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August 31, 2010
ASCO Provides Recommendations to CMS on Proposed changes to the HOPPS Rule
ASCO's submitted recommendations to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the proposed changes to the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS). ASCO urged CMS to promote the adoption of the performance measures for outpatient cancer care used in Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI), and asked CMS to stabilize the payment rates for prescription drugs in this setting at no less than the level proposed for CY 2011.
August 25, 2010
ASCO Provides Recommendations to CMS on Physician Fee Schedule for 2011
Yesterday, ASCO submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for 2011. ASCO provides recommendations on many issues including, the Medicare Economic Index (MEI), consultation codes, e-prescribing, and quality reporting.
August 23, 2010
ASCO Urges CMS to Withdraw National Coverage Analysis for FDA-Approved Cancer Drug
Recently, ASCO submitted comprehensive comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) expressing concern regarding its decision to open a national coverage analysis (NCA) for an FDA-approved cancer treatment.
In this instance, the NCA involves sipuleucel-T (Provenge). Federal law envisions that the Medicare program will provide coverage for FDA-approved cancer indications. However, ASCO’s comments raise broader concerns regarding the lack of clarity for the basis of the NCA and the implications this example may have for other FDA-approved cancer treatments. ASCO urged CMS to withdraw the current NCA and look for other mechanisms to gather information, such as a potential meeting convening scientific experts to address specific questions or a meeting of the Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC). ASCO requested that the agency provide clear guidance regarding Medicare’s current policies governing coverage of this therapy and that CMS address the issue of how any potential future changes in coverage policies could impact individuals already receiving a therapy that becomes subject to review under a NCA.
August 17, 2010
ASCO Files Motion to Intervene in AMA, AOA and MSDC Lawsuit Contesting FTC “Red Flags” Rule
ASCO and 24 additional medical specialty societies have filed a motion to be added as plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit filed by the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), and the Medical Society for the District of Columbia (MSDC), contesting the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) applications of its “Red Flags” rule to physicians. The "Red Flags" rule is a regulation stemming from the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003. Under the “Red Flags” rule, the FTC asserts that physicians who regularly bill their patients (including co-payments and coinsurance amounts) are considered "creditors" and must develop and implement written identity theft prevention and detection programs for their practices by December 31, 2010. If the motion to intervene is granted, ASCO’s more than 28,000 members will be now covered by the final ruling in this lawsuit.
August 12, 2010
ASCO Submits Comments to HHS on CER
ASCO submitted comments to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding its request for information on development of an inventory of comparative effectiveness research (CER). There are many questions relevant to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer that cannot be readily addressed by clinical trials, and the methods of CER serve as important tools for bringing quality care to patients. ASCO comments addressed several important issues related to creation of a CER inventory: Types of trials, incentives for registration, categorization, data elements, and sustainability.
July 27, 2010
ASCO Public Testimony on Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently wrapped up a 2-day public meeting to review the implementation of its Risk Evaluation & Mitigation Strategy (REMS). ASCO presented public testimony along with a diverse base of stakeholders offering input into how to make sure that REMS best allow drugs to be marketed safely.
July 14, 2010
Dr. Harold Varmus Sworn in as NCI Director
On Monday, Dr. Harold Varmus became the 14th director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). In his remarks during a town hall meeting, Dr. Varmus, who is a Nobel Prize winner and previous NIH director, spoke enthusiastically about his new position and the current scientific climate of oncology research. He expressed a desire to expand NCI work in the areas of 1) the pipeline for new therapeutics; 2) health information technology; 3) dissemination of findings into practice; and 4) improvement of health in developing countries. Dr. Varmus announced that he will be appointing a deputy director with clinical expertise.
Dr. Varmus also stressed the need to repair some aspects of the nation’s cancer research system. With regard to the Cooperative Group System, Dr. Varmus noted that this is a tremendous time to develop scientific advances into treatments, but that the system must be redesigned to accommodate the science. He also spoke about the need to adjust methods of drug discovery and approval to the modern era of science. He expressed support for the FDA-NIH initiative on this topic.
Also highlighted in his remarks was the need for collaboration. Dr. Varmus stated the NCI cannot succeed without strong relationships with other NIH Institutes, FDA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, scientific societies, advocacy groups, and industry. With strong relationships in place, Dr. Varmus hopes to expand the reach of NCI. For instance, he hopes to develop programs suitable for improving health in poor countries; develop the pipeline of therapeutics; utilize health information technology for comparative effectiveness research; and increase dissemination of knowledge into practice.
ASCO welcomes Dr. Varmus into his new role as director of the National Cancer Institute and looks forward to ongoing collaborations on issues to advance cancer research and patient care.
July 13, 2010
ASCO Highlights on Meaningful Use for EHR Incentive
Today, CMS released the Final rule on "Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Electronic Health Record Initiative Program." The rule specifies the initial criteria that eligible professionals (EPs), eligible hospitals, and critical access hospitals (CAHs) must meet in order to quality for an incentive payment as well as other program participation requirements. ASCO has complied a document to help provide guidance on meaningful use.
Proposed Physician Fee Schedule for CY 2011: Initial Summary of Issues of Concern to ASCO Members
ASCO has issued a summary for the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) for Calendar Year (CY) 2011. The display copy of the final rule is available on ASCO’s Web site. This initial summary provides a review of the issues of greatest concern to ASCO members. We are conducting additional review of the data and statements presented by CMS, and will be preparing detailed comments for submission to CMS prior to the deadline in late August.
July 12, 2010
Members in Action Alert: Medicare Cuts—We Need Your Help!
ASCO knows that the impending 21.3 percent cut to Medicare payments is devastating to patients and oncology practices all over the country. Nearly one-third of respondents from our June 28 poll indicated that they would accept fewer Medicare patients to their practice because of these cuts. Currently, 45 million seniors are covered by Medicare. That number is expected to rise to 61 million by 2020. Their access to care is threatened as the November deadline looms.
We want to hear your stories about how these severe cuts will impact the way you treat patients and run your practices. We want to hear first-hand accounts of how cuts will force you to turn patients away, lay-off staff, or even close your practice.
ASCO is working hard to advocate for better policies to improve the practice of oncology and the care of cancer patients. ASCO has long advocated for a permanent repeal of the sustainable growth rate (SGR), and is frustrated by the endless string of patches. The broken Medicare payment system is threatening the care of 45 million seniors. Your stories will help inform our work. To submit your personal story, please e-mail publicpolicy@asco.org.
Keep the pressure on Congress! Now is the time to schedule an in-person meeting or a site visit with your Members of Congress for August!
Your Members of Congress will be in their districts/states for the entire month of August, which will provide not only more opportunities to connect with them at town halls, but also provides the opportunity to:
• Meet with your Member of Congress and their staff in person. A face to face meeting with Members of Congress and/or their staff is one of the best ways to share your concerns about the SGR. ASCO has compiled materials on scheduling and holding a successful meeting.
• Invite your legislators to visit your practice. A site visit also allows a policy maker to see how their decisions directly affect their constituents - you and your patients. ASCO’s website has guidance on how to schedule a site visit.
Please continue to reach out to and share your stories with your legislators. If you are not able to meet with them, take a few minutes to call or write your Members of Congress. Contacting your legislators via phone, letter, or email is a quick way to inform your members of Congress about the importance of permanently repealing the SGR. For more information, visit ASCO’s Grassroots Action Center.
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