New England Cancer Specialists Partners With Carrum Health To Provide Comprehensive Cancer Care For New England Employers     

Scarborough, Maine – April 9, 2024 – New England Cancer Specialists (NECS) and Carrum Health have signed an agreement to bring value-based cancer care to employers across Maine and Southeast New Hampshire. The partnership will offer members who have the Carrum benefit access to exceptional cancer care for non-metastatic breast cancer.

NECS joins Carrum’s rigorously vetted Centers of Excellence network of providers who have invested in patient-centric, evidence-based care nationwide. As a breast cancer care COE, NECS will provide essential oncology services to Carrum’s covered members. Carrum Health offers its employer clients access to this curated network at pre-negotiated bundled prices, so members can benefit from high-quality care with the help of dedicated care navigators, without having to worry about cost and administrative burdens.

“Community oncology providers are a critical component in expanding access to high-value cancer care for our members,” said Sach Jain, Carrum Health founder and CEO. “NECS offers exceptional and compassionate care for patients going through cancer. We look forward to working with them to provide the best outcomes and remove the financial burden for patients.”

“Portsmouth Regional Hospital’s partnership with New England Cancer Specialists is one that is rooted in the shared commitment of providing high-quality cancer care to patients right here in our community, close to home,” said Dean M. Carucci, chief executive officer of Portsmouth Regional Hospital. “This new designation as a Center of Excellence demonstrates NECS’ continued dedication to providing evidence-based care, and will no doubt benefit our patients in need of cancer care.”

While NECS and Carrum will initially focus on offering treatment for non-metastatic breast cancer, the intent is to further expand member access to more of NECS’ comprehensive oncology services.

“NECS is perfectly positioned to deliver value-based cancer care to Maine employers,” said Trevor Putnoky, President, and CEO of the Healthcare Purchaser Alliance. “This collaboration opens the door for tens of thousands of employees across the state to access world class care when it comes to detecting and fighting cancer.”

The agreement will ensure affordable access to vital cancer services including chemotherapy and symptom management now, and radiation therapy in early 2025.

“Healthcare costs are too high for patients,” said Claire Cote, Chief Operations Officer at New England Cancer Specialists. “Our goal in partnering with Carrum Health is to provide the highest quality, lowest cost care to those in Maine and New Hampshire who are struggling with breast cancer – a diagnosis that too many of us know first-hand.”

About New England Cancer Specialists 

New England Cancer Specialists is the largest independent medical oncology and hematology practice in Maine and is dedicated to the highest quality team-based care for every patient. Comprised of 18 physicians who are nationally recognized for their expertise and experience, they participate in more clinical trials than any other practice in Maine. With partnerships across the state and around the region, NECS aims to further increase the availability of and access to novel cancer therapeutics and programmatic advancements. For more than 30 years, NECS has maintained a relationship with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and became the first-ever Affiliate Member of DFCI in January 2022.

About Carrum Health 

Carrum Health is changing how we pay for and deliver care. We offer self-insured employers a value-based Centers of Excellence (COE) solution that connects their members with a rigorously vetted network of surgical and cancer care providers. Carrum’s upfront all-inclusive bundled pricing, award-winning technology, and dedicated care navigation team help lower costs for both members and employers while delivering a superior member experience. Carrum reduces unnecessary procedures by as much as 30% and aligns cost and care incentives to save employers up to 45% per episode of care. Learn more at carrumhealth.com.