Texas Oncology – Waco Hosts HHS Delegation for Site Visit and Discussion

On June 24, Texas Oncology hosted a delegation from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the CMS Innovation Center (CMMI), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for a site visit at their Waco practice. Dr. Carlos Encarnacion and Practice Director Charla Herndon led the group on a tour of the practice, including the radiation vault, the infusion suite, and the pharmacy. The tour was followed by in-depth discussion about Texas Oncology – Waco’s history, outreach to patients living in rural areas, and the challenges of running an independent practice today.

The discussion also focused on Texas Oncology’s participation in CMMI demonstration models like the Oncology Care Model and the Enhancing Oncology Model, and Laura Schmidt, Emily Pearcy, and Dana Weber shared how the practice offered enhanced services, improved quality, and lowered costs through these models. The US Oncology Network and Texas Oncology are committed to working with HHS to enhance the delivery of cancer care and protect patient access to high-quality, affordable care in the most efficient manner.