Program ​pilot includes more than 90 individuals across the country.

The evidence is clear: navigation improves outcomes at the patient, caregiver, and health system level. The American Cancer Society will be launching a cancer focused, patient navigation curriculum and credentialing program for non-clinical navigation in early 2024. Building upon 30 years of experience in navigation research and implementation, team members have been hard at work during the past several months to bring this program to life, with key updates in the past few weeks.

Earlier this month, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released their final rule for the 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule – a decision which means there is now a reliable reimbursement pathway to support professional navigators performing non-clinical duties. 

This decision is key for the new ACS cancer focused patient navigation curriculum and credentialing program for non-clinical navigation, as the White House has specifically tapped our organization as part of this work.

“This ruling is a game changer, wherein all boats rise through enhancing access to oncology navigation services. Patient navigation increases understanding of cancer care plans, improves patient outcomes, reduces unnecessary treatment cost, and increases patient satisfaction,” ACS and ACS CAN CEO Dr. Karen Knudsen said about the decision. “The reimbursement strategy within this final rule is a meaningful first step toward expanded and sustainable access to critical services for patients with cancer and other serious illnesses.”

ACS is on track to launch this new program beginning in January 2024. The goal of the program will be to ensure the nation’s professional navigators are receiving high-quality training that supports advancement and sustainability of the profession, resulting in comprehensive care for people with cancer and their families. 

In the meantime, Patient Support Pillar team members are piloting the program with more than 90 individuals across the country who provide navigation services in a wide variety of settings and working across the enterprise and with external navigation experts to ensure success.

“At ACS we believe everyone should have a fair and just opportunity to prevent, find, treat, and survive cancer,” said ACS Senior Vice President for Cancer Support Dr. Shanthi Sivendran. “That’s why ACS has prioritized this work and played a key role in navigation for more than 30 years. ACS has a unique ability to represent the voice of those touched by cancer. We are so excited to use that ability to launch this program for this critical workforce.”

What you can do 

How can ACS team members and volunteers help support this new ACS navigation training and credentialing program?

• Learn more about the many ways ACS supports navigation.
• Check out the new web site for the navigation training and credentialing program.
• Look for more information in the coming weeks on learning collaboratives and more related to the program.
• Specific team members will have training opportunities related to the program. Stay tuned for more information.
• For questions not addressed in the areas above, please reach out via this link.