Tony Berberabe, MPH

Oral Chemotherapy Use Benefits From Safety Self-Assessments

February 9th 2015

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada (ISMP Canada) worked collaboratively to create a self-assessment tool to assist oncologists in evaluating safe practices related to medication use.

Clinical and Economic Impact of Gene Expression Testing in Localized Prostate Cancer

February 4th 2015

Biopsy-based cell cycle progression gene expression testing can aid in the stratification of patients with localized prostate cancer based on disease aggressiveness.

Who Will Join the 2015 Class of the Giants of Cancer Care?

January 24th 2015

CancerLinQ To Be Rolled Out to 15 Community Practices, Large Cancer Centers

January 21st 2015

The first iteration of the American Society of Clinical Oncology's (ASCO's) endeavor to capture and harness big data, CancerLinQ, is scheduled for release in late 2015.

When the Patient Can't Afford His Cancer Treatment

January 8th 2015

One of the leading non-clinical attributes that affect how oncologists decide which therapeutic agent to prescribe over another is patient affordability.

The Evolving Treatment Landscape in Advanced Melanoma

December 18th 2014

Metastatic melanoma is associated with a poor prognosis, but recent breakthroughs in tumor biology and immune regulation have led to the development of agents that could change clinical practice.

Innovative Payment Models in Cancer Care

December 15th 2014

Faced with steep regulations, slashed reimbursement rates, and a shift in focus from fee-for-service (FFS) to delivering value, insurers and physician groups are experimenting with new forms of payment incentives.

Expert Critiques Adjuvant Tamoxifen Guideline for HR-Positive Breast Cancer

November 6th 2014

In May 2014, ASCO issued guidelines recommending the administration of adjuvant tamoxifen for 10 years in women with stage I-III hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer, based on data from the collection of 5 clinical trials.

New Vaccine Formulation Effective in Low-Grade Lymphoma

November 5th 2014

The combination of a FLT3L-primed in situ vaccine, low-dose radiotherapy, and a toll-like receptor 3 (TLR) 3 agonist has been shown to be feasible, safe, and immunologically and clinically effective in a phase I/II study for patients with low-grade lymphoma

Post-Operative Radiation Therapy Improves Overall Survival in NSCLC Patients

October 31st 2014

Patients with NSCLC who received postoperative radiation therapy lived 4 months longer on average than patients who did not receive radiation but who had the same disease site, tumor histology, and treatment criteria, according to a large retrospective study.

The Promise of Big Data Gets Closer to Fulfillment

October 21st 2014

It seems like big data is everywhere these days. It's being touted as a solution for physicians and practices who would like to participate in Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) and accountable care-like contracts with payers.

Revenue Cycle Management in a Post-ACA World

October 7th 2014

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is bringing unprecedented changes to how health care is paid for in the US, and both primary care physicians and specialists need to understand how these changes will affect their revenues.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Challenges Patent on Merck's Pembrolizumab

September 5th 2014

BMS has filed a lawsuit over Merck's newly approved immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab, contending that the much-heralded PD-1 inhibitor will infringe upon patents that Bristol-Myers holds on the groundbreaking technology.

Signed Letters From Family Physicians May Increase Mammography Screening Rates

September 2nd 2014

Women who received signed letters from their family physician along with scheduled postcard reminders are more likely to return for mammography screening than women who only received a postcard

Novel Breast Cancer Agents Aimed at Overcoming Endocrine Therapy Resistance

August 28th 2014

Although advances in endocrine therapy for women with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer have been made in recent years, de novo and acquired resistance to treatments remain important clinical problems, and efforts to identify effective modalities to overcome this challenge continue.

Hospitals Snap Up Practices Under 340B Drug Program

August 20th 2014

A federal program originally meant to require drug manufacturers to provide significant discounts for outpatient drugs is increasingly being used by hospitals to acquire private oncology practices.

Is Your Oncology Practice Ready for Concierge Care?

July 23rd 2014

Keeping your practice financially solvent is difficult because of the uncertainty of regulatory and reform mandates, electronic health records requirements, and diminishing reimbursements. But a type of care delivery, called concierge care, is making some inroads in the primary care arena-and may hold some usefulness in oncology practice.

Addressing the Growing Need for Geriatric Oncology

July 11th 2014

Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University's Kimmel Cancer Center in Philadelphia have developed a model for establishing a comprehensive multidisciplinary geriatric oncology center to avoid the potential overtreatment or undertreatment that elderly patients with cancer may face.

Four Approaches Oncology Practices Consider When Merging With Hospitals, Academic Medical Centers

July 3rd 2014

With the uncertainty that accompanies health reform, a safe and secure alignment that integrates oncologists with a hospital or academic medical center can be seductive.

Lawmakers Seek to Ease the Burden of Sequestration Cuts

July 2nd 2014

A bill has been proposed in the House of Representatives seeking to ease some of the financial burdens placed on community oncologists by the sequestration. But does it go far enough?