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Oncology Newsfeed

  • Cosponsors for H.R. 3502 Surprise Billing Legislation Reach 102

    Congressional bipartisan legislation to address surprise medical billing (H.R. 3502) has received 102 cosponsors. The bill, Protecting People From Surprise Medical Bills Act was introduced Raul Ruiz, MD, (D-Calif.) and Phil Roe, MD, (R-Tenn.). The legislation would end the practice of unexpected healthcare bills by implementing independent dispute resolution. This process would require neutral arbitrated resolution on the billing cost between insurers and providers.

    Posted: 10/25/2019



  • Blood Cancer Patients Covered by Medicare Often Delay or Skip Treatment, Study Finds

    According to a new study from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), 59 percent of blood cancer patients enrolled in traditional Medicare do not start active treatment within three months of their diagnosis. While there are multiple reasons for delayed treatment starts or the decision to forego treatment, the study shows that patients receiving treatment for blood cancers may face the burden of high out-of-pocket costs.

    The study from Milliman, conducted on behalf of LLS, examines factors driving healthcare system costs and affecting patients. LLS released the study on Oct. 21.

    Read The Cost Burden of Blood Cancer in Medicare.

    Posted: 10/23/2019


  • NAM Issues Report on Systems Approach to Supporting Clinician Well-Being

    The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) has released a consensus study, Taking Action Against Clinician Burnout: A Systems Approach to Supporting Professional Well-Being, that is a call to action for healthcare organizations and educational institutions training health professionals, government, and industry to significantly improve clinical work and educational environments for all disciplines "to prevent and mitigate clinician burnout and foster professional well-being for the overall health of clinicians, patients, and the nation."

    The report sets out six goals and recommended system-wide actions to speed progress on burnout prevention and mitigation:

    1. Create positive work environments work that prevent and reduce burnout, foster professional well-being, and support quality care.
    2. Create positive learning environments that prevent and reduce burnout, foster professional well-being, and support quality care.
    3. Reduce administrative burden on clinicians that stem from a host of sources including legislation, policy, and an increasing requirements of accrediting and standard-setting entities.
    4. Optimize the use of technology to support clinicians in providing high-quality care.
    5. Provide support to clinicians and learners to alleviate symptoms of burnout.
    6. Invest in research on clinician professional well-being.

    Read the report recommendations.
    Read report highlights.
    Access the full report.

    Posted 10/23/2019


  • CMMI Plans Public Listening Session on Potential Future Oncology Payment Model

    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) has announced a Public Listening Session on Potential Future Oncology Payment Model. Through the session CMMI seeks to gather feedback on value-based payment to support high-quality oncology care. According to the announcement, CMMI plans to release additional materials before the Nov. 4, 2019, Public Listening Session, and will announce when additional materials have been posted to the Innovation Center website.

    CMMI Public Listening Session on Potential Oncology Payment Model
    Monday, Nov. 4, 2019
    1:00 to 4:00 pm     EST
    Hubert H. Humphrey Building (Great Hall)
    200 Independence Avenue,
    SW Washington, DC

    Registration for the Public Listening Session is required. There are three ways to participate: in person, via livestream video, or via teleconference.

    Posted 10/17/2019



  • ACCC Joins in Letter Urging CMS to Protect Timely to Advanced Diagnostics

    The Association of Community Cancer Centers together with the the Oncology Nursing Society, Friends of Cancer Research, the LUNGevity Foundation, and other oncology stakeholder organizations have joined in comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding changes to the Laboratory Date of Service Policy (also known as the 14-day rule) included in the CY 2020 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System proposed rule.

    The letter urges the agency not to finalize policy proposals that would reinstate barriers for Medicare beneficiaries that effectively limit or eliminate access to advanced diagnostics in a timely manner. 

    Read comment letter.

    Posted 10/10/19


  • Three Scientists Receive Nobel Prize in Medicine for Work on Cells and Oxygen

    On Monday, the Nobel Assembly announced the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine would be jointly awarded to William G. Kaelin Jr., of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard University; Peter J. Ratcliffe of Oxford University and the Francis Crick Institute; and Gregg L. Semenza, of Johns Hopkins University. The three scientists are being honored for their work in revealing how cells manage responses to changes in oxygen levels. The results of their work have implications for treating a number of diseases, including cancer, anemia, heart attacks, and stroke.

    Posted 10/7/2019



  • ACCC Comments to CMS on Proposed 2020 OPPS & PFS Rules

    On Friday, September 27, the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) provided comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on the agency's proposed calendar year 2020 Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) rules. 

    CMS is expected to release the final CY 2020 Medicare payment rules in early November.

    Read ACCC's comments to the proposed CY 2020 OPPS rule.

    Read ACCC's comments to the proposed CY 2020 PFS rule.

    Posted 9/30/2019


  • FDA Approves Daratumumab in Combination for Frontline Multiple Myeloma

    On September 26, 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)  approved daratumumab (Darzalex, Janssen) for adult patients with multiple myeloma in combination with bortezomib, thalidomide, and dexamethasone in newly diagnosed patients who are eligible for autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT).

    Read FDA announcement.

    Posted 9/26/2019


  • FDA Approves Non-Invasive CRC Screening Test for Eligible Individuals Ages 45 to 49

    Exact Sciences Corp. announced September 23 that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the company's non-invasive colorectal cancer (CRC) screening test, Cologuard, for eligible average-risk individuals ages 45 and older, expanding on its previous indication for ages 50 and older.

    Read corporate press release.

    Posted 9/24/2019


  • ACCC Comments to CMS on Proposed RO Model

    On September 16, the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on the agency's proposed Radiation Oncology (RO) Model rule.

    In its comment letter, ACCC expresses committed support for the movement toward value-based care, noting that ACCC members have long been leaders in developing and participating in value-based payment systems.

    As CMS looks to finalize a model for radiation oncology, ACCC urges the agency to:
    • Make significant changes to the proposed episode payment methodology to ensure that the RO Model incentivizes innovation and cost-efficient care while allowing for equitable treatment of model participants.
    • Phase in mandatory participation in the RO Model to ensure equitable opportunity for success and ensure accurate and useful results from the model.
    • Delay the start of the RO Model until July 1, 2020 at a minimum.
    • Finalize the proposed exclusion of radiopharmaceuticals and certain brachytherapy surgical procedures from services covered by bundled payment.
    • Begin a new RT episode when a new course of treatment begins before a pending 90-day RT episode is complete.
    • Clarify certain aspects of the proposed quality reporting requirements.
    • Reconsider the uncompensated burden that would be required to comply with proposed monitoring and peer review requirements, which are not tied to pay for reporting.
    • Apply the 5 percent Advanced Alternative Payment Model (APM) incentive payment to the technical component of the RO Model payments as well as the professional component.
    • Structure the final RO Model so that all participants will be qualifying participants in an Advanced APM for purposes of the QPP, assuming minimum participation requirements are met.
    • Open the RO Model to voluntary participation by the Medicare Advantage plans and other payers.
    • Clarify how the RO Model will overlap with the Oncology Care Model (OCM) in a manner that allows for full and fair participation in both models.
    Read ACCC's comment letter.    

    Posted 9/23/2019