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Oncology Newsfeed

  • CMS Releases CY 2020 Final Medicare Payment Rules

    On Friday, Nov. 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final calendar year (CY) 2020 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) rule (CMS-1717-FC) and the final CY 2020 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and Quality Payment Rule (CMS 1715-F).

    The CMS CY 2020 OPPS fact sheet states that:
    As finalized in last year’s rule, CMS is completing the two-year phase-in of the method to reduce unnecessary utilization in outpatient services by addressing payments for clinic visits furnished in the off-campus hospital outpatient setting.

    And further states:
    We acknowledge that the United States District Court for the District of Columbia vacated the volume control policy for CY 2019 and we are working to ensure affected 2019 claims for clinic visits are paid consistent with the court’s order.  We do not believe it is appropriate at this time to make a change to the second year of the two-year phase-in of the clinic visit policy. The government has appeal rights, and is still evaluating the rulings and considering, at the time of this writing, whether to appeal from the final judgment.

    340B Drug Pricing Program
    The CMS 2020 OPPS final rule fact sheet states that:
    For CY 2020, CMS is finalizing its proposal to continue to pay an adjusted amount of ASP minus 22.5 percent for separately payable drugs or biologicals that are acquired through the 340B Program. In the proposed rule, CMS acknowledged that the CY 2018 and 2019 OPPS payment policies for 340B-acquired drugs are the subject of ongoing litigation, and the agency is currently appealing the decision in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. 

    Access full CMS Fact Sheet on the CY 2020 OPPS final rule.
    Access the CY 2020 OPPS final rule here.

    CY 2020 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and Quality Payment Rule
    The CMS fact sheet on the final CY 2020 PFS and Quality Payment rule states that:
    . . . we are aligning our E/M coding with changes adopted by the American Medical Association (AMA) Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Editorial Panel for office/outpatient E/M visits. The CPT coding changes retain 5 levels of coding for established patients, reduce the number of levels to 4 for office/outpatient E/M visits for new patients, and revise the code definitions. The CPT code changes also revise the times and medical decision making process for all of the codes, and requires performance of history and exam only as medically appropriate. The CPT code changes also allow clinicians to choose the E/M visit level based on either medical decision making or time.

    Physician Supervision Requirements for Physician Assistants
    In its 2020 PFS file rule fact sheet, the agency states:
    We are updating our regulation on physician supervision of PAs to give PAs greater flexibility to practice more broadly in the current health care system in accordance with state law and state scope of practice. In the absence of any state rules, CMS is finalizing a revision to the current supervision requirement to clarify that physician supervision is a process in which a PA has a working relationship with one or more physicians to supervise the delivery of their health care services. Such physician supervision is evidenced by documenting the PA’s scope of practice and indicating the working relationship(s) the PA has with the supervising physician(s) when furnishing professional services.

    Access the CMS 2020 PFS final rule fact sheet.
    Access the 2020 QPP Final Rule Fact Sheet 
    Access the CMS 2020 PFS final rule here.

    ACCC's policy team is analyzing these final rules and will provide more in-depth information to members soon.

    Posted 11/01/2019





  • FDA Approves Niraparib for HRD-positive Advanced Ovarian Cancer

    On October 23, 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved niraparib (Zejula, Tesaro, Inc.) for patients with advanced ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer treated with three or more prior chemotherapy regimens and whose cancer is associated with homologous recombination deficiency (HRD)-positive status. HRD is defined by either a deleterious or suspected deleterious BRCA mutation, or genomic instability in patients with disease progression greater than six months after response to the last platinum-based chemotherapy.

    The FDA also approved the Myriad myChoice CDx test for determination of tumor HRD status to select patients for niraparib.

    Read the FDA announcement.

    Access information on FDA-approved test for detection of deleterious or suspected deleterious BRCA mutation and/or genomic instability for this indication. 


    Posted 10/24/2019


  • 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