Clinical

Aetna and the University of Chicago Medicine kicked off a value-based oncology medical home model in July this year in an effort to transition from fee-for-service to value-based care.

The primary care doctor's involvement in a patient's weight-loss program can significantly improve patient outcomes, a study published in Patient Education & Counseling has found.

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network has announced the development of another "price" calculator that will help stakeholders assess the relative "value" of available options.

In a study that will surely set off alarms, Kansas researcher Kyle Chapman found that those with a college degree gain more benefits from good diets and exercise than those without the same education.

The study published in Science Translational Medicine found that tissue stiffening in the breasts of obese women can drive the development of malignant disease.

Conducted by researchers at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, phase 2 results from a basket trial evaluated the efficacy of vemurafenib on nonmelanoma BRaf V600-mutated cancers in 122 patients across 23 global centers.

Research conducted at the University of Texas has identified an important role of psychological disorders in the early readmission of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Pelvic Floor Disorders (PFDs) affect tens of millions of women in the US alone, yet both provider and patient awareness remains low.

New resources are being directed toward precision medicine, particularly in cancer care. With that in mind, Evidence-Based Oncology, a publication of The American Journal of Managed Care, devotes its current issue to articles and commentaries on this growing field.

Evidence provided by a study published in The Lancet Oncology affirms that oral contraceptives provide long-term protection against endometrial cancer.

An article published in JAMA Oncology underscores the need for efforts to improve quality of life for cancer patients.

Analysis of results from the CHAARTED trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, has found that 6 cycles of chemotherapy (docetaxel) before androgen-deprivation therapy early in the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer significantly improved overall survival than treatment with ADT alone.

Semaglutide is currently available as an injectible only, but the company is working on a once-daily pill form.

A multicollaborative study conducted for the National Cancer Institute has resulted in a tool called the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE). PRO-CTCAE can help integrate the patient perspective into adverse event reporting.

The basis for determining Medicare payment rates for clinical diagnostic laboratory tests is changing. These changes will be important for all payers and providers to follow for future reimbursement and contract negotiations.

A prominent neuroscientist has developed the Quick Dementia Rating System to reliably, and quickly, identify patients suffering from dementia.

The study published in Diabetes Care showed that a relatively simple intervention reduced gestational diabetes 39% for women at risk.

A panel of healthcare experts invited by The American Journal of Managed Care participated in the Oncology Stakeholders Summit, Spring 2015 Peer Exchange, to discuss 340B and other issues in oncology care.

A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that older women with breast cancer have a poor response to chemotherapy, while older patients with advanced colon cancer (both men and women) did well.

After months of waiting, reimbursement for the Prolaris test will begin effective October 15, 2015.

Precision medicine will perhaps establish some of the most important biomedical innovations of our generation. However, for that future to become a reality, we have to create an access and reimbursement environment that is conducive to precision care.

Evidence-Based Oncology spoke with Mark Capone about the challenges and opportunities in molecular diagnostics, and what's ahead at Myriad Genetics.

In his editorial piece, Joseph Alvarnas, MD, narrates the importance of precision medicine in oncology care.

Research published in the Journal of Oncology Practice found that factors unrelated to the individual patient accounted for the majority of variation in the cost of radiation therapy for breast, prostate, and lung cancer patients.

There is a quiet revolution happening among health plans. Mothers and fathers who work for health insurance companies-and who had the support of a doula at the time of childbirth-are beginning to inquire about expanding benefits to include coverage for this evidence-based service.

According to a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, outpatient process measures need a fair balance between measures for underuse and overuse of clinical services.

A novel risk-stratification index can help avoid unnecessary colonoscopies in individuals at low-risk for developing colorectal cancer.

A collaborative research study has discovered the effective use of magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the noninvasive diagnosis and molecular characterization of brain tumors in children.