Oncology Business Management | Specialty

The OncLive Oncology Business Management condition center page is a comprehensive resource for news and expert insights on business-focused updates and topics in oncology practices, including diversity efforts, telehealth, gaps in care, payment models, and more. This page features news articles, interviews in written and video format, and podcasts that focus on updates and best practices with oncology business management.

Selecting Your Career Path

December 12th 2013

Medical education and training is very intense, long, and expensive. When nearing the end of training, it is time to select a career path.

Tips to Keep Medical Practices Solvent

December 9th 2013

Medical practices are getting squeezed from all sides and are finding it difficult to stay financially solvent.

Wake Forest Baptist More Than Doubles Cancer Center Size, Adds More Providers

December 9th 2013

To respond to the growing demand in cancer services that the existing cancer center was experiencing, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center is expanding its comprehensive cancer center to help patients cope with the daunting challenges of cancer diagnosis and treatment.

ASH 2013 Preview: CAR Modified T Cells, Novel Assays, and Ibrutinib

December 4th 2013

To gain insight into the studies being presented at the ASH Annual Meeting, we interviewed Marcel R.M. van den Brink, MD, PhD, on abstracts being presented by faculty at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

CMS Issues Final Physician Payment Rates

December 3rd 2013

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services finalized physician payment rates and policies for 2014.

Drug Revenues Expected to Continue Falling in 2014

December 2nd 2013

After a period of relative stability from 1991 to 2004, oncology practices can expect a continued drop in drug revenue in 2014, according to findings of the National Practice Benchmark (NBP) issued by Oncology Metrics.

Dr. Finn on AMG900 in Breast Cancer

December 2nd 2013

Richard S. Finn, MD, associate professor of medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, discusses using AMG900 to treat breast cancer.

Radiology Group Issues Updated Cancer Scan Standards

November 27th 2013

The American College of Radiology (ACR) has issued new and updated evidence-based guidelines to assist oncologists when ordering exams and ensure that patients get the correct scan or therapy for the right indication.

Oncology Group Uses ASCO Metrics for Physician Compensation Program

November 26th 2013

The hematology-oncology division of an academic health center participated in a pilot physician compensation exercise using variable compensation incentives with group-specific targets based on prior below-average performance.

Dr. Herbst on PD-1 Inhibitors in Lung Cancer

November 26th 2013

Roy S. Herbst, MD, PhD, discusses the sequencing possibilities of anti-PD-1 agents in treating patients with lung cancer.

New Oncology Consortium Developing Guidance Policies for Payers

November 25th 2013

A new consortium of payers, clinicians, patients, and pharmaceutical companies are developing recommendations to help generate evidence-based guidelines to define coverage and develop payment decisions for treating cancer.

Two Studies Suggest Pattern of Misuse for Breast MRIs

November 23rd 2013

Two large cohort studies, suggest that the costly scan is being overused in women who won't benefit from it and underused in women who could gain benefit from it.

Oncology Drug Debate Heats Up Over 340B Discount Program

November 22nd 2013

In this age of sequestration and health reform, 340B is getting a closer look by lawmakers-causing critics and advocates to line up to debate its merits.

Are Oncology-Owned Retail Pharmacies the Answer to Keep Practices Viable?

November 20th 2013

Eroding reimbursement rates and a shift from intravenous (IV) to oral chemotherapy are combining to threaten the viability of many community oncology practices.

In Treatment Discussions With Oncologists, Patients Ask 'How Much?'

November 19th 2013

Two studies presented at this year's ASCO meeting suggest that a significant proportion of patients with cancer want to include the cost of therapy in their discussion of treatment options with their physician, regardless of insurance coverage.

Receiving Chemotherapy in a Hospital Can Cost Up to 47% More Than in a Physician's Office

November 19th 2013

Where Medicare patients receive their chemotherapy treatment makes a difference in the number of chemotherapy sessions that they receive on average.

IOM Issues Recommendations to Improve Cancer Care Delivery

November 15th 2013

Delivering high-quality cancer care continues to be a daunting problem for the US healthcare system because of a combination of factors, including an aging population, a shrinking work force, the rising cost of therapies, and a complex disease state and treatment regimen.

Urologist Ownership of Imaging Centers Affects Self-Referral Rates

November 14th 2013

Urologists who treat men with prostate cancer are 2.5 times more likely to refer patients to intensity-modulated radiation therapy centers, especially if they have a financial stake in the IMRT center.

Drugs and Biologics Account for Largest Practice Expenses

November 13th 2013

The highest expense reported by community oncology practices continues to be attributable to drugs and biologics, according to "2013 Trends in Community Cancer Centers," a survey sponsored by the Association of Community Cancer Centers.

FDA Approves Ibrutinib for Mantle Cell Lymphoma

November 13th 2013

Acting ahead of schedule, the FDA has granted an accelerated approval to ibrutinib as a treatment for patients with mantle cell lymphoma who have received at least one prior therapy.