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.

CVS Reverses Course on Dispensary Exclusion Plan

October 28th 2016

CVS Health has changed its mind about excluding physician-owned dispensaries from Medicare Part D drug distribution.

Active Surveillance a Valued Approach for Early Prostate Cancer

October 28th 2016

Before undergoing surgery, radiation therapy, or a systemic treatment, Clayton S. Lau, MD, advises that the active surveillance approach for some patients with early prostate cancer is likely a more effective approach—but they should be better educated on it.

Dr. Saenger on the Importance of Biomarkers When Administering Immunotherapy

October 27th 2016

Yvonne Saenger, MD, director of Melanoma Immunotherapy at Columbia University Medical Center, discusses the importance of developing accurate biomarkers when it comes to administering immunotherapy.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Value-Based Care

October 27th 2016

The evolving healthcare landscape creates many challenges for community-based oncology practices. As the market shifts from fee-for-service to value-based care, practices are tasked with improving quality while reducing costs.

FDA Grants Nivolumab Priority Review for Urothelial Carcinoma

October 22nd 2016

The FDA has granted a priority review designation to nivolumab as a treatment for patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic urothelial carcinoma following progression on a platinum-containing therapy.

FDA Updates Enzalutamide Label in mCRPC

October 21st 2016

The FDA has updated the label for enzalutamide in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer to include new data from the phase II TERRAIN study.

FDA Approves Olaratumab for Soft Tissue Sarcoma

October 19th 2016

The FDA has granted an accelerated approval olaratumab in combination with doxorubicin for the treatment of patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma who are not good candidates for radiotherapy or surgery.

Dr. Rimm on Biomarker Testing in Lung Cancer

October 19th 2016

David L. Rimm, MD, PhD, professor of pathology and of medicine, director of pathology tissue services, director of translational pathology, Yale Cancer Center, discusses various options for biomarker testing in lung cancer.

Dipping a Toe Into Care Management

October 16th 2016

Fee-for-service remains the primary driver of patient revenue for the majority of oncology practices across the country, and the same is true for The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.

Medical Devices Begin Learning How to Talk

October 15th 2016

Edward P. Ambinder, MD, discusses advances on improving the interoperability of computer technology to facilitate the sharing and security of patient records for the purposes of furthering patient-centric, coordinated, and value-based care.

CMS Final Rule on MACRA Reform Eases Pressure

October 15th 2016

The Final Rule from CMS on the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) eases the pressure on small, rural practices to meet reporting and performance standards and explains more about the intentions behind the recently announced 2017 transition year.

Dr. Cohen on Biomarker Testing in Head and Neck Cancer

October 15th 2016

Ezra Cohen, MD, associate director, Moores Cancer Center, professor of Medicine, University of California, San Diego Health System, discusses biomarker testing in patients with head and neck cancer.

Flat Fee Plan Boosts Outcomes and Pay

October 12th 2016

After flat-fee system of financing cancer care at two large oncology practices in Northern California has improved patient outcomes and increased doctor compensation while defying inflationary pressures and holding the line on treatment costs.

Brace for a Dark and Stormy 2017

October 8th 2016

Although many reform efforts are based on good intentions, these efforts are not always well respected. There is a drive afoot to terminate the charter for the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation.

FDA Grants Priority Review to Daratumumab Triplets for Relapsed Myeloma

October 8th 2016

The FDA has granted a priority review designation to daratumumab (Darzalex) in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone or bortezomib and dexamethasone for patients with relapsed multiple myeloma following at least 1 prior therapy.

Daratumumab Combo Data Published as FDA Considers New Myeloma Indication

October 6th 2016

As the FDA considers a supplemental biologics license application for 2 daratumumab-based triplet regimens in multiple myeloma, the results for 1 of the pivotal phase III studies supporting the sBLA have been published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Southeast to Take Brunt of ACA Pullouts

October 5th 2016

One by one, major payers have announced they will withdraw from many Affordable Care Act marketplaces at the end of this year, leaving residents of hundreds of counties with just one or two payers selling policies on the government-run exchanges.

COA: Trend of Oncology Practice Closures, Consolidations Softens

October 5th 2016

The tide of closings, mergers, and acquisitions among independent oncology clinics remains strong but appears to be tapering a bit

FDA Grants Alectinib Breakthrough Designation for Frontline ALK+ NSCLC

October 4th 2016

The FDA has granted a breakthrough therapy designation to alectinib (Alecensa) as a frontline treatment for patients with ALK-positive non–small cell lung cancer.

Conway Defends Scope of Drug Pricing Model

September 30th 2016

Patrick Conway, MD, says that the demonstration drug pricing plan, which would raise payment for low-cost drugs and lower payment for high-priced drugs, is chiefly about improving outcomes.