- Center on Health Equity & Access
- Clinical
- Health Care Cost
- Health Care Delivery
- Insurance
- Policy
- Technology
- Value-Based Care
Study Substantiates Cost-Effectiveness of Biomarker-Based NSCLC Treatment
Multiplexed genetic screening for EGFR and ALK gene rearrangements and subsequent biomarker-guided treatment is cost-effective compared with standard chemotherapy treatment without any molecular testing in the metastatic NSCLC setting in the United States, researchers report in The Journal of Thoracic Oncology.
In NSCLC there are specific genetic abnormalities within the tumor that can be exploited with drugs specific for the molecular abnormality. These molecularly-guided or targeted-therapies have been shown to be effective for tumors with EGFR mutations and ALK rearrangements thus leading to approved drugs and guidelines for molecular testing. However, the presence of EGFR mutations and ALK rearrangements is low in unselected NSCLC, 9.5% and 3.9%, respectively. Likewise there is a cost associated with molecular testing and the question of whether to wait for molecular results or start chemotherapy immediately has led to complexity in treatment decision-making.
Researchers at Harvard University constructed a microsimulation model to compare life expectancy and costs of multiplexed EGFR and ALK testing followed by molecularly-guided therapy versus chemotherapy with no testing, chemotherapy until the testing results and switch to targeted-therapy, or a complete course of chemotherapy followed by targeted-therapy if indicated.
Read the cmplete article on ScienceDaily: http://bit.ly/1voQB8d
Exploring Racial, Ethnic Disparities in Cancer Care Prior Authorization Decisions
October 24th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the author of a study published in the October 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® that explored prior authorization decisions in cancer care by race and ethnicity for commercially insured patients.
Listen
Uniting to Support Patients With Cancer Beyond Treatment
November 17th 2024Kasey Bond, MPH, of Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health, speaks to why it’s vital to keep patients at the center of all strategic partnerships between academic institutions and community-based oncology practices.
Read More
Examining Low-Value Cancer Care Trends Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
April 25th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the authors of a study published in the April 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about their findings on the rates of low-value cancer care services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Listen
Bridging Cancer Care Gaps and Overcoming Medical Mistrust
November 13th 2024In this clip from our interview with Oscar B. Lahoud, MD, cochair of our Institute for Value-Based Medicine® evening hosted with NYU Langone Health, he addressed medical mistrust in underrepresented communities.
Read More
How English- and Spanish-Preferring Patients With Cancer Decide on Emergency Care
November 13th 2024Care delivery innovations to help patients with cancer avoid emergency department visits are underused. The authors interviewed English- and Spanish-preferring patients at 2 diverse health systems to understand why.
Read More
