Oncology

When the COA Patient Advocacy Network converged on Capitol Hill on April 26, 50 advocates were able to discuss their concerns with a number of issues facing patients with cancer, including 340B and clinic consolidation, explained Rose Gerber, director of patient advocacy for the Community Oncology Alliance (COA).

At the 2017 Community Oncology Conference, participants discussed the impact of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) on oncology drug prices and patient access to much needed treatments.

The playing field regarding Medicare reimbursement and drug pricing has to be leveled between hospitals and community oncologists in order for physicians to compete for patients on the basis of the quality of care they provide,

Patients receiving care for advanced non—small cell lung cancer in small, independent oncology practices are more likely to receive chemotherapy in the last 30 days of life.

Second primary malignant neoplasms (SPMs) are a well-known late effect after cancer, and a new study has found that they are more deadly among children and young adults than older adults.

A study evaluating a patient-reported outcomes measure tool in patients who had undergone colorectal surgery recommends using the tool for preoperative counseling prior to surgery.

The FDA announced yesterday it had issued warning letters to 14 companies peddling a total of over 65 products falsely claiming to cure or treat cancer. The agency’s forceful stance seemed intended to raise awareness among vulnerable consumers as well as discourage other potential instances of fraud.

A new report published by the Urban Institute suggests that CMS’ Oncology Care Model could be substantially improved by incorporating a formal framework for shared decision making between patients and oncologists.

Eli Lilly and Company has announced that abemaciclib improved progression-free survival (PFS) when combined with an aromatase inhibitor (AI), compared with AI alone, in patients with breast cancer.

A study published in Cancer Medicine shows that rates of gallbladder cancer have been declining since the 1970s among men, but not for women. It also found that late-stage cases of the cancer have become increasingly common.

The University of Connecticut has initiated recruitment for a phase I trial to test the safety and efficacy of OncoImmunome, a personalized vaccine designed to prevent relapse in patients diagnosed with Stage III or IV ovarian cancer.

By understanding the biology of myeloma tumor cells, researchers can better develop therapies, including drug combinations, that target the complex mechanisms at play in the disease, according to Shaji Kumar, MD, professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic.

At this year’s meeting, themed Fueling the Cancer Moonshot, attendees will gain a better understanding of strategies for success within the community oncology realm.

This week, the top managed care stories included a new rule from CMS to end abuse on the Affordable Care Act insurance exchanges; a study that indicates type 2 diabetes may possibly be reversed; and CareMore unveils a new care model that takes place in the dentist's chair.

When employing immunotherapies, oncologists must be vigilant in spotting any adverse events and calling in their colleagues, like dermatologists or pulmonologists, to help manage these toxicities, according to Matthew Gubens, MD, MS, assistant clinical professor of thoracic oncology at the University of California, San Francisco.

Although the purpose of eligibility criteria is to protect patients from unnecessary harm, define the study population, and allow researchers to collect safety and efficacy data for a specific population, unnecessary restriction may not capture the heterogeneity of real-world patients.

The approval of the Paxman Scalp Cooling System follows a randomized clinical trial, whose results were published in JAMA following an interim analysis.

As the task of describing value delivery in cancer care seems to grow in complexity the closer that we examine it, this is essential in order to both rationally control the growth of healthcare costs and ensure that we do not undermine patient care.

The emergence of alternative payment models, as exemplified by the Oncology Care Model, is requiring oncologists to develop new solutions to meet the requirements of these programs. Technology available at the point of care offers an efficient solution to many of the most labor-intensive processes.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has raised concerns that utilization management strategies, especially for high-cost prescription drugs, could reduce patient access.

Amendments to the Americans with Disabilities Act in 2009 have not eliminated instances of workplace discrimination against employees with cancer, according to a recently published study.

JAMA study highlights need for considering patient preferences when choosing between treatment options for prostate cancer.

The Deloitte Center for Health Solutions recently interviewed individuals from health plans, providers, and clinical pathway developers that are participating, supporting, or evaluating oncology payment models to understand what approaches are perceived to be working, the early results, and the potential impact on innovation.

The approval comes following phase 2 results of 119 patients who participated in the IMvigor210 study.

Oncology care management helps coordinate the clinical aspects of cancer treatment, but it would also be helpful to have a benefits manager to help guide patients through their many options, said Marianne Fazen, PhD, president and CEO of the Texas Business Group on Health.