Lantern Partners With AccessHope to Expand Cancer Care Navigation Platform

Under the agreement, Lantern members will receive expert case reviews aimed at preventing misdiagnoses and ensuring treatment plans align with established clinical guidelines.

Lantern has announced a partnership with AccessHope to expand its cancer care navigation platform, adding expert reviews from physicians at National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer centers across key points in a patient’s treatment journey.

Under the agreement, Lantern members will receive expert case reviews aimed at preventing misdiagnoses and ensuring treatment plans align with established clinical guidelines. The reviews will cover adult and pediatric cancers, including both solid tumors and hematologic malignancies.

Lantern President Dickon Waterfield said the partnership enables patients to continue receiving care locally while gaining access to subspecialty expertise typically available at NCI-designated centers. Reviews can be initiated at critical stages of care, including recurrence after remission, when treatment strategies often change.

AccessHope supports clinical teams by facilitating specialist input throughout the care continuum. Yousuf Zafar, M.D., chief medical officer at AccessHope, said cancer treatment evolves and requires ongoing reassessment. “Cancer care doesn’t happen in a snapshot,” Zafar said. “It’s something that evolves month to month, sometimes week to week.”

In addition to expert reviews, Lantern’s platform offers clinical trial matching and navigation support. While clinical trials can provide alternative treatment options, participation rates remain low. The expanded model seeks to improve awareness and access within a structured clinical framework.

Lantern also connects patients to a national network of infusion centers closer to home, aiming to increase convenience and reduce costs associated with hospital-based or outpatient infusion services.

Employer healthcare costs are a key driver of innovation in oncology benefits. Scott Kirschner, senior director of global benefits at Greystar, said cancer is the company’s second-highest cost diagnostic category. He noted that coordinated care management services can help employers manage complex cases and address employee concerns about treatment options.

The partnership further integrates subspecialty oncology expertise into Lantern’s employer-focused care model, combining navigation, cost management, and clinical oversight within a single platform.

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