What the New CMS Reimbursement for Principal Illness Navigation Means for Oncology Nurses

Patient navigation has the potential to improve patient satisfaction, reduce health disparities, and ultimately optimize cancer outcomes. However, navigation services are often funded externally through grants or considered unreimbursed administrative costs because of lack of reimbursement. In January 2024, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) established its first coding and payment for principal illness navigation services. CMS said that funding the services would improve health equity in patients with serious, high-risk conditions such as cancer.