publication date: Jun. 13, 2014

Many people love the 340B Drug Pricing Program.
Hospitals, clinics and cancer centers rely on it to buy drugs at discounts as deep as 50 percent—and then collect reimbursements that don’t reflect the discount.
Many others hate 340B, arguing that the federal program gives qualified providers an unfair advantage, and making it even more difficult for office-based oncology practices to survive.
 | Guest Editorial OHSU’s Brian Druker on Accelerating the Pace of Scientific Progress
We are facing a disturbing paradox in science. We have unprecedented potential for advancements spurred by current technologies. But at the same time we are confronting flat to declining funding. This climate provides a unique opportunity to examine and improve how we fund research. |
 | Groups Organize Capitol Hill Push for Lung Cancer Screening
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have another six months to decide whether to cover low-dose computed tomography screening. Yet, proponents of screening seem unwilling to take the chance that Medicare coverage would be restrictive. To tilt the scale in their favor, they have launched two congressional sign-on letters to CMS. |
 | Cancer Survivors Face Greater Economic Burdens, Study Says Cancer survivors face higher medical costs and productivity losses when compared to people without a cancer history, according to a CDC study published June 13. |
 | As Cigars Gain Popularity Among High School Boys, Legacy Urges FDA Regulation
The number of high school boys who smoke cigars—16.5 percent—is now on par with cigarette use, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. |
 | In Brief
Kraft named director of University of Arizona Cancer Center St. Jude redesignated as an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center AstraZeneca CAMCAR, S.A. partners with Cancer Genetics Inc. Memorial Sloan Kettering forms collaboration with Quest Diagnostics Merck signs agreement with Sysmex Inostics GmbH ASCO publishes suvivorship compendium International health organizations publish guidelines for establishing cancer registries Association of Clinical Research Professionals coordinator designation recognized by ANCC Magnet program The Cancer Letter receives the 2014 Dateline Award for Excellence from the Society of Professional Journalists
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