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.

Joining Forces Without Loss of Independence

December 25th 2016

Keeping a medical practice strong and independent in today’s turbulent environment can be quite challenging.

FDA Issues Complete Response Letter for Lutathera in Neuroendocrine Tumors

December 24th 2016

The FDA has issued a complete response letter to Advanced Accelerator Applications informing the company that its new drug application for Lutathera as a treatment for patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors would need to be resubmitted.

FDA Grants Marketing Approval to AeroForm Tissue Expansion Device for Patients Following Mastectomy

December 22nd 2016

The FDA has approved the marketing of AeroForm, a new system for soft tissue expansion in 2-stage breast reconstruction following mastectomy, and in the treatment of underdeveloped breasts and soft tissue deformities.

FDA Grants JCAR017 Breakthrough Designation for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

December 21st 2016

JCAR017 has received an FDA breakthrough therapy designation for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory, aggressive large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

FDA Grants Niraparib Priority Review in Ovarian Cancer

December 20th 2016

The FDA has granted a priority review to a new drug application for the PARP 1/2 inhibitor niraparib for use as a maintenance therapy in patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who have responded to platinum-based chemotherapy.

President Obama Signs 21st Century Cures Act

December 14th 2016

President Barack Obama signed the 21st Century Cures Act into law today, earmarking $6.3 billion over 10 years for advancements in precision medicine development, brain research, heroin and prescription drug abuse prevention, and mental health.

High-User Focus Trims Oncology Tab

December 13th 2016

It was 15 years ago that Jeffrey Brenner, MD, hypothesized that patients with the highest costs in the Camden, New Jersey, healthcare system received the worst care.

FDA Grants Priority Review to Durvalumab in Bladder Cancer

December 10th 2016

The FDA has granted a priority review to a biologics license application for the PD-L1 inhibitor durvalumab for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma whose disease has progressed on standard platinum‑based chemotherapy.

Cures Act Moves Step Closer to Adoption With Senate Approval

December 8th 2016

The sweeping, $6.3 billion 21st Century Cures Act, designed to create a 10-year pool of money for precision medicine development and social health initiatives, gained overwhelming Senate approval Wednesday and goes next to President Obama, who has said he will sign the bill.

Humana CEO Cheers for Risk-based Models

December 5th 2016

Value-based reforms from CMS have been received like extra work at the end of a long hard day. It hasn’t helped that making the leap to patient-centered care has involved grappling with a new set of quality metrics and wringing higher levels of performance out of electronic health reporting systems.

Dr. Berk on the Role of Hospitals Versus Independents

December 2nd 2016

As insurers and the federal government look for ways to reduce costs in oncology, the division of care between large, academic institutions and smaller providers is undergoing a process of change, says Seth Berk, MD, chair of the Financial Audit Committee for Regional Cancer Care Associates (RCCA) and a Mount Holly, New Jersey, specialist in internal medicine, hematology and oncology.

Passed by House, 21st Century Cures Act Could Spur Advances, Weaken FDA

December 2nd 2016

Viewed by some as a boon for precision medicine, an Alzheimer’s cure, brain research, and opioid abuse prevention, but also seen as weakening the FDA’s regulatory power, the $6.3 billion 21st Century Cures Act passed overwhelmingly in the House Wednesday by a vote of 392-26.

FDA Grants Pembrolizumab Priority Review for Hodgkin Lymphoma

December 1st 2016

The FDA has granted a priority review to a supplemental biologics license application for pembrolizumab for use as a treatment for patients with refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma or those who have relapsed after ≥3 lines of therapy,

Challenging "What We Think We Know"

November 29th 2016

One of the basic tenets of science is the concept that all accepted “truths” are subject to objective testing and, through this process, can be shown to be false.

FDA Grants Ponatinib Full Approval for Rare Leukemias

November 29th 2016

The FDA has granted a full approval and label update to ponatinib for patients with chronic phase, accelerated phase, or blast phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) or Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) for whom no other tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy is indicated, as well as for patients with T315I-positive CML or T315I-positive Ph+ ALL.

FDA Grants Priority Review to Pembrolizumab for MSI-H Cancer

November 29th 2016

The FDA has granted a priority review to a supplemental biologics license application for pembrolizumab for previously treated patients with advanced microsatellite instability-high cancer.

Chasing Value Through an Imperfect Lens

November 25th 2016

We all know that healthcare is at a crossroads: to the left, there is rationed care, and to the right, you have economic insolvency, if we remain on our current course.

COA Declares Early Victory in CMS Part B Payment Battle

November 24th 2016

The change of administrations in Washington, DC may undermine the future of a proposal to revise Medicare Part B drug compensation, a plan that has been widely criticized in the oncological community because of the potential reduction in profit margins it entails.

When Well-Meaning Health Policy Goes Awry

November 23rd 2016

Those responsible for developing and implementing governmental health policy have an extremely difficult job. Not only do they have to attempt to satisfy often highly unrealistic expectations of legislators for overall goals and timelines, but they also are frequently asked to accomplish a task with woefully inadequate funding.

Expert Discusses the Future of Circulating Biomarkers in Prostate Cancer

November 23rd 2016

Biomarkers play a key role in the optimization of treatments for patients with prostate cancer. According to Mark Stein, MD, they can even serve as clinical endpoints in trials.