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.

Software That Does More Than Document Care

May 6th 2017

Practices that meet the goals for improvement in savings and outcomes will be eligible for performance incentive payments.

Independents No Longer Dominate the Chemotherapy Infusion Market

May 5th 2017

As recently as the late 1990s, a practice could charge enough for chemotherapy drugs that it could easily afford to treat patients who had Medicare coverage and no additional insurance. Today, that is often no longer the case.

Revised AHCA Bill Wins House Support, Moves on to Senate

May 5th 2017

House Republicans have passed a revised version of the American Health Care Act by a vote of 217 to 213, without any Democratic support, and despite strenuous opposition from the healthcare community.

Assess, Plan, and Be Flexible for MIPS

May 2nd 2017

Under the new Quality Payment Program, most providers, including community oncologists, are expected to fall under Merit-based Incentive Payment System for the 2017 performance year. With careful analysis and planning, community oncology practices can choose measures that are a good fit and hold the most opportunity for revenue enhancement.

Experts Share Lessons Learned in OCM Adoption Process

May 2nd 2017

The rollout of the Oncology Care Model from CMS has proven to be a challenging road, specifically involving technological challenges, as practices have scrambled to find seamless solutions to bridging old electronic health records with new "patches" designed for the OCM.

FDA Approves Durvalumab for Bladder Cancer

May 1st 2017

The FDA has granted an accelerated approval to the PD-L1 inhibitor durvalumab (Imfinzi) for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy or who have disease progression within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy.

Novel Strategies Recommended for Oral Adherence

May 1st 2017

With the increase of oral medications in oncology, adherence has become a significant issue since patients take the drugs home with them, and whether or not they stick to a regimen is hidden from the provider's view.

FDA Approves Brigatinib for ALK-Positive NSCLC

April 28th 2017

The FDA has granted brigatinib (Alunbrig) an accelerated approval as a treatment for patients with metastatic ALK-positive non–small cell lung cancer who are resistant to prior crizotinib.

Health Policy Director Discusses ACCC's Take on ACA Repeal, MedPAC's Part B Recommendations

April 28th 2017

Leah Ralph discusses the ACCC’s position on the Afforadable Care Act repeal bill, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission’s Part B cost control proposals, and the possibility for comprehensive reform on the 340B Drug Discount Program.

Expert Discusses Impact, Importance of Genetic Testing in Cancer

April 28th 2017

Howard A. “Skip” Burris III, MD, detailed the benefits of performing next-generation sequencing tests on patients with cancer at the 2017 Community Oncology Conference.

COA Highlights Concern Over Growing Influence of PBMs

April 28th 2017

Josh Cox, PharmD, moderated a panel discussion on legislative initiatives to combat the rising power of Pharmacy Benefit Managers at the 2017 Community Oncology Conference. In the talk, he touched on the difficulties of monitoring therapy for patients receiving their drugs from outside pharmacies as well as murkiness off drug pricing and cash flow within the PBM systems.

FDA Grants Lorlatinib Breakthrough Designation for NSCLC

April 27th 2017

The FDA has granted a breakthrough therapy designation to lorlatinib for use in patients with ALK-positive metastatic NSCLC who have previously received 1 or more ALK inhibitors, according to Pfizer, the company developing the next-generation ALK/ROS1 TKI.

COA Tackles PBMs, Big Data, and the OCM at Annual Meeting

April 21st 2017

The real impetus for fueling the Cancer Moonshot is coming from community oncology practices, not large research institutions, according to the Community Oncology Alliance.

FDA Approves Frontline Atezolizumab for Some Bladder Cancer Patients

April 18th 2017

The FDA has granted an accelerated approval to atezolizumab as a frontline treatment for cisplatin-ineligible patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma.

FDA Schedules ODAC Meeting for Neratinib in HER2+ Breast Cancer

April 18th 2017

The FDA has scheduled an Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee hearing for May 24, 2017, to discuss a new drug application for neratinib as a treatment for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer following prior treatment with postoperative trastuzumab, according to a statement from the developer of the TKI, Puma Biotechnology.

FDA Eliminates REMS Requirement for ESAs

April 14th 2017

The FDA has eliminated the need for risk evaluation and mitigation strategy certification prior to the administration of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents for anemia due to myelosuppressive chemotherapy.

Solve Big Questions by Joining Forces

April 13th 2017

To get physicians to work together, an organizing structure is needed and the drive to create partnerships.

ASCO Says Administrative Burdens Divert Time, Resources From Patients

April 12th 2017

More than half (54%) of practices are struggling with rising costs of equipment and facilities, staffing costs, and administration expenses.

Don't Let Physician Burnout Threaten Your Practice's Health

April 11th 2017

Results of a study indicate that 44.7% of practicing oncologists show signs of burnout.

Oncology Value Reformer Seeks AMA Post

April 10th 2017

Barbara McAneny, MD, hopes she can help fix American healthcare’s shortcomings while also promoting its strengths by running for president of the American Medical Association (AMA).