Oncology

Top managed care news of the week includes new recommendation to screen all adults for depression, new issue of The American Journal of Managed Care places attention on mental health care, and Donald Trump calls for Medicare to negotiate drug prices.

A study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology concluded that tbo-filgrastim is similar to filgrastim for ASCT mobilization in patients with MM or NHL.

Mortality in adolescent and young adult Hodgkin lymphoma patients is significantly affected by ethnic and socioeconomic factors, as well as insurance status, according to a new study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

At the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, physicians gathered to discuss the impact of alternate payment models on clinical practice.

A study presented at the 57th meeting of the American Society of Hematology finds that distance from the site of care could could adversely affect outcomes in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia.

At the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, researchers from the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center presented analysis evaluating the factors that influence health outcomes in children with sickle cell disease.

Learn where clinical care pathways stand today and what the future holds with respect to developing and implementing them.

The FDA has created the Drug Trial Snapshot, which provides details on the demographic profiles of participants in clinical trials of approved drugs.

The 3 prescriptions for reforming the 340B Drug Discount Program proposed by authors in the December issue of Evidence-Based Oncology would limit safety net hospitals' abilities to treat vulnerable patients.

A review by an independent Data Monitoring Committee found that nivolumab improved overall survival in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, compared with the control arm.

A study presented during a health outcomes session at the American Society of Hematology meeting evaluated the difference in overall survival in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated in academic versus nonacademic hospitals.

Results presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology found that many patients diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia may not have access to or receive appropriate care, in part due to their insurance coverage.

Results from a patient-reported outcomes measure of symptoms and symptom burden, experienced by patients with acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome, were presented at the 57th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology.

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology has found that smoking before and after diagnosis of breast cancer is associated with increased mortality from breast cancer as well as other conditions, including respiratory and cardiovascular disease.

The FDA seeks a nationwide ban on indoor tanning among those under 18. Right now, a patchwork of laws bar teens from indoor tanning in some states and require parental consent in others.

Personalized medicine has been the mantra in healthcare for quite some time, but finding health plans with blanket coverage policies for diagnostic testing is a struggle.

An educational session on Patient-Reported Outcomes in Hematology at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, discussed the importance of embracing the patient perspective in healthcare delivery.

At the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, experts discussed quality measurement, public performance reporting, and pay-for-performance and it's impact on healthcare in the United States.

Thirteen hematologists on the American Society of Hematology(ASH)'s Choosing Wisely Task Force chose the top 5 of 380 recommendations listed by 70 other societies for presentation at ASH.

The authors of the study recommend lowering the screening age for colorectal cancer (CRC), especially for first-degree relatives of CRC patients and those with a genetic predisposition to the disease.

Top managed care stories this week included UnitedHealth reporting larger-than-expected losses on Affordable Care Act health plans, new guidelines from the government that will improve patient access to medical records, and new information that can reduce risk of diabetes.

Kavita Patel, MD, fellow in economic studies and managing director at Brookings Institution, discussed how the cost of drugs should be accounted for in the total cost of care, and the importance of considering patient needs when offering drugs.

Carfilzomib has been approved by the FDA for use in combination with dexamethasone or lenalidomide, in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma who have previously received 1 to 3 lines of therapy.

At a joint session at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, primary clinical reviewers from the FDA discussed the safety and efficacy issues of 3 very recently approved drugs for multiple myeloma, along with 2 clinicians who have extensive experience with these drugs in the real-world setting.

A session on the first day of the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, held December 5-8, 2015, in Orlando, Florida, clinicians discussed the promise and challenges of using newly approved hematology/oncology agents.