Surabhi Dangi-Garimella, PhD

According to CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the cigarette smoking rate of adults in the United States has seen a significant drop during the decade from 2005 to 2015.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Ad Hoc Palliative Care Expert Panel has developed specific evidence-based recommendations for access to palliative care services for individuals with advanced cancer and for their family caregivers.

A study published in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network has found that screening for distress tests improves provider confidence and awareness toward person-centered care.

The Prevent Cancer Foundation has developed a digital tool that can compare coverage of screening tests for breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancers across health insurance plans available in a specific state.

The FDA commissioner and the acting administrator of CMS have published an opinion piece in JAMA that recommends changes with trial design, data collection, and the need for collaboration across public and private sectors.

Based on a retrospective meta-analysis of clinical trial data, authors of a recent paper in JAMA Oncology concluded that BRAF/MEK and programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) inhibitors were the most effective treatments that were relatively safe in melanoma.

A new study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins University has found that second opinions did not change treatment choice among men diagnosed with low-risk prostate cancer.

Researchers from Canada’s McGill University have developed a potential tool that can detect early signs of cachexia in cancer patients, which could impact survival.

A new study in the Journal of Oncology Practice has found that the health plan requirement of counseling by certified geneticists could have led to patient access issues in oncology.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has announced that it is collaborating with Innovative Oncology Business Solutions, Inc, on ASCO COME HOME.

A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that more than 25% of older adults have not engaged in planning for end-of-life care or advance directives.

A new study suggests that a Web-based intervention could improve a cancer survivor’s cognitive function post treatment.

CVS Health has reversed its decision on physician dispensing of specialty drugs, originally meant to be implemented by January 1, 2017.

A perspective piece, published by researchers from Rutgers University, laments the lack of interest shown by researchers in a clinical trial data-sharing project launched in January 2014.

An animal study conducted at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, has identified a mechanism to strengthen the immune response of T cells in cancer patients who are treated with checkpoint inhibitors.

A coalition of 9 universities in the United States has been awarded $6.3 million by the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences to bring patient-reported outcomes front and center in the clinic.

Long-term follow-up of women who underwent mastectomy and breast reconstruction subsequent to a breast cancer diagnosis found that the success of the procedure and associated complications were not influenced by the woman’s age.

An 18-month study conducted at a 384-bed community hospital found that including hospitalists in the care team reduced the cost of inpatient care without any impact on the quality of care rendered.

At the Payer Exchange Summit V, sponsored by the Community Oncology Alliance, oncologists and payers came together to discuss the role of collaboration and data sharing for the successful implementation of the Oncology Care Model.

At the Payer Exchange Summit V, sponsored by the Community Oncology Alliance (COA), 2 employer groups and a provider participated on a panel to provide practical insight into the extraordinary challenges and decisions faced by employers and employees with a cancer diagnosis.

What are some of the challenges that clinical practices will face as they implement the Medicare Oncology Care Model (OCM)? What are some of the strategies that have worked for practices using similar payment models? These were some of the questions discussed at the Payer Exchange Summit V.

At the Payer Exchange Summit V, sponsored by the Community Oncology Alliance, held October 24-25, 2016, in Tyson’s Corner, Virginia, Bruce Gould, MD, presented an overview of how cancer care has improved over the years, what the challenges are, and how practices can adapt to payment reform.

Including a real-time decision support tool in the prior authorization process significantly reduced the cost of therapy for UnitedHealthcare, while complying with nationally accepted guidelines established by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.

Analysis by researchers from the American Cancer Society has found that US southern states rank at the top when it comes to death from cigarette smoking.

Panel members discuss the level of physician awareness regarding changes that will follow the implementation of CMS’ recently released Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA).

Communication gaps complicate healthcare and can devastate the prognosis of a patient undergoing cancer treatment. Here are a few ways to overcome inconsistencies with cancer care delivery

A new study by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania has identified a biomarker that can predict response to treatment with pembrolizumab in stage IV patients with melanoma.

Paired communication training involving patients and oncologists achieves patient-centered care in advanced cancer.

Brain cancer has replaced leukemia as the leading cause of cancer-related death in children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer.

A study presented at the 2016 Annual Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons claims that one-third of women diagnosed with breast cancer do not receive their follow-up exam.