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.

Unprecedented Changes in Oncology: Toward a New Dawn

February 17th 2014

"Are you making progress?" is one of the questions you are most frequently being asked as an oncologist-even in social settings.

Reducing the Costs of Cancer Might Involve 'Physician Heal Thyself'

February 14th 2014

To reduce the costs of cancer, community oncologists increase the use of evidence-based treatments, standardize care with pathways, transition away from fee-for-service, and change communication with patients about reasonable end-of-life care.

At Issue: IMRT Self-Referral

February 14th 2014

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine sparked controversy and criticism when it claimed that many men received unnecessary radiation therapy for their prostate cancer due to self-referral.

Oncology Practices Face Higher Implementation Costs Than Estimated for ICD-10

February 13th 2014

Oncology practices looking to update their EHR to be ICD-10 compliant are facing an even greater cost than originally estimated.

Innovation in EHR Technology Drives Quality Oncology Care

February 13th 2014

The mantra in oncology over the last several years has revolved around how practices should deal with the myriad of challenges they face: new guidelines and regulations, lower reimbursement and a shift toward value-based patient care.

Regional Cancer Care Associates Joins Onclive's Strategic Alliance Partnership

February 12th 2014

Regional Cancer Care Associates will collaborate with OncLive to develop informative resources for oncology professionals that advance patient care.

Ease of Enrollment, Efficiency Key Factors in Oncologists' Perception of Patient Assistance Programs

February 12th 2014

Biopharmaceutical companies that administer patient assistance programs (PAPs) well in terms of service and support parameters seem to benefit from a halo effect among their oncologist customers, according to "PAP Utilization in Cancer Care," a Cogent Reports survey from Market Strategies International, a market research company.

FDA Approves Ibrutinib for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

February 12th 2014

The FDA has expanded the approval of ibrutinib to include the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia who have received at least one previous therapy.

EHR Meaningful Use Deadline Pushed to March 31

February 11th 2014

Providers who are eligible to participate in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) electronic health record (EHR) incentive program have a one month reprieve to show that their practices are using the technology in a meaningfully useful way.

FDA Grants Belinostat Priority Review for Advanced PTCL

February 6th 2014

The FDA has granted a priority review designation to the intravenous pan-HDAC inhibitor belinostat (Beleodaq) as a treatment for patients with relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma

Lawmakers Agree on a Plan to Repeal Sustainable Growth Rate Payment Model

February 6th 2014

Lawmakers have moved to reform Medicare's troublesome physician payment formula with an update that uses a single conversion factor to determine the physician fee schedule.

Genmab Focuses Oncology Research on Monoclonal Antibodies

February 6th 2014

Genmab, the publicly traded, international biotechnology company, has an oncology pipeline that focuses on two classes of drugs: naked antibodies and antibody drug conjugates

Insurers in Government-Run Exchanges to Expand Provider Networks by 30% in 2015

February 5th 2014

A news story from Bloomberg Business News suggests that insurers who are participating in government-run health insurance exchanges will be required to increase "essential community providers" in their local geographic area by 30% by 2015.

Current Physician Compensation Models Prevent Shift to Pay-for-Value

February 4th 2014

Although new physician compensation models promote pay-for-value, episodic bundles, and risk-adjusted bundles, physicians in non-solo practices are compensated using four methods: base salary, compensation based on personal productivity, compensation based on practice financial performance, and bonus based on factors other than personal productivity and practice financial performance.

Eltrombopag Receives Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Severe Aplastic Anemia

February 3rd 2014

Eltrombopag has received a Breakthrough Therapy designation from the FDA for the treatment of cytopenias in patients with severe aplastic anemia who have had insufficient response to immunosuppressive therapy.

Survey: Half of Physician Practices Won't Start Preparing for ICD-10 Until May

February 3rd 2014

A survey about physician practice readiness for the upcoming ICD-10 deadline suggests that half will only start preparing in May 2014 for the transition.

An Enhanced Health Information Exchange Manages Costs and Improves Care

January 31st 2014

Creating an enhanced, common health information exchange (HIE) pipeline where clinicians, payers, and patients share structured information from multiple electronic medical record/electronic record platforms would effectively manage costs and enhance patient care in oncology, according to a recent paper published in the Journal of Oncology Practice.

Survey of First-year ACOs Reveals Operational Challenges with CMS Data

January 29th 2014

Accessing and processing data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) is the leading operational challenge faced by accountable care organizations (ACOs), according to a large-scale survey conducted by the National Association of ACOs.

Patient Flow, Efficiency Tied Up with Office Profitability

January 27th 2014

While hospitals and cancer centers are taking cues from the hospitality industry, office practices are learning that improving the patient flow aids in running an efficient office.

Patient Flow, Efficiency Tied Up with Office Profitability

January 27th 2014

While hospitals and cancer centers are taking cues from the hospitality industry-think hoteliers like Marriott, Hyatt, and even Ritz-Carlton-office practices are learning that improving the patient flow aids in running an efficient office. That is translating into increased profitability.