The Supreme Court upholds the ACA: Key takeaways for cancer programs

Lindsay Conway on June 29, 2012  |  Permalink  | Comments (2)

Topics: Oncology, Service Lines, Market Trends, Strategy, Health Care Reform, Payer and Regulatory Policy, Accountable Care

Following months of uncertainty about the fate of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), yesterday the Supreme Court upheld the health care reform law, including the individual mandate that requires most Americans to purchase health insurance.

However, the Court did elect to limit the federal government’s ability to withhold funds from states for failing to expand Medicaid. It ruled that existing federal Medicaid funds cannot be taken away. As a result, expanding Medicaid eligibility for citizens up to 133% of the federal poverty level is now effectively optional for states. This will likely limit the degree to which the law expands access to health insurance as many states have already indicated they will opt out of the expansion.

Continue reading:
The Supreme Court upholds the ACA: Key takeaways for cancer programs

MEVION S250 receives FDA 510(k) clearance

on June 19, 2012  |  Permalink  | Comments (1)

Topics: Oncology, Service Lines, Radiation Therapy

Megan Bailey, Oncology Roundtable

The FDA has recently approved the MEVION S250 proton therapy system, which aims to reduce costs and make proton beam therapy more widely available.

View the post below to see an analysis of the FDA's decision from our colleagues in Technology Insights.

Continue reading:
MEVION S250 receives FDA 510(k) clearance

Early palliative care for metastatic NSCLC associated with lower costs and hospital resource use

on June 14, 2012  |  Permalink  | Comments (1)

Topics: Service Lines, Oncology, Lung Cancer, Tumor Site Strategy, Palliative Care, Methodologies, Performance Improvement

Shruti Tiwari, Oncology Roundtable

A study presented last week at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's (ASCO) annual meeting revealed that early palliative care for individuals diagnosed with metastatic non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) reduced health care costs during the last month of life by $2,282 when compared to individuals who received standard oncology care.

Past studies have revealed that offering palliative care soon after diagnosis leads to improved quality of life, mood, end-of-life care, and survival, but this study is one of the few that associates palliative care with lower hospital costs and resource use.

Continue reading:
Early palliative care for metastatic NSCLC associated with lower costs and hospital resource use