Tony Berberabe, MPH

Articles

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?

Value-Based Payment to Overtake Fee-For-Service by 2020

July 1st 2014

A new survey by McKesson Health Solutions and released at America's Health Insurance Plan's Institute 2014 conference examined the state of value-based reimbursement, and found that of the existing value-based models, payers and hospitals/health systems predict pay-for-performance (P4P) will experience the most growth

340B Drug Program Under Scrutiny

June 25th 2014

Hospitals, community health centers, and clinics that participate in the federal 340B drug pricing program are finding themselves under scrutiny from some members of Congress and the pharmaceutical industry because of recent expansion of the Affordable Care Act.

MGMA Says Plans, Clearinghouses Charging Excessive Fees on Virtual Credit Cards

June 23rd 2014

Some health plans and clearinghouses are charging unreasonable fees for electronic fund transfer (EFT) transactions to providers who accept payment from virtual credit cards

A Third of Practice Managers Surveyed Expect Value-based Contracts to Hurt Bottom Line

June 19th 2014

A third of practice managers and health care executives who participated in a survey about value-based contracts said they expected the agreements to hurt the bottom line of their institution or practice

As Clinicians Attempt to Show Meaningful Use, Smartphone and Tablet Use Declines

June 18th 2014

Health care professionals, including primary care physicians, cardiologists, oncologists, and psychiatrists are using their mobile devices (ie, smartphones and tablets) less, as compared to last year, and find themselves spending more time on a daily basis in front of their desktop computers

Nab-Paclitaxel Compares Favorably in Pancreatic Cost-Effectiveness Study

June 17th 2014

A regimen of nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) and gemcitabine is a cost-effective option for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer because it delivers a survival advantage at a price comparable to the cost of an existing combination therapy

On Eve of Meetings With Congressmen, Urologists Agree on Four Lobbying Priorities

June 13th 2014

Attendees of the Urology Joint Advocacy Conference were asked to focus on four goals as they left the Washington, DC gathering to meet with congressmen and senators on Capitol Hill.