In all the old movies and sitcoms we tend to see someone peddling or selling the miracle drug; that tiny little pill that can make all of your pains and problems go away (or at least ease up a bit since usually those pills were nothing more than alcohol-laden sugar pills) and didn't cost all that much.

According to a recent article in the New York Times, pills and capsules are the newest rage in cancer treatment, expected to account for 25 percent of all cancer medicines in a few years.

While these wonder pills do indeed sound wonderful, considering they could replace expensive and harsh chemotherapy, they come with a tiny glitch: Most insurance companies won't pay for them.

Stated the article: "With oral cancer drugs, “the technology has outstripped the ability of society to integrate it into the mainstream in a smooth fashion,” said Carlton Sedberry, a pharmacy expert at Medical Marketing Economics, a consulting firm."

This is a classic case of technology outrunning the current standards and protocols that hospitals, physicans, patients and payers are used to following. However, with the right research and knowledge of up-to-date practices, new technologies in medicine -- such as the use of 'cancer pills' -- can become standard in practice. An independent review organization like AllMed can help you, whether you're a payer, hospital, physician or patient, know what's the most up-to-date protocol in healthcare.

To read the full article in the New York Times, click here: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/15/business/15pill.html?_r=1&ref=health