Articles and Blogs

VAHO President Richard Ingram, MD Leads Efforts on Appalachian Cancer Alliance

November 20, 2023

Throughout 2023, VAHO has supported the Appalachian Community Cancer Alliance. VAHO President Richard Ingram, MD, led these efforts. Dr. Ingram hosted two webinars, Unwinding of Medicaid and its Impact on the Appalachian Region: What You Need to Know and What You Can Do and Appalachian Community Cancer Alliance: Who We Are and What We Can Accomplish.

Dr. Ingram has authored a paper on the issues facing Appalachian Community Cancer Providers. He has also spoken on an ASCO podcast discussing oncology practice in low research areas.

VAHO is excited to continue our efforts in 2024 to support the Alliance and increase access to cancer care.

PCP Insights Needed to Improve Cancer Screening in Rural Appalachia

June 15, 2022

Recently VAHO joined the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) and several of its state oncology societies to form the Appalachian Community Cancer Alliance. VAHO President Richard Ingram, MD, shares why he got involved in this initiative and the importance of collaborating closely with primary care providers in the region.

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ACCC Forms Alliance to Improve Cancer Care Continuum

June 8, 2022

To address these disparities, the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) joined several of its state oncology societies located throughout the region to form the Appalachian Community Cancer Alliance, which seeks to provide residents of the Appalachian Region with interdisciplinary, patient-centered approaches to cancer care, beginning with prevention and throughout survivorship, with an emphasis on enhanced quality of life.

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Op-Ed: Virginia Helped Bring In-Vitro Fertilization to the U.S. Now It Should Help Families Pay for It.

February 2, 2022

Lack of insurance coverage for infertility medical treatments is a major barrier to family building. Having children is fundamental; it can be part of one’s identity. Being unable to have a child can affect people physically, financially and emotionally.

Whether through legislation sponsored by Del. Dan Helmer (D-Fairfax) or language in our state budget, the General Assembly must act without further delay.

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2021 ACCC Innovator Awards: Managing COVID+ Oncology Patients at Home During Treatment

July 7, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic posed many new complications for cancer programs and practices across the United States. As COVID-19 cases increased in early 2020, and with the end of the pandemic nowhere in sight, it became apparent that patients with cancer needed to be able to continue their treatment in a safe environment that protects them and oncology staff from exposure to the virus.

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Opinion: Don't Undercut Progress Fighting Cancer

January 14, 2021

In his op-ed in The Virginian-Pilot, VAHO President Richard M. Ingram, MD, discusses the ramifications of the Most Favored Nation Rule on drug pricing and reimbursement and the devastating impact it would have on local cancer clinics.

"Currently, clinics such as mine buy drugs up front, administer medications, and then bill Medicare. The program reimburses us for the cost of the drugs plus a small fee to cover services provided by essential workers. When the rule kicks in, the dollar amount of reimbursements to clinics will drop. Clinics will have to decide if they can afford to offer certain drugs. Worse, they’ll have to lay off staff and cut services, if not close altogether."

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