July 2016

CMS, through the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation, has launched an initiative called the Oncology Care Model that is designed to maintain clinical outcomes and reduce the total cost of care. The obvious first question is, has it been designed to do so?

Medical students who obtain an MBA are less likely to remain in clinical work, however, and the study results suggest that the business world and its monetary gains are a powerful lure.

Physicians tend to agree that the practice of defensive medicine is widespread, especially in oncology where much more is at stake than in the general practitioner's office. However, things can go drastically wrong.

The pace of consolidation shows no sign of slowing down, and this trend also applies to oncology, as more and more community-based oncology practices are joining large health systems.

The statistics show you are much more likely to encounter an independent oncology practice in Alaska than in New Hampshire.

Pressures on independent oncology practices have been mounting for years, as payer data-reporting requirements become more onerous and revenue from drug reimbursements decline.

Many oncology practices were motivated to join the Oncology Care Model in order to keep up with the evolution of value-based care. But when the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation started telling practices that their applications had been accepted, it was panic time for some.

Ventura County Hematology Oncology Specialists opened its doors 45 years ago and has long occupied a comfortable niche in its local market.

COTA Inc, an independent health care informatics company was founded to build research-grade, real-world data to exponentially improve outcomes and reduce costs—ensuring the right care for the right patient every time.

The Oncology Care Model blew into town this month, rattling the shutters and bringing with it a lot of dust.

The Department of Health and Human Services has turned down a request to override the patent for prostate cancer drug enzalutamide (Xtandi) so that it can be sold to a broader base of patients at a reduced price.

ASCO's value framework tool for scoring drugs evaluated in trials has been upgraded to address more than 400 comments—mainly, responses to a survey—made by physicians and others.