Nashville – November 05, 2026 -- Thyme Care is scaling its Serious Illness program after finding that one in three of its oncology members live with serious illness. For one national health plan partner, members connected to palliative care had 18% lower total spend in their final 30 days of life.
Inpatient savings account for 82% of the cost reduction at one national health plan partner
Inpatient spending drove 82% of the 18% reduction in end-of-life costs. Thyme Care attributes the savings to more appropriate care rather than less care.
Many of the affected members have advanced cancer complicated by chronic conditions such as diabetes, COPD or heart failure. According to the company, this population drives a large share of cancer care costs. Palliative care is recommended alongside treatment, yet it remains underfunded and hard to access. That gap leaves patients without consistent support and drives avoidable hospital and emergency department visits.
Palliative physicians and nurse practitioners work directly with treating oncologists
Thyme Care's palliative care physicians and nurse practitioners support complex symptom management, goals-of-care discussions and care planning, while the oncologist keeps control of treatment decisions. One member in New Jersey with breast cancer said her nurse practitioner proposed a new anti-nausea medication and shared research with her oncologist, who prescribed it. The nausea, which had persisted for months, stopped.
Where a strong palliative or hospice partner already exists, often one already linked to the member's oncologist, Thyme Care coordinates the referral rather than duplicating services.
Virtual Enhanced Supportive Care clinic covers regions without local palliative providers
Where no suitable outpatient palliative care is available locally, Thyme Care's physicians and advanced practitioners see patients through its virtual Enhanced Supportive Care clinic. The company says this keeps access from being limited by geography or local workforce shortages.
Nurses, social workers and care partners engage patients early in the cancer journey to understand their goals and address caregiver needs. The team monitors patient-reported symptoms, hospital admission and discharge data, oncology records and claims. It uses them to revisit goals-of-care conversations and intervene as needs change.
Nelia Jain, MD, Medical Director of Palliative Care at Thyme Care, said, "The sickest patients are falling through the cracks between oncology, primary care, and other sub-specialties." She said the team builds trust over repeated conversations with patients who are hesitant to engage, so support is in place when they are ready.
Thyme Care supports members in all 50 states through 600+ virtual care staff and 1,400 oncologists
The company's virtual Care Team exceeds 600 people, and it partners with more than 1,400 oncologists. Value-based arrangements with national and regional health plans fund the ongoing support. Thyme Care is scaling the program throughout 2026 and into 2027 to reach more eligible patients within existing partnerships.