Oncology Business Management | Specialty

The OncLive Oncology Business Management condition center page is a comprehensive resource for news and expert insights on business-focused updates and topics in oncology practices, including diversity efforts, telehealth, gaps in care, payment models, and more. This page features news articles, interviews in written and video format, and podcasts that focus on updates and best practices with oncology business management.

Retailing Finds a Small Niche in the Independent Clinic

July 10th 2017

Whether the practice is large, with a boutique staffed by a full-time employee, or small, with an unmanned rack in the waiting room, it isn’t uncommon for a clinic to try selling nonmedical products to patients.

Texas Oncology Holds Physicians Accountable for Performance Improvement

July 8th 2017

About 5 years ago, Texas Oncology moved to improve accountability and pathways compliance by introducing a pay incentive that put 2% to 3% of a physician’s pay at risk.

Nanotech Remains a Robust Research Focus

July 7th 2017

The nanotechnology sector has had its share of disappointments in the arena of oncology therapeutics. Nevertheless, the FDA is reviewing a new drug application for a novel compound and numerous investigational agents are in the pipeline.

MedPAC's Drug Price Solution May Be a Problem in Disguise

July 4th 2017

Over the past 3 years, there has been a growing chorus of complaint about the rising costs of medications, particularly in oncology.

Early Access Programs: Look at the Facts, Not the Rhetoric

July 3rd 2017

The impact of the Trump administration's agenda is being felt in the healthcare arena, prominently in the oversight for drug approvals.

The OCM Has Been Challenging, But Effective

June 28th 2017

There is a lack of hard data on practice performance that makes it difficult to understand where to make improvements so that goals under the OCM can be reached.

How a Northwestern Practice Gained by Accepting Patients of All Means

June 28th 2017

Cancer Care Northwest made a successful bet on going fully independent and became a dominant provider in its market.

Clinical Data Can Mislead Without Meaningful Analysis

June 27th 2017

CMS has put so much emphasis on reported data that it is now paramount for oncology practices to understand how data should be sifted and interpreted to arrive at meaningful conclusions.

Administrators Say OCM Monthly Payments Won't Cover Costs of Improved Care

June 27th 2017

Practices in CMS’ Oncology Care Model are individually receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in new annual revenue, but physicians and administrators are not exactly celebrating the influx of cash.

FDA Approves Subcutaneous Rituximab for Blood Cancers

June 22nd 2017

The FDA has approved subcutaneous rituximab (Rituxan Hycela) for the treatment of adults with previously untreated and relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma, previously untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and previously untreated and previously treated chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

ASCO Says Senate Healthcare Bill Is a Disappointment

June 22nd 2017

Senate Republicans have introduced a healthcare bill that would revise many of the changes imposed by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, cutting federal support for Medicaid and repealing the individual and employer mandates for having and providing insurance.

The Pressure for Drug Pricing Reform Intensifies

June 19th 2017

Regulatory actions have significantly reduced oncologists' pay in recent years, as part of the effort to improve value, but reforms are needed much higher up the drug distribution chain.

Hunting for Biomarkers in Paraffin Wax

June 13th 2017

Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women’s Hospital are attempting to improve personalized medicine by analyzing DNA samples for known cancer biomarkers.

Keeping the Pathway Focus on Treatment Instead of Cost Will Ensure the Best Care

June 11th 2017

A divide has developed between pathways that primarily serve physicians and those that cater to payers that are trying to rein in costs.

Is Healthcare Ready for an Uber-Type Patient Application?

June 10th 2017

Genomics, proteomics, precision analytics, Big Data analysis, and artificial intelligence now in use or in late phases of development can help healthcare providers to achieve the promises of the Triple Aim of medicine: improve clinical outcomes for all, reduce total cost of care for the populations served, and improve patient experiences

ASCO Partners With FDA to Incorporate Real-World Evidence Into Drug Decisions

June 9th 2017

In recognition of the potential for real-world evidence to significantly improve the way patients with cancer are treated, CancerLinQ has formed new partnerships with the US government that are expected to coordinate the sharing of patient data and incorporate that information into the FDA regulatory process.

Tennessee Oncology Group Finds Growth Bonanza in Clinical Trials

June 9th 2017

After a trio of mergers and sustained organic growth, Tennessee Oncology has 81 physicians who provide care in 30 locations in central and east Tennessee.

Experts Say Current Patient Portals Leave Much Room for Improvement

June 9th 2017

For about a decade, patient portals have been hailed as the wave of the future. However, many still require some work before they reach peak functionality, partly because many patients are reluctant to use them.

Pharmacies Are Wary of Risking Revenues to Promote Value-Based Care

June 8th 2017

Major pharmacy companies are paying attention to the movement toward value-based care in oncology, but recent comments from representatives of 2 top firms suggest this sector is wary of risking capital to lower costs and improve patient outcomes.

ACOs Rapidly Expand, But Cost and Quality Improvements Lag Behind

June 8th 2017

The number of accountable care organizations across the country has grown rapidly in the last 5 years, creating opportunities and challenges for oncology practices as they seek to benefit from the organizations’ referral networks, shared-savings programs, and care-improvement efforts.