Becker’s Healthcare Podcast Improving Cancer Care Quality and Costs at Florida Blue, part of GuideWell with Thomas Graf, MD
Feb 14, 2026
Thomas Graf, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Florida Blue with decades in quality improvement and value-based care, discusses a high-touch, tech-enabled cancer navigation program for Medicare Advantage members. He talks about reducing care variation and closing gaps between diagnosis and treatment. He highlights how navigation improves engagement, lowers ED use, and produces measurable cost savings.
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Variation And Gaps Drive Poor Outcomes
- Cancer care delivery is highly variable across regions and providers, causing gaps in symptom management and delays to definitive treatment.
- Closing variation and the diagnosis-to-treatment gap can improve patient experience and outcomes while reducing unnecessary utilization.
Start Small And Iterate Rapidly
- Start small and iterate: implement, test, refine each element before scaling the program across the population.
- Design connectivity between members, providers, and health plan early to ensure the solution fits all stakeholders.
Pair High-Touch Navigation With Tech
- Combine high-touch clinical navigation with technology so members get timely answers and symptom management without defaulting to ED visits.
- Connect 24/7 access with trained clinicians who use motivational interviewing and goal-based care to manage side effects and logistics.