CenterWell, Thyme Care partner to bring cancer support into the home in seven states

A new model designed to help older patients with cancer stay home and avoid unnecessary hospital visits is at the heart of a new partnership between senior-focused primary care providers CenterWell and sister brand Conviva, and oncology care enabler Thyme Care. Through the partnership, eligible patients in seven states now have 24/7 access to oncology-trained clinicians and virtual navigation support, including when issues arise at home after hours.

“This kind of support allows patients who want to age in place to do so with greater confidence,” Brad Diephuis, MD, president and COO of Thyme Care, told McKnight’s Home Care Daily Pulse in an email. “It means fewer unnecessary hospital visits and more time spent at home with loved ones, sharing meals, seeing family, and maintaining dignity while managing a cancer diagnosis.”

For home care providers, the partnership reflects how senior-focused primary care is extending “between-visit” support into the home — not only for patients, but also for family caregivers who often need real-time guidance on symptoms, next steps, and escalation decisions. Cancer is the leading cause of death among Medicare beneficiaries ages 65-74, and 7 in 10 cancer deaths occur among Medicare beneficiaries, according to the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN).

Inside the partnership

Program services launched Dec. 1, 2025, with approximately 5,000 CenterWell and Conviva patients currently eligible across Florida, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. The companies will evaluate expansion after the initial rollout.

Thyme Care provides a 24/7 virtual team of oncology-trained nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers and care partners who offer navigation and coordination support. Beyond clinical care, the program connects patients with community resources such as transportation, meal programs and financial assistance. A core goal is proactive symptom management and earlier integration of palliative care.

Care between visits

“Our teams help ensure everyone understands what’s happening, how to manage medications and who to call when questions come up,” Diephuis noted

For example, he added, if a patient experiences nausea or dizziness from a cancer medication after clinic hours, their caregiver can call Thyme Care rather than defaulting to the emergency room. Thyme’s clinicians assess the situation, help manage symptoms and coordinate next steps with the oncology team — while keeping the CenterWell or Conviva primary care physician informed so comorbidities like diabetes or heart disease are not overlooked.

“Our primary care teams and home health clinicians benefit from having partners with a deep knowledge of cancer care whose focus is on supporting each patient at every stage of their treatment,” CenterWell said in a statement. “This means our patients, their loved ones and care teams are working together to ease the burden of cancer care.”

Cancer care accounts for more than 10% of all Medicare spending, according to ACS CAN. CenterWell and Conviva say the new partnership offers a scalable model for improving outcomes as providers and payers take on value-based risk.