In This Post:
Presenters:

Mike Quigg
VP of Strategic Partnerships
Cancer care has long been centered around managing treatment, but a shift towards proactive intervention at every stage is essential for better outcomes. Comprehensive cancer care is about guiding patients every step of the way. With advancements in early detection, clinical intervention, and survivorship support, a new approach is here – one that prioritizes accessibility, prevention, and holistic patient care.
In this webinar, we welcomed Mike Quigg, VP of Strategic Partnerships at Color Health, to share valuable insights on how Color’s Virtual Cancer Clinic eliminates cancer care gaps and drives earlier interventions across cancer screening, treatment, and survivorship. We heard directly from Mike about Color’s cancer care solution and discovered how Color’s evidence-based approach and 50-state medical group supports patients.
About Color Health
Color Health is changing the way patients access cancer care through a first-of-its-kind, vertically integrated, and fully owned Virtual Cancer Clinic. Powered by a 50-state licensed team of cancer-focused clinical experts, Color provides proactive, evidence-based care that is accessible to anyone, anytime, and at every step of the cancer journey. They partner with employers, health plans, unions, and government agencies to improve accessibility of early interventions, timely diagnosis, oncology care management, and survivorship care. By enabling timely, risk-based interventions at every step of the cancer journey, Color drives earlier detection, better treatment outcomes, successful transitions back to health, and a lower cost of care for every patient. Clients have seen up to 77% increase in screening adherence rates and 3x lower costs after working with Color.

The Limitations of Traditional Cancer Care
Historically, cancer care has focused primarily on managing treatment, which falls short in addressing cancer care from all angles. Reactive and passive cancer care leads to:
- Higher costs per patient – Treatment for advanced-stage cancer is significantly more expensive than when caught earlier.
- Limited impact on survival rates – Late-stage diagnoses reduce the likelihood of long-term survival.
- Increased hospitalizations – Patients undergoing reactive treatment often require extensive hospital care, adding to financial and emotional burdens.
This approach underscores the need for proactive strategies that prioritize early interventions and ongoing support throughout the patient journey.
The Virtual Cancer Clinic: Expert-Led, Vertically-Integrated Care
Cancer treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach, and having access to a network of specialists significantly enhances care quality. Color’s Virtual Cancer Clinic model has it’s own, expert-led clinical team, including:
- Physicians (MDs/DOs): board-certified in relevant cancer specialties and provide direct care, order tests, prescribe treatments, and make referrals.
- Genetic counselors: experts in hereditary cancer risk and provide genetic testing and counseling to high-risk individuals.
- Oncology nurses (RNs): provide support throughout treatment, assist with preparation, and manage side effects.
- Registered Dieticians (RD/RDNs): board-certified in oncology nutrition and provide personalized nutrition plans and health coaching.
- Care Advocates: certified in oncology navigation and provide patient-centered support, education, and navigation within healthcare systems
This level of integration ensures that patients receive consistent, high-quality care throughout their cancer journey.

What makes this program different are the components that are cornerstones of Color’s program.
- Earlier Intervention: The biggest opportunity for reducing cancer-related costs comes upstream of treatment with earlier detection. Color enables guideline-based screening in an accessible manner that results in cancer caught earlier when it’s more cost-effective to treat.
- AI-Driven Personalized Care: Color utilizes advanced AI tools like their Copilot to streamline diagnostic workups and create personalized screening plans. This allows Color to prepare patients before their oncology visits and reduces the time to treatment.
- Vertically Integrated Model: By providing care directly through our medical group and integrated screening, we help employers save money by bypassing traditional network care. Unlike other companies, we directly replace the cost of the visit, rather than simply referring patients elsewhere.
- In-House Team: Most companies don’t have an in-house clinician team, so if a person needs to see a clinician – they get referred to a provider and their insurance is billed for the cost of the visit. It’s not included in what they might pay as service or platform fees for receiving that company’s services. With Color, we have an in-house team so we don’t have to refer out and charge separately for clinician visits. It’s included in our service bundle fees so we actually replace the cost of the clinician visit.
- Seamless Experience: Unlike companies that rely on multiple third-party services, Color offers a comprehensive solution from earlier detection to survivorship care without the need for bundling. This ensures a smoother, more cohesive experience for patients.
- Cancer Focus: Color is solely focused on cancer care, not multiple disease states, which allows us to become experts across the entire cancer journey for our patients.
- Proven Engagement: Color has demonstrated strong engagement, with participation rates of 10-30%, above the industry norm. Health benefit companies typically see single-digit participation rates.
- Clinical Team / Expertise: While most companies have oncology nurse navigators, Color’s team is made up of licensed clinicians, care navigators, genetic counselors, and more, offering a broader range of expertise to support our patients, including mental health.
These services work together – across the continuum – supporting everyone equitably and through one program “front door” – The Virtual Cancer Clinic.
The Power of Early Detection
One of the most significant factors influencing cancer outcomes is early detection. Detecting cancer early drastically improves survival rates and reduces treatment costs. Color and other studies show:
- A 77% increase in screening adherence rates when patients have access to proactive screening initiatives.
- Over $60K in savings and 3x in the five-year survival rate when cancer is detected one stage earlier.
- Higher engagement in health monitoring programs, leading to better long-term health management.
Implementing individualized screening plans and removing barriers to screening can prevent late-stage diagnoses and improve patient outcomes.
Innovative solutions, such as Color’s Virtual Cancer Clinic, are revolutionizing how cancer care is delivered. Color’s Virtual Cancer Clinic emphasizes proactivity, accessibility, and personalized treatment, offering:
- 24/7 access to cancer-expert medical teams across all 50 states.
- Custom-built oncology AI tools that assist in risk assessment and treatment planning.
- Behavioral health programs to support patients’ mental well-being during and after treatment.
- Dedicated care advocates and clinicians who provide logistical and financial support to patients.
These features create a streamlined, patient-focused experience that not only improves clinical outcomes, but also reduces the financial burden on both patients and healthcare systems.

Managing Treatment More Effectively
Even when cancer is detected, better management can lead to significant cost savings and improved patient well-being. Studies have shown that:
- Each avoided hospitalization saves $20K in unnecessary medical expenses.
- Guidelines-based treatment reduces costs by $8K per patient.
- Patients experience higher satisfaction rates (4.8/5) with care teams that provide integrated, patient-centered support.
By focusing on expert-led, evidence-based treatments, comprehensive cancer programs enhance the effectiveness of cancer care while reducing overall costs.
Supporting Survivors for Long-Term Health
Survivorship care plays a crucial role in ensuring a confident return to health and work. Cancer survivors require ongoing monitoring, psychological support, and assistance in transitioning back to daily life. Key aspects of effective survivorship programs include:
- A structured 5-year survivorship plan to monitor health and prevent recurrence.
- Behavioral health support to address post-treatment emotional and psychological challenges.
- Guidance for returning to work and maintaining financial stability.
- Holistic care, including dietary, physical, and lifestyle recommendations to enhance long-term wellness.

The Business Case for Proactive Cancer Care
For employers and healthcare providers, proactive cancer care is not just about better health outcomes. It’s also about cost-effectiveness. Delayed diagnoses and inadequate treatment planning lead to higher long-term costs. Studies suggest that:
- Detecting cancer one stage later costs an additional $63K per patient.
- Treating a cancer recurrence can cost $175K per patient.
- Extended medical leave costs $30K per employee.
By investing in early detection, structured treatment plans, and survivorship care, organizations can significantly reduce healthcare costs while improving employee well-being and productivity.
Get in touch with Color Health today!
The future of cancer care lies in proactive intervention at every stage. By shifting focus from reactive treatment to early detection, expert-led management, and comprehensive survivorship care, Color can improve survival rates, reduce healthcare costs, and enhance patient quality of life. Color’s Virtual Cancer Clinic represents a transformative approach to cancer care—one that prioritizes accessibility, efficiency, and better health outcomes for all.
For organizations and healthcare providers looking to stay ahead in cancer care, visit color.com or reach out to learnmore@color.com.
For more information, contact:
Mike Quigg – mike.quigg@color.com
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