Message from the CPC ChairLegislative Conference Brings Together ASCO Members and Leading Washington Policymakers
Coinciding with "Health Week" on Capitol Hill, ASCO held its 2005 Legislative Conference in Washington DC, last week. The Legislative Conference brought together ASCO members from across the country with the leading policy makers who work on Medicare, quality cancer, and drug safety initiatives.
The two-day meeting included a mix of formal presentations, interactive discussion and the opportunity to meet with participants’ respective Senators and Representatives to discuss quality and pay-for-performance measures and FDA drug safety and to build support for House Resolution 261, which would urge CMS to extend the oncology demonstration project into 2006.
The Legislative Conference featured leaders at the highest levels from federal agencies and the Hill, including:
Mark McClellan, MD, PhD (Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services),
Lester Crawford,
DVM, PhD (Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration),
Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA) (Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Health of the Energy and Commerce Committee),
Rep. Ralph Hall (R-TX) (Member of the House Subcommittee on Health of the Energy and Commerce Committee and author of House Resolution 261), and
Andrew C. von Eschenbach, MD (Director of the National Cancer Institute). Attendees also heard from the committee staff from the key committees in the House.
Rep. Susan Molinari, former Member of Congress from New York, also provided her insight and perspective on how to reach out to elected officials in personal meetings. Attendees then set out to scores of meetings on Capitol Hill.
The central themes for discussion included:
- Safety of FDA-Approved Drugs
- Quality Care and Pay for Performance Initiatives
- MMA and the Oncology Demonstration Project.
Dr. McClellan overviewed the agency’s reforms and top priorities, which focus heavily on pay-for-performances initiatives. He singled out the oncology demonstration project as an ideal example of a pay-for-performance initiative that works and provides tangible results. Dr. McClellan went on to urge ASCO and its members to continue the ongoing dialogue and leadership with CMS on quality care initiatives.
At an evening Capitol Hill reception following the first day’s session, ASCO members met with more than 100 Capitol Hill staff and Representatives including
Lois Capps (D-CA),
John Boozman (R-AR), Howard Coble (R-NC),
Gene Green (D-TX), and
Joe Wilson (R-SC).
Finally, I would like to personally thank all of those ASCO members who traveled from far and wide to participate in the meeting and meet with their members of Congress. It is the dedication and commitment of all of the members that ensures that ASCO’s voice is heard by the leaders in Washington.
House Res. 261 Builds Momentum
Rep. Hall addressed ASCO members during the Legislative Conference and pledged his continued support and commitment to move House Resolution 261 to a full vote in the Congress in the coming months.
Rep. Hall, who introduced House Resolution 261, calling on CMS to extend the demonstration project beyond 2005, has been working closing with ASCO to secure Congressional support.Rep. Hall provided a candid and positive update to ASCO members on the status and outlook for the resolution over the coming months.
The unanimous passage of House Res. 261 out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee on July 20 marked a significant milestone.Rep. Hall pledged to work with Congressional leadership to bring this resolution to a full vote when Congress returns from its August recess.ASCO policy team will continue to work with Rep. Hall and other Congressional leaders during August to leverage the momentum and support the resolution has seen in the past few weeks.
News and Notes
Physician Fee Schedule ReleasedThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its
2006 proposed fee schedule yesterday evening. The fee schedule included CMS’s analysis of the preliminary effects of the oncology demonstration project, but as expected did not indicate whether it would continue the demonstration project beyond the end of this year. CMS issued a
fact sheet on the demonstration project.
ASCO is in the process of analyzing the fee schedule to determine the effects on the cancer community and will provide you with a full analysis of the fee schedule later this week.
ASCO’s Reimbursement HotlineIf you need help with the new coding changes or the demonstration project, please contact ASCO’s Coding and Reimbursement Hotline at 703-299-1054 or by email at
practice@asco.org.
