Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and Pequot Health Care Choose Eastern Connecticut Hematology Oncology (ECHO) as Preferred Partner
ECHO Recognized as a Center of Excellence for Providing High-Value Cancer Care in Connecticut
June 30, 2020 (Mashantucket, Conn.): The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation (MPTN) and Pequot Health Care (PHC), a leader in managing self-fund health care plans for Native American tribes, announced today that it is recognizing Eastern Connecticut Hematology and Oncology (ECHO), a physician-owned oncology practice in Norwich, Connecticut as a Center of Excellence and preferred partner.
Pequot Health Care will promote awareness of ECHO’s high-value cancer care to its members and commercial self-funded plans.
“At Pequot Health Care, we believe that both the patients and the employers that provide self-funded health benefits deserve better value health- where the quality, safety, and experience is higher, and the total cost of care is lower,” said Setu Vora, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation.
We welcome partnerships for better value health
~ Setu Vora, MD FCCP, CMO of MPTN
ECHO, a member of the OneOncology partnership of independent oncology practices, provides comprehensive cancer care service and clinical trials to patients in Eastern Connecticut. A preferred partner, ECHO will continue to deliver outstanding hematology and oncology care to MPTN and PHC health plan members by providing priority access, quality, and results.
“Our goal is to provide patients and their families with access to the latest treatments and resources in a personalized and compassionate manner,” said Dinesh Kapur, MD, CEO of ECHO. “We’re proud to have cared for many Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation members over our thirty-year history. And we look forward to our continued relationship.”
While there have been great advances in cancer diagnosis and treatments, the average cost of cancer care and drugs per patient is now above $250,000- four times the median US household income. Moreover, there is large variation in the cost of care even with similar quality and outcomes for the same disease or same procedure.
To address financial toxicity and healthcare inequities, Pequot Health Care has accelerated its partnerships for better value health across Connecticut by forming the Independent Medical Practices Alliance of Connecticut-IMPACT.
For providing high-value cancer care in the community setting, where care is less expensive, ECHO is one of the early adopters of this Pequot model to make health care better and sustainable for all.
“ECHO is a Center of Excellence for us because it shares our mission of Better Value Health,” said Chris Manzi, President of Pequot Health Care.
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About the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation: The Mashantucket (Western) Pequot Tribal Nation is a federally recognized Indian tribe located at one of America’s oldest Indian reservations, Mashantucket, in Southeastern Connecticut. As pioneers of the Indian Gaming casino industry, the history of the Mashantucket Pequots reveals one of America’s greatest come-back stories, featured at the Tribe’s world renowned Mashantucket Pequot Museum. Today, the Tribe owns and operates one of the largest Integrated Resort Casino destinations in North America, Foxwoods Resort Casino, along with a variety of complementary businesses including a world-class golf course, luxury spa, Pequot Pharmaceutical Network, and Pequot Plus Health Benefit Services. As one of Connecticut’s highest revenue contributors and largest employers, the Mashantucket Pequots have provided the state more than $4 billion in slot revenue through a first-of-its-kind agreement, established in 1993. Likewise, the Tribe has contributed hundreds of millions in donations and sponsorships for the benefit of communities and tribes in need, locally and throughout the U.S.
About Pequot Health Care (PHC): Pequot Health Care is a healthcare management company wholly owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, serving not only other tribal nations but also commercial businesses and organizations that offer self-funded health plans. PHC includes an independent third-party administration (TPA), health benefit consultancy, and a full-service pharmacy benefit management along with both retail and mail order, federally licensed pharmacy. PHC is a national leader in application of tribal healthcare, Medicare Like Rate, Purchased Referred Care, Federal Supply Schedule and other applications of tribal sovereignty and self-governance to advance health and sustainability. More information at: http://pequothealthcare.com/
About ECHO: Eastern Connecticut Hematology Oncology is an independently owned medical practice that offers comprehensive cancer care services including a robust Clinical Research Department. The ECHO team has shown their commitment to being at the forefront by participating in many clinical trials with large cooperative oncology groups such as ECOG, NSABP and industry-sponsored trials. ECHO Associates is proud to be affiliated with national and state programs designed to improve cancer care, including OneOncology, the Oncology Care Model and Community Oncology Alliance (COA), which is a national non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring all Americans affected by cancer receive quality, affordable, and accessible care in their communities. We also are pleased to be Connecticut’s first and only community oncology practice that has launched a chapter of the Community Oncology Alliance Patient Advocacy Network (CPAN). More information at http://echoassociates.org/