handling and administration of cancer treatments, with policies that prevent errors and protect patients.
- Focus on high-value care that lowers total costs while reducing what patients pay out of pocket—without compromising outcomes.
Helping Practices Prepare and Measure
These standards can be used as a ready reference for any practice assessing how it delivers care today and where to improve next. They also line up with national certification efforts and well-known quality programs, including the Enhancing Oncology Model and the National Committee for Quality Assurance. The goal is to make measurement simpler, more consistent, and more useful in daily practice.
Defining “Quality” in Cancer Care
Plenty of initiatives aim to measure quality, yet confusion persists about what quality cancer care actually means in practice. Ted Okon, executive director of COA, underscores the need for a shared, coherent definition that teams can use. The COA Standards are intended to provide that clarity—helping practices assess their performance, document what they do well, and demonstrate a sustained commitment to high-quality care.
Open and Regularly Updated
The COA Quality and Value Standards are free for any oncology practice or stakeholder to read and use. COA will review them periodically with an expert panel to keep the guidance current and practical as treatments, costs, and care delivery continue to evolve.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the COA Quality and Value Standards?
They’re a set of practical guidelines from the Community Oncology Alliance that help community oncology practices deliver care that is high-quality, evidence-based, patient-centered, and mindful of cost.
Who should use these standards and how?
Independent oncology practices can use them to evaluate daily operations, identify gaps, and prepare for participation in quality certification programs—while clearly communicating their approach to patients, employers, and payers.
What do the eight pillars cover?
They address patient and caregiver engagement, after-hours access, evidence-based care and second opinions, care coordination, continuous quality improvement, individualized care planning and legal documentation, treatment safety and training, and value-focused care that lowers overall costs.
Are the standards available at no cost?
Yes. The standards are freely accessible to all oncology practices and stakeholders, making it easier to adopt them in quality improvement work.
How often will the standards be updated?
COA will conduct periodic expert reviews to ensure the standards stay relevant and effective as cancer care and patient needs change.
