Humana Study Links Pharmacy Care Coordination to Lower Cancer Care Costs

The researchers reported that the reductions in hospitalizations, emergency department visits and medical costs were consistent across patient age groups, genders and geographic regions.

Humana researchers found that cancer patients receiving specialty pharmacy care coordination had 11.7% fewer hospitalizations, 2.7% fewer emergency department visits and 7.7% lower medical costs over one year, according to a retrospective observational study.

The analysis, conducted by Humana Pharmacy Analytics and Consulting, examined Humana Medicare Advantage members with Part D prescription drug coverage who had cancer and received medication adherence care coordination through the CenterWell Specialty Pharmacy Oncology Center of Excellence (COE). Outcomes were compared with members who opted out of the coordination services.

The study was published in the Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research.

The researchers reported that the reductions in hospitalizations, emergency department visits and medical costs were consistent across patient age groups, genders and geographic regions.

The COE provides optional Part D care coordination for beneficiaries undergoing treatment for complex cancer diagnoses. The program is led by specialty pharmacy pharmacists, nurses and other specialists and is designed to support medication adherence and treatment effectiveness.

Services include follow-up care, adherence support and monitoring for treatment-related side effects. The program also provides personalized clinical support and mail-order medication delivery.

The study specifically evaluated beneficiaries prescribed intravenous chemotherapy, oral targeted oncolytics and immunotherapies.

Bethanie Stein, Pharm.D., president of pharmacy at Humana, including CenterWell Pharmacy, said the findings support a coordinated approach to managing complex conditions such as cancer. She said the program is designed to provide patients with support around medication adherence and treatment during their care journey.

The findings come as CenterWell, Humana’s health services division covering primary care, home health and pharmacy services, continues to expand. CenterWell generated $12.89 billion in revenue during the first half of 2026, compared with $10.63 billion in the same period of 2025, according to Humana’s earnings reports and SEC filings.

Humana expects CenterWell’s total revenue to reach at least $25 billion in 2026.

In February, CenterWell also completed its acquisition of primary care provider MaxHealth from Arsenal Capital Partners. The transaction added 54 primary care clinics, four specialty and ancillary care clinics and 24 affiliated clinics to CenterWell’s network.

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