Nora Janjan, MD, MPSA, MBA, Editor of Practice & Policy

We are pleased to announce that internationally regarded radiation oncologist, Nora Janjan, MD, Editor-in-Chief of ONCOLOGY, will parlay her policy expertise and serve as Editor for the journal’s new Practice & Policy department set to launch in the September edition.

The mission of Practice & Policy is to deliver high-grade analysis/opinion on the legislative, economic, and regulatory issues that affect our healthcare system, with an emphasis on cancer care. To that end, we encourage our readership to submit articles for our consideration. Content that provokes debate and rebuttal is especially valued in this department. We all have a stake in healthcare, so let the ideas and solutions fly!

Also, in lieu of a full article submission, the editors are eager to publish your letters-to-the-editor submissions.
For a copy of author guidelines and other pertinent information, please contact Ronald.piana@ubm.com

Let’s start the discussion.

Here’s a snapshot of the healthcare delivery challenge:
 

32 million newly insured people adding to the consumption of health careresources-70 million or so additional people are moved into much more generous insurance than they have today-most of the remaining 200 million people are promised preventive services without the deductibles and co-pays they face today; we are facing a $500 million cut in Medicare services, and almost nothing is being done to increase the supply of providers; studies by ASCO and other major cancer organizations predict an imminent work-force shortage in oncologists; cutting reimbursement for oncology drugs and services will only exacerbate the situation...
 

• In states across the country, we’re already seeing a backlash to the Obama healthcare reform bill. Why is that?

• Is comparative effectiveness research a code phrase for rationing?
 

• We’re seeing a historic pushback by CMS when it comes to pricey cancer drugs. What does this portend for oncology/bio-tech?
 

• Is our clinical trial system broken beyond repair?

Dr. Janjan’s policy history in brief…

In 2008, Dr. Janjan retired as a radiation oncologist and palliative care specialist at The University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center to pursue health policy matters. Dr. Janjan has served on many national panels to develop standards of care for quality assurance including the Agency for Healthcare Quality, National Comprehensive Cancer Network, the National Quality Forum, American Society of Clinical Oncology [ASCO], the American College of Radiology, and the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna.  Government service includes appointment to the Medicare Coverage Advisory Committee, consultant to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Institute for Clinical and Economic Research, reviewer for the NCI Community Clinical Oncology Program.