Value-Based Care

San Diego, CA—An analysis of real-world administrative claims data in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has highlighted the need for treatments that result in fewer adverse events, according to data presented at ASH 2018.

San Diego, CA—For children and young adults diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), receiving treatment at specialized cancer centers has been associated with improved outcomes versus nonspecialized centers, but this comes at an increased cost, according to data presented at ASH 2018.

San Diego, CA—Analysis of healthcare utilization among Medicare beneficiaries with multiple myeloma suggests that the setting of autologous hema­topoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) has a significant impact on provider reimbursement and out-of-pocket expenses for patients, according to data presented at ASH 2018.

Chicago, IL—So far, 2 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies have been approved by the FDA for some types of relapsed or refractory lymphoma and leukemia. Although CAR T-cell therapy has shown promise in many ­patients who have run out of standard treatment options, it is incredibly ­resource-intense: the complexities of its administration ­require an interdisciplinary approach for success, the side effects can be severe, and its high cost can reach upward of $1 million per course of treatment.

Although the cost of care can have severe effects on patients with cancer and their families, oncologists rarely address financial toxicity, according to Hanna K. Sanoff, MD, MPH, Medical Director, University of North Carolina (UNC) NC Cancer Hospital Clinics.

Chicago, IL—Healthcare costs in the United States have spiraled out of control, and polls show that single-payer healthcare is gaining traction.

“NGS decreased the cost of testing, identified the highest percentage of targetable genetic alterations, and had the fastest turnaround,” reported Nathan A. Pennell, MD, PhD.

“Treating financial toxicity at the patient level is similar to treating a symptom like fatigue. You can try to prevent it, but to some degree, patients are going to experience it, and when they do, you need a plan,” says Yousuf Zafar, MD, MHS.