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April 30, 2008 On April 24, the Senate passed the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) by a vote of 95-0. Also, CMS announced changes to the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI), including removing the possibility of ‘capped’ bonus payments for 2008 reporting. |
April 16, 2008 ASCO is urging all members of the Senate to support the Comprehensive Cancer Care Improvement Act, introduced March 31 by Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA). Also, on April 2, ASCO submitted comments on evidentiary priorities for research in the Medicare population for consideration by the Medicare Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Committee (MedCAC). |
April 3, 2008 On March 28, more than 100 health and medical organizations, including ASCO, sent a letter to the Senate urging Members to cosponsor the Save Medicare Act of 2008. Also, ASCO has written The Oncology Electronic Health Record Field Guide: Selecting and Implementing an EHR, a comprehensive handbook designed to assist oncology practices in selecting, purchasing and implementing an EHR. |
March 19, 2008 On March 13, the FDA Oncology Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) voted to continue using ESAs in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and Reps. Eshoo (D-CA) and Barton (R-TX) introduced the Pathway for Biosimilars Act to create a regulatory pathway for FDA approval of “biosimilars” or “follow-on” biologics. |
March 7, 2008 On March 6, ASCO and the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) held their annual media policy briefing in Washington, DC, to discuss oncologist and patient policy priorities for 2008. On February 28, five medical research advocacy groups called for an increase of 6.6% to the NIH Budget in FY 2009. |
February 20, 2008 On February 12, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension (HELP) Committee took a closer look at physician workforce issues at a Congressional hearing. Also, key Members of Congress and the President are renewing interest in legislation to establish an approval pathway for biogenerics. |
February 7, 2008 President Bush released his FY 2009 budget proposal with flat funding for NIH. ASCO provided comments to FDA on its report, “FDA Science and Mission at Risk.” |
January 23, 2008 On January 14, the Supreme Court declined to review the Abigail Alliance’s case regarding terminally ill patients' constitutional right to access experimental drugs that have not been approved by FDA. CMS posted three new transmittals regarding coverage and payment for ESAs to its web site. |
January 9, 2008 Congress passed a Medicare bill that would avert the scheduled cut in Medicare payments to physicians. ASCO submitted comments in response to the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health and Society draft report on the U.S. system of oversight of genetic testing. |
December 20, 2007 ASCO has provided updates regarding 2007 legislative and regulatory activities and policy programmatic accomplishments affecting oncologists this year. |
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