Oncology Business Management | Specialty

Checkpoint Inhibitors in Metastatic Melanoma

July 18th 2014

Introduction: Immunotherapy Research Milestones

July 18th 2014

FDA Grants Priority Review to Bevacizumab in Advanced Cervical Cancer

July 15th 2014

The FDA has assigned a priority review designation to bevacizumab (Avastin) plus chemotherapy as a treatment for patients with persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer.

Cancer Patients' Use of Electronic Portals Rising

July 15th 2014

As the use of electronic patient portals grows, a new study examines the use of these portals by cancer patients, extending the doctor-patient relationship to new boundaries.

New Bundled Payment Model Nets 34% Reduction in Medical Costs

July 14th 2014

A pilot program that paid oncologists upfront for the patient's full treatment program regardless of the drugs administered resulted in a 34% reduction in medical costs.

The Evolving Use of White Bagging in Oncology

July 9th 2014

Channel dynamics are changing for physician-administered infusible drugs, with implications for practice economics, payer utilization management, site of care, and availability of data for manufacturers.

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?

Blinatumomab Receives Breakthrough Therapy Designation for ALL

July 1st 2014

The FDA has granted a breakthrough therapy designation to blinatumomab for the treatment of adult patients with Philadelphia-negative relapsed/refractory B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)

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

Dr. Kim Discusses Detecting EGFR and KRAS Mutations from Cell-Free Plasma DNA of NSCLC Patients

June 16th 2014

Edward S. Kim, MD, chairman, Solid Tumor Oncology and Investigational Therapeutics, Levine Cancer Institute, Carolinas HealthCare System, discusses the use of improved and complete enrichment co-amplification at lower denaturation temperature method for the detection of EGFR and KRAS mutations from cell-free plasma DNA of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Offering Genetic Counseling Before Testing Saves Money, Reduces Unnecessary Tests

June 13th 2014

Patients who receive genetic counseling before they undergo testing are educated about these tests and may have fewer unnecessary procedures

Regional Cancer Care Associates Delivers Value-Based Care

June 10th 2014

We have been asked on numerous occasions why would almost 100 oncologists "give up their independence and identity in their community" and become part of Regional Cancer Care Associates (RCCA), a new entity with a single tax identification number?

Bundled Payment Strategies Move Beyond the Pilot Stage

June 10th 2014

Bundled payments are no longer being relegated to pilot program status, according to a report from the Health Care Incentives Improvement Institute (HCI3). Instead, more and more public and private payers are committing to this model as a core payment and delivery reform strategy.

Peter B. Bach, MD, Discusses New Payment Reform Models

June 6th 2014

Peter B. Bach, MD, MAPP, discussed at a conference recently hosted by The American Journal of Managed Care how new payment models are challenging the current fee-for-service model for community care cancer centers.

WellPoint Study Shows Office-based Practices Deliver Less Costly Cancer Care

June 5th 2014

A retrospective analysis of pharmacy and medical claims conducted by WellPoint shows that the costs to treat and care for cancer patients can be 3% to 14% less, depending on cancer type, when it is provided by oncologist-owned practices versus hospital-owned practices.