ASCO 2015 Highlights

Telephone-based support programs are capable of reducing cancer-related medical costs by 10% to 30%, according to results of the first nurse-led study of the cost impact of telephonic case management in oncology.

Chicago, IL—The implementation of collaborative, secondary clinical pathway programs can improve outcomes and can lower costs when providers are already participating in another payer-sponsored pathway program. This conclusion comes from a study published online in conjunction with the 2014 American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting.

Chicago, IL—Contrary to common belief, there appears to be little demand on the part of patients with cancer for unsuitable, high-cost, low-value tests or therapies.

Chicago, IL—Hospital readmissions in patients with cancer reflect the high burden of this disease, which is often refractory and, therefore, readmission is not reasonably preventable.

Chicago, IL—Oncologists responding to a national electronic survey believe that discussing out-of-pocket (OOP) costs of therapy with patients is important, and that OOP costs and societal cost of therapy will play a larger role in cancer treatment decisions over the next 5 years.

Chicago, IL—Even after adjusted for improved outcomes, newer anticancer drugs are more expensive than older agents, said Rena Conti, PhD, Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Economics, University of Chicago, at the 2014 American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting.

The FDA issued an expanded indication for ibrutinib (Imbruvica; Pharmacyclics) for the treatment of patients with CLL who have a deletion in chromosome 17 (17p deletion), which results in poor response to standard CLL therapies.

The FDA approved idelalisib (Zydelig; Gilead Sciences) for the treatment of patients with relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) to be used in combination with rituximab (Rituxan).

The FDA approved belinostat (Beleodaq; Spectrum Pharmaceuticals) for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), a rare and fast-growing type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

Value Propositions from the August 2014 issue of Value-Based Cancer Care.