Oncology

As CMS prepares to move forward with new models of value-based cancer care, a radiation oncologist, speaking at the Institute for Value-Based Medicine®, discussed her findings regarding whether accountable care models had an effect on cancer care spending.

Coverage from the Institute for Value-Based Medicine® session held in Nashville, Tennessee.

In cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), there is a greater risk of symptomatic heart failure in the first year following initiation of anthracycline treatment.

Patients with breast cancer who have government insurance face a higher risk of death, according to a retrospective study presented at the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium on December 13.

Dr Alvarnas is editor-in-chief of Evidence-Based Oncology.™ He is vice president of Government Affairs, senior medical director for Employer Strategy, and associate clinical professor, Hematology & Hematologic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, Califonia.

An article Schleicher co-wrote in JAMA Oncology, which appeared the day before the announcement of Oncology Care First, offered insights into the need for changes to the original OCM.

Kashyap Patel, MD, the chief executive officer of Carolina Blood and Cancer Care Associates—a leading OCM practice—and associate editor of Evidence-Based Oncology™ (EBO), said he’s optimistic about Oncology Care First.

A senior vice president of Archway Health discusses challenges and opportunities of the proposed Oncology Care First model.

There was a 37% increase in childhood cancer survival between 1975 and 2010. With more children receiving chemotherapy and radiation to treat their diseases, leading to more survivors, awareness has grown of the belated effects of those treatments once patients reach adulthood.

This review presents a set of evidence-based outcome measures for oncology alternative payment models, drawing on evidence from existing and proposed quality measures.

A recent study published in The New England Journal of Medicine says that women with dense breast tissue who undergo supplemental magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests have lower rates of interval cancers than those who receive only mammography tests, although they also had higher rates of false positive tests.

Amy Ellis, director of quality and value-based care at Northwest Medical Specialties, and Amanda Hodges, director of implementation for ReVital Cancer Rehabilitation, who acts as a bridge between the oncology world and the rehabilitation world, discuss overcoming barriers in practices to help patients with cancer get the rehab care they need, how patients with cancer can benefit from rehab, and defining value.

Blue Cross Blue Shield is dedicated to maintaining local relationships to ensure they can provide the best care continuum to patients, said Jennifer Atkins, MBA, vice president of Network Solutions at Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Patients waited about 2 months longer than necessary for a cancer diagnosis in the United Kingdom, according to a study published this week.

Heart issues in patients with cancer and survivors can present themselves months or years after treatment.

Every week, The American Journal of Managed Care® recaps the top managed care news of the week, and you can now listen to it on our podcast, Managed Care Cast.

This week, the top managed care news included research that may hold the key to slowing progression of multiple sclerosis; Humana says it is saving billions of dollars through value-based care; the challenges of rural healthcare delivery.

Here are the top 5 articles for the month of November.

Here are 5 interesting findings from the November 2019 issue of AJMC®.

After a request for additional input from oncologists, practice administrators, payer representatives, and experts in physician payment and business analysis, ASCO has issued updated guidance on PCOP. With CMS’ Oncology Care Model set to end in 2021, the current draft of ASCO’s Community-based Oncology Medical Home model would be an option to take its place.

The biggest advice I would give to practices and care teams trying to really engage patients more is be innovative, explained James Hamrick, MD, senior medical director at Flatiron Health.

GRAIL has generated enormous innovations in oncology care over the past 2 decades and will continue this trend through exploring 1 of oncology’s biggest opportunities, early detection of cancer, said Joshua Ofman, MD, chief of Corporate Strategy and External Affairs at GRAIL Inc.

A House committee approves a bill to ban all flavored tobacco products; anal cancer rates are on the rise; the debate continues over competing healthcare measures.

Nina Chavez, MBA, FACMPE, chief operating officer, New Mexico Oncology Hematology Consultants, Ltd., discusses if she thinks biosimilars will play a role in lowering costs in coming years.

James Hamrick, MD, senior medical director at Flatiron Health, discusses some of the biggest challenges with trying to understand what constitutes value for patients and then turning that into actionable information.