Andrew L. Pecora, MD

Over the past 3 years, there has been a growing chorus of complaint about the rising costs of medications, particularly in oncology.

Genomics, proteomics, precision analytics, Big Data analysis, and artificial intelligence now in use or in late phases of development can help healthcare providers to achieve the promises of the Triple Aim of medicine: improve clinical outcomes for all, reduce total cost of care for the populations served, and improve patient experiences

The research presented at AACR focused on the fundamentals of cell biology, cell aging, and cell death; how the immune system recognizes and kills cancer cells; and how, in turn, cancer cells avoid immune system detection.

To get physicians to work together, an organizing structure is needed and the drive to create partnerships.

Andrew L. Pecora, MD, discusses his hopes for healthcare reform if the the Affordable Care Act is repealed.

The primary goal of a cancer diagnosis is to end up with the best possible outcome, and there are always several highways of care, or bundles, to choose from.

Over the past 30 years, I have regularly attended annual meetings of the American Society of Hematology, where experts from around the globe convene to share the latest advances.

It is almost unimaginable. Oncologists have waited for decades to offer their patients a better chance of surviving cancer, and now they can—for multiple cancer types.

We all know that healthcare is at a crossroads: to the left, there is rationed care, and to the right, you have economic insolvency, if we remain on our current course.

As the cost comes down due to new technologies and as studies mature, maybe the value equation for common malignancies will favor proton beam therapy. However, it is hard to imagine how throwing a house will ever be as cost-efficient as throwing a marble.

Andrew L. Pecora, MD, president of the Physician Services Division and chief innovation officer at Hackensack Meridian Health, discusses the Oncology Care Model (OCM) and other aspects of healthcare reform.

We consider what we do to patients through prescription or procedure as a potential source of harm, followed less so by our behavior, when we fail to be caring or courteous.

Andrew L. Pecora, MD, president of the Physician Services Division and chief innovation officer at Hackensack Meridian Health, discusses the Oncology Care Model (OCM) and other aspects of healthcare reform.

Andrew L. Pecora, MD, president of the Physician Services Division and chief innovation officer at Hackensack Meridian Health, discusses the Oncology Care Model (OCM) and other aspects of healthcare reform.

Andrew L. Pecora, MD, president of the Physician Services Division and chief innovation officer at Hackensack Meridian Health, talked about the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) and other aspects of healthcare reform.

Andrew L. Pecora, MD, president of the Physician Services Division and chief innovation officer at Hackensack Meridian Health, discusses the Medicare Part B Drug Payment Model (OCM) and other aspects of healthcare reform.

CMS, through the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation, has launched an initiative called the Oncology Care Model that is designed to maintain clinical outcomes and reduce the total cost of care. The obvious first question is, has it been designed to do so?

It seems to be that there is a "minor" disagreement between ASCO and CMS about the approach to address value in cancer care delivery.

Are the medicines of tomorrow, which are expected to cost in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, only going to be available to the privileged few or can we find solutions so they can be available to most of the population?

Consolidation in the insurance industry and the pace of the rise in cost of general and specialty pharmaceuticals are the 2 factors in the healthcare industry that will most affect access and affordability.

As long as bundles are tied to a desired clinical outcome of relevance to the patients, we can truly move toward value-based medicine and enable the Goldilocks formula of delivery: just the right amount of care, not too much, and not too little-every time.

Today, scientists continue to work on cloning technologies with the hope that someday we will be able to offer new body parts to people afflicted by disease and injury.

It is always fun to try to predict the future. Invariably you will be wrong.

How can we slow down the growth of cancer costs and preserve-or better yet-enhance clinical outcomes?

There is a growing chorus that seems to be debating separate issues-340B drug pricing, the sequester, site of service differential, etc. But the debate revolves around a singular issue-where should cancer care be delivered?

I find it striking that some of my colleagues believe the changes in reimbursement that are under consideration in oncology care delivery will be one of many trends that rises dramatically from the ever present background noise only to later fade into oblivion

We have been asked on numerous occasions why would almost 100 oncologists "give up their independence and identity in their community" and become part of Regional Cancer Care Associates (RCCA), a new entity with a single tax identification number?

The current state of affairs in oncology care reimbursement is in flux, with the promise for dramatic change. It is hoped that change will foster value-based oncology care delivery, avoid the need to ration care indiscriminately, and allow for continued discovery and advancement. Good luck!

I would like to begin by expressing my excitement about my new position as editor-in-chief of Oncology Business Management.

Like you, I get up every day and look at the stack of journals I know I need to read but cannot imagine when I will find the time.