Tony Hagen

Articles

It's Time to Prove Value and Move the Needle on Quality

April 15th 2016

Jennie R. Crews, MD, FACP, discusses how her 18 years of diverse activity in the oncology sector would translate into strong leadership for the Association of Community Cancer Centers and its membership of 20,000.

Aligning Physician Compensation to Value Is No Easy Task

April 14th 2016

Aligning physician compensation to performance can be a dicey matter, as it is difficult to reach a consensus on how to measure physician success. However, a number of oncology practices have been developing systems for doing this and achieving success.

Are Oral Parity Laws Really Effective?

April 11th 2016

Oral parity legislation for getting newer drugs to patients under similar coverage terms as for older drugs often involves a battle that doesn’t stop when a law is passed.

Cost of Biologics Therapy Soars Above Other Cancer Expenses

April 6th 2016

Biologic chemotherapy spending soared several hundred percent from 2004 to 2014; but despite rising treatment costs in general, oncology spending kept pace with spending for all categories of medical care.

NCCN's Evidence Blocks Make the Best of Imprecise Drug Data

March 31st 2016

The NCCN's Evidence Blocks need further data and refinement to overcome subtleties of distinction in drug performance, but they’re the best value system developed so far, NCCN officials reported at their 2016 Annual Conference.

Physicians Put on the Gloves to Debate Best Treatments in Breast Cancer

March 26th 2016

Experts debated whether platinum-based or other additional systemic agents be used in high-risk triple-negative breast cancer, as well as other treatment discussions in breast cancer.

Patient Characteristics Hint at Financial Sensitivity to Cancer Care

March 23rd 2016

A study published recently offers help to physicians in recognizing which of their patients would experience heightened sensitivity to the financial strain of cancer care.

TV Anchor Amy Robach Delivers Riveting Keynote on Breast Cancer Survival

March 12th 2016

Breast cancer survivor and Good Morning America news anchor Amy Robach delivered a compelling keynote address at the 33rd Annual Miami Breast Cancer Conference®.

Lack of Understanding of Margin Width Remains a Hindrance in DCIS

March 11th 2016

There is no clearly acceptable answer to the question of what is the appropriate margin for ductal carcinoma in situ.

More Data Needed to Confirm Early Results on Carboplatin in TNBC

March 11th 2016

Carboplatin shows promise in treating metastatic BRCA-mutated triple negative breast cancer.

Community Practices Say Moonshot May Sputter

March 4th 2016

Physicians who have been active in clinical trials programs were divided in their opinions of how well the Moonshot initiative would succeed, and whether it would benefit independent oncology practices.

COA Conference Changes With the Times

March 4th 2016

The 2016 Community Oncology Conference, Innovation in Cancer Care: Moving From Theory to Practice, from April 13-15, will feature an expanded lineup of clinical presentations.

Hatch-Waxman Act Keeps Generic Drugs Off the Market

February 22nd 2016

The Hatch Waxman Act, established in 1984 to promote lower cost generics production, is deeply flawed and has contributed to the maintenance of high drug prices.

Social Isolation, Financial Toxicity Equate to Risk Factors in Head and Neck Cancer

February 19th 2016

Patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer should be screened for social isolation and financial hardship, as these factors play a role in their ability to stay on medication, minimize hospital stays, and achieve optimal health outcomes.

Second Partnership Was the Charm for Seattle Oncology Practice

February 14th 2016

For one group of physicians in Seattle, hooking up with US Oncology seemed like a good idea at first, until circumstances changed and the deal no longer was a benefit for any of the partners.

In-House Pharma Feeling the Pressure From Drug Industry Competition

February 10th 2016

Newer, more stringent USP 800 regulations on cleanrooms are a couple of years off, thanks to a postponement of implementation, but they're still a worry for independent oncology practices, whose in-house pharmacy staff may sit up nights wondering about the stability of their drug revenues.

Pursue Mergers, Affiliations With Both Eyes Open

February 10th 2016

Finding the right partner can lead to a much higher level of practice for physicians, as well as broader responsibilities that add fulfillment to one’s career.

Radiologists Feel Need to Speak Up About Value They Bring to Oncology

February 9th 2016

Though they often lend strength to oncology practices by combining through mergers and affiliations, radiologists are feeling pressure to demonstrate the importance of their work, as the value transition brings increasing scrutiny to levels of waste, inaccuracy, utility, and technological sophistication in their trade.

2015 Was a Year of Integration–and Adjustment

January 18th 2016

Looking back on 2015 in the field of oncology practice, a lot of the groundwork was laid for what the Association of Community Cancer Centers predicted in a fall report: “increased reliance on team-based care and care provided by nonphysicians.”

Federal Agency Too Weak to Regulate 340B Drug Discount Program

January 15th 2016

A fresh study of the much exploited 340B Drug Discount Program says that draft guideline revisions under consideration would likely not be successful because the Health Resource and Services Administration does not have the statutory authority to impose or to enforce them.

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