Clinical

Presenting patients with a one-page handout of information on additional interventions and data on the low value of a service did little to dissuade patients choosing to use a low-value service.

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.

An individualized comprehensive care package for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients reduces 90-day mortality.

Robert W. Dubois, MD, PhD, of National Pharmaceutical Council, will discuss care pathways, how they are created, their implementation in US healthcare, and more, on January 28, 1-2 pm ET, during a tweetchat.

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.

An estimated 15.7% of individuals 65 or older may have received nonrecommended screenings for prostate and breast cancer, according to a new study published in JAMA Oncology.

Palliative care initiated in the emergency department for patients with advanced cancer improves quality of life without shortening survival.

Patients with high mental health care costs incur nearly 30% more costs than the usual high-cost patients.

At the 57th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, oncologists discussed trial data evaluating combination therapies for multiple myeloma and lymphoma.

A retrospective analysis of data from the National Cancer Data Base has found that patients who had cancer surgery at 56 days after the end of combined chemoradiotherapy presented with the best overall survival and successful removal of their residual tumors.

A new law in California mandates hospitals recognize and involve family caregivers during hospital admissions and discharges in order to reduce the barriers for better care.

A study presented at the 2016 Cancer Survivorship Symposium hosted by the American Society of Clinical Oncology has identified significant uncertainty on who is responsible for the care of cancer survivors.

What we're reading, January 20, 2016: UnitedHealth losses on Obamacare health plans steepen; more "skin in the game" doesn't necessarily result in savvier shoppers; and despite recommendations few high school students are tested for HIV.

The results of a new JAMA study underscore the importance of advance care planning in improving the quality of care that patients receive at the end of life.

What we're reading, January 19, 2016: the Obama administration is looking to make it easier for patients to access their medical records; a clinical trial has left 1 brain dead and 4 hospitalized; and hospitals are experimenting with mobile technologies to track patient health at home.

Radiologists and breast cancer specialists disagree with the US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation of raising the age of screening mammography to 50 years.

This week in managed care the top stories included the announcement of a initiative to cure cancer, pharmaceutical company executives brushed off public outrage over drug prices, and the president's nominee for FDA commissioner has passed his first hurdle.

Less than 50% of patients diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma between 15 and 39 years of age received recommended care within the first year after their treatment, a Kaiser Permanente study has found.

What we're reading, January 15, 2016: new report finds flaws in how the FDA tracks drugs after they reach the market; rate of uninsured Hispanic children hits historic low; and CVS and New York State make medication that reverses opioid overdose available without prescription.

The National Immunotherapy Coalition has coalesced leaders from large pharma, biotech, academic cancer centers, community oncologists, and a health plan, with the hope of accelerating the development path of next generation immunotherapy in oncology.

What we're reading, January 14, 2016: President Obama proposes extending financial assistance for new states expanding Medicaid eligibility; Hillary Clinton goes hard after Bernie Sanders on single-payer healthcare; and health information exchanges reduce repeated imaging procedures.

The American Journal of Managed Care asked Matthew Banegas, PhD, MPH, Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, to comment on his new study published in Health Affairs.

A recent study analyzed screening procedures of community health centers and was able to quantify the screening gap for hepatitis C according to gender and race/ethnicity.

ASCO's Task Force on Clinical Pathways demands greater transparency with pathway development, increased flexibility, and evidence of improved outcomes subsequent to pathway implementation.