Message from the CPC Chair
Earlier this week, you received an email from ASCO President David H. Johnson, MD, encouraging you to become part of ASCO’s Grassroots Advocacy Network. I would like to add my voice to urge you to participate in this important initiative as well.

Many of you already participate in the legislative process by writing or calling your Member of Congress, visiting your legislators in Washington, and encouraging your peers to communicate to Congress. Through the Grassroots Advocacy Network, we can work together to communicate more effectively on Capitol Hill about the issues that are most important to the cancer community.

As a member of the network, you will receive targeted alerts on the latest Congressional and regulatory activity, updates on emerging policy issues, and recognition in ASCO News and Policy Watch. You also can let ASCO leadership know what types of activities you are interested in participating in and what relationships you currently have with Congressional Members.

Joining the network is easy. Please visit www.asco.org/grassroots_survey to sign up.


MMA in the Spotlight
The ASCO Board of Directors has selected Douglas W. Blayney, MD, as the first editor of the Journal of Oncology Practice.Dr. Blayney is Medical Director at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center and Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Michigan. Dr. Blayney served on ASCO’s Board of Directors from 1996 to 1999 and was in community practice in Pasadena, California, for 17 years.

ASCO developed the Journal of Oncology Practice to provide oncologists and oncology professionals with information, news, and tools to enhance practice efficiency and promote a high standard for quality of patient care. 

This bimonthly publication, which will debut at ASCO’s Annual Meeting this May, is ASCO’s newest addition to the roster of informational resources dedicated to meeting the needs of ASCO members and other oncology professionals. 

ASCO will provide the Journal of Oncology Practice to most U.S. members as a member benefit. JOP also will be available for a fee to international members and nonmembers.


News and Notes
New ASP Figures
ASCO has developed a chart showing the comparison between the first- and second-quarter ASP amounts. Highlighted rows reflect first-quarter price corrections made by CMS on March 17, 2005.First-quarter price changes are retroactive to January 1, 2005. Previously paid claims should be resubmitted to obtain higher payment amounts.

New Codes
Medicare has issued instructions to replace the current HCPCS codes for intravenous immune globulin. The current HCPCS codes, J1563 and J1564, will be replaced with codes Q9941-Q9944. The new codes were added to differentiate the lyophilized and non-lyophilized forms of intravenous immune globulin.These coding changes are effective April 1.

There are no 2004 or first-quarter payment rates for the new IVIG Q codes. However, in order to assist in the comparison of payment amounts, ASCO has placed payment amounts for J1563 and J1564 under the corresponding Q codes for IVIG in the drug ASP comparison chart.

Detailed information on the code changes can be found in Medicare’s Program Transmittal 507.

Increased Coverage
CMS announced an expansion of Medicare coverage for autologous stem cell transplantation (AuSCT) for primary amyloid light chain (AL) Amyloidosis. This decision was published by CMS on March 16.

ASCO’s Reimbursement Hotline
If 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.