Cancer in the Workplace: Prioritizing Access to Comprehensive Care for Employees

BY Jessica Swenson | February 27, 2025

With increasing cancer rates and treatment costs across the U.S., employers are seeking ways to neutralize the associated rise in healthcare benefit expenses. Research shows an alarming surge in cancer rates, even in younger people. These elevated rates undoubtedly contribute to the 50% increase in high-cost claims—claims totaling over $1M per patient—employers are seeing. Part of this cost is the expense of injectable cancer therapies. There is plenty of media coverage on concerns around the volume of production and consumption of injectable drugs; it’s also worth noting that seven of the most expensive injectables are cancer treatments.

At From Day One’s Atlanta conference Dr. Denise Harnois from the Mayo Clinic discussed a solution that gets patients the comprehensive care they need while potentially reducing employer benefit costs. Employers are turning to centers of excellence as a more efficient and cost-effective way to manage employee care for complex or serious diseases. Drawing from Business Group on Health’s 2025 Employer Health Care Strategy Survey, Dr. Harnois said that “50% of organizations [will be] using centers of excellence [for] cancer care by the end of 2025” and an additional 25% will shift to this model in 2026/2027. One version of this model available to employers and patients is Mayo Clinic’s Complex Care Program. 

Efficient Pathways to Complex Care

The Mayo Clinic Complex Care Program uses an integrated, patient-centered approach to provide a second opinion and get patients the care they need. It focuses on identifying the right diagnosis, providing the right treatment, and executing that treatment in the right way for the patient. The program offers equitable access regardless of patient location and seeks to remove barriers to treatment by subsidizing travel or co-pay expenses when possible. It is also built with efficiency in mind. Patients are evaluated by three to five specialists, participate in laboratory and diagnostic studies, and leave with a comprehensive treatment plan, all within three to five days.

With 11 million patients connected to the program, Mayo has ample data to demonstrate its value. By reviewing the broad health outcomes of 7,000 patients and analyzing the detailed medical records of 516 patients who traveled for care in 2023, Mayo identified a few key statistics that show the impact of bringing together a multidisciplinary, multispecialty care team.

They found that 52% of patients referred for second opinions on complex/serious illnesses had a change in diagnosis during their time in the program. Additionally, 85% of these diagnosis changes resulted in a change in treatment. And 57% of treatment changes affected medical therapy only, but up to 25% eliminated surgery recommended by a local healthcare provider.

Patient Case Study

Dr. Denise Harnois of Mayo Clinic led the thought leadership spotlight (company photo)

Dr. Harnois shared a patient story illustrating how the program can benefit patients and employers. A lung cancer survivor experiencing fatigue and shortness of breath was referred to the program through her employer. Her local physician had diagnosed her with a Stage IV recurrence of lung cancer requiring surgical intervention, chemotherapy, and likely radiation therapy.

This patient’s evaluation and testing in the Complex Care Program revealed that she was not experiencing symptoms of recurring lung cancer at all—she had a lung infection that could be treated with steroids and antibiotics. This change in her diagnosis and care pathway not only improved the quality of life for the patient and her family but saved her employer and its healthcare plan over $200K for just the first year of the recommended cancer therapy.

Mayo’s Complex Care Program reflects the original mission of the Mayo brothers: the needs of the patient come first. Dr. Harnois reiterated this sentiment by saying: “Everything we do at the Mayo Clinic is about putting the patient at the center of everything. It's about focusing solutions and care and hope around what that patient needs and what we're going to be able to offer that patient.”

Editor’s note: From Day One thanks our partner, Mayo Clinic, for sponsoring this thought leadership spotlight. 

Jessica Swenson is a freelance writer based in the Midwest. Learn more about her at jmswensonllc.com.

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Did you know that nearly two thirds of your workforce might be seeking a job elsewhere? A recent study by Achievers Workforce Institute found that 65% of employees have at least one foot out the door. Why? This is, in part, due to the fact that 43% of employees are experiencing at least some burnout, only 28% would recommend their manager to others, and a measly 15% feel their organization does a good job connecting them to colleagues.So, how do you fix it?The last four years have witnessed record levels of resignation and historic labor shortages amid shifting expectations of what work should look like so that it works for employees. In 2025, many organizations will continue to be challenged by economic uncertainty and may not be able to hire their way out of their people problems. At From Day One’s Chicago benefits conference, David Bator, managing director of Achievers Workforce Institute, shared the four must-have research-driven talent strategies that will help engage and retain employees in 2025.Building the Foundation for Talent RetentionBator notes that the buzzwords “engagement” and “experience” are often thrown around by HR. 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