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- ASCO has announced its roster of candidates for open leadership positions. Amongst the candidates are two ANCO members--Eric Small, MD, UCSF , and A. Dimitrios Colevas, MD, Stanford University. ASCO members will be able to vote for their chosen leaders from November 1 through December 2, 2016. Go to www.asco.org/election for more information.  

- The Community Oncology Alliance (COA) today released the 2016 Community Oncology Practice Impact Report which tracks the changing landscape of cancer care in the United States.  It documents a 121% increase in community cancer clinic closings and a 172% increase in consolidation into hospitals since 2008. In that period, 380 cancer treatment facilities have closed and 609 community cancer practices have been acquired by or become affiliated with hospitals. Another 390 practices report that they are struggling to stay open due to financial stresses. Click here to read the full report

- The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) has released an Evidence Report assessing the comparative clinical effectiveness and value of treatments for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A draft version of this report was open for a four-week public comment period. The updated Evidence Report reflects changes made based on comments received from patient groups, clinicians, the manufacturers of the drugs, and other stakeholders.

 

- ASCO, COA and other stakeholder groups have raised significant concerns regarding the Medicare Part B Drug Demo citing the proposal's flawed premise, experimental nature, and lack of important patient protections. Members of Congress have also expressed doubt about the impact of the demo on patients and providers, and have held several hearings to further explore their concerns. A Congressional sign-on letter opposing the Demo has been signed by more than 100 Representatives but additional support is needed. ANCO and MOASC members are encouraged to contact their Representatives and ask them to join the letter. This effort is in addition to asking Representatives to support HR5122 that would prevent CMS from moving forward with the Part B Demo. Contacts your Representatives via http://cqrcengage.com/asco/app/onestep-write-a-letter?0&engagementId=247773  

 

- Express Scripts, Inc. (ESI) yesterday announced upcoming changes to the retail pharmacy network it manages on behalf of TRICARE. On Dec. 1, 2016, Walgreens pharmacy locations will join the network. CVS pharmacies, including those in Target stores, will leave the network on the same day. The new network will have more than 57,000 locations nationwide, and ensures TRICARE beneficiaries have timely access to retail pharmacies in their community. Read the full article here

- Effective October 1, CMS and CDC have added or updated approximately 1,943 diagnosis codes in the ICD-10-CM coding classification. Go to http://www.accc-cancer.org/oncology_issues/articles/ND16/compliance.pdf?_zs=bhddd1&_zl=6oGL3 for a coding update from ACCC that highlights key revisions, updates, and new codes that may impact oncology claims.

 

- 2015 Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) Feedback Reports and 2015 Annual Quality and Resource Use Reports (QRURs) are available now. The reports were released on September 26, 2016. The PQRS Feedback Reports show your program year 2015 PQRS reporting results, including payment adjustment assessment for calendar year 2017. The 2015 Annual QRURs show how physician groups and physician solo practitioners performed in 2015 on the quality and cost measures used to calculate the 2017 Value Modifier as well as their 2017 Value Modifier payment adjustment. The 2015 PQRS feedback report contains all detailed information needed to determine your program year 2015 PQRS reporting results and indicates if you are subject to the 2017 PQRS negative payment adjustment.  View the "2015 Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS): 2017 Negative Payment Adjustment - Informal Review Made Simple" guide on the PQRS Analysis and Payment webpage . Request an informal review of your 2015 PQRS results and/or 2017 Value Modifier calculation during the informal review period of September 26, 2016 through November 30, 2016 8:59 pm Pacific Time.

 

- CMS has begun distributing letters to Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) individual eligible professionals (EPs), EPs providing services at a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) billing under method II, and group practices regarding the 2017 PQRS negative payment adjustment. The letter indicates that the recipient did not satisfactorily report 2015 PQRS quality measures or satisfactorily participate in a qualified clinical data registry (QCDR) in order to avoid the 2017 PQRS negative payment adjustment and, therefore, all of their 2017 Medicare Part B Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) payments will be subject to a 2.0% reduction. The 2016 PQRS program began January 1, 2016.  Reporting, during 2016, impacts your 2018 PQRS payment adjustment. Please visit the PQRS webpage for complete information on how to participate in 2016 to avoid the 2018 negative payment adjustment. For details regarding the 2017 PQRS negative payment adjustment, please see the PQRS Payment Adjustment Information webpage. For information regarding other Medicare physician quality programs that apply payment adjustments, please see the 2015 QRUR and 2017 Value Modifier website and/or the EHR Incentive Programs website. For additional questions, please contact the QualityNet Help Desk at 1-866-288-8912 (TTY 1-877-715-6222) or via qnetsupport@hcqis.org.

 

- Medicare Access & CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) is a proposed CMS Initiative for future Quality Reporting repeals the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula and changes the way eligible providers are rewarded for value over volume. MACRA streamlines the current multiple reporting programs (Value Modifier {VM}, EHR-Meaningful Use {Electronic Health Records-MU} and PQRS or Physicians Quality Reporting System that will sunset the end of 2018. For more information on this proposed program, read http://go.cms.gov/QualityPaymentProgram. 

Affiliate Association News  

- MOASC is pleased to be a co-sponsor of the California Partnership for Access to Treatment, (CPAT) upcoming seminar titled From Molecule to Miracle - The Process of Drug Discovery and Development.  This seminar is an educational forum and complimentary luncheon which will take place on Wednesday, October 26, 2016 at the Comprehensive Blood & Cancer Center in Bakersfield, California. Emily Burke, Ph.D., Director of Instruction at BioTech Primer is the keynote speaker. Click Here to Register . For more information e-mail Erica Root .

 

- At the MGMA 2016 Annual Conference, Oct. 30 - Nov. 2 in San Francisco, you'll find the best practices, proven strategies and lasting support you need to grow professionally; see and capitalize on opportunities; and, ultimately, lead your practice to even greater success. Click here for the full schedule and session details.

 

- AML webinar series explores the changing landscape of clinical decision making. From emerging molecular and cytogenetic alterations to treatment timing to improving outcomes for older patients, the landscape of treatment decision-making in AML is changing. The last two upcoming live webinars will use case studies to provide physicians and advanced practice professionals with the latest research on key areas affecting clinical decision-making for patients with AML.

*On Thursday, Oct. 20, Robert J. Soiffer, M.D., Ellen Ritchie, M.D., and Roland Walter, M.D., will share research on making AML therapy decisions at first remission, and how timing impacts outcomes.

*On Thursday, Nov. 17, Fred Appelbaum, M.D., James Foran, M.D., Laura C. Michaelis, M.D., will discuss patient comorbidities, disease factors and assessment tools that influence treatment decision-making for patients with AML over age 60.

All webinars are scheduled from 2-3 p.m. Pacific Time. Find full details on CME and the activities at BeTheMatchClinical.org . Whether you see a few patients a year with AML or dozens, the free webinars will present information you can apply to your clinical practice. Register for the webinars, or select the ones that fit your schedule. This series is being sponsored by The National Marrow Donor Program®/Be The Match®.

 

- Join Dr Neil Love and his education group, Research To Practice, at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel (1700 Ocean Avenue) on Saturday, November 12, 2016, for another installment of the Year in Review multi-tumor oncology CME program. The daylong event (from 8:00am - 4:00pm) we will be joined by an exceptional faculty panel that will review many of the year's most important new data sets and conference presentations in several distinct areas of oncology: breast cancer, lung cancer, genitourinary cancers, select gastrointestinal cancers, melanoma, multiple myeloma and Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. For more information or to register and secure hotel accommodation, visit: http://www.researchtopractice.com/Meetings/YIR2016/CA

  

- A recent COA-commissioned Milliman study upended a commonly held belief about cancer costs compared to other health care spending. Find out how the cost to treat cancer compares with other health care spending. Read Article

 

- Comments on the proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for CY2017 have been submitted by:

ACCC http://www.accc-cancer.org/advocacy/pdf/2017-proposed-PFS-comments.pdf?_zs=bhddd1&_zl=uIdJ3 ;

ASCO http://www.asco.org/sites/new-www.asco.org/files/content-files/2017-MPFS-Comments.pdf , and

ASH http://www.hematology.org/search.aspx?q=fee+schedule .

  

- Free PQRS reporting is now available through ASCO's QOPI. All users will be able to use the QOPI system to fulfill the Oncology Measures Group set of seven measures for PQRS reporting. Learn more at  http://www.asco.org/advocacy-policy/asco-in-action/free-pqrs-reporting-now-available-through-qopi .

 

- ACCC has launched a free, multimedia, online learning portal at www.accc-cancer.org/elearning  that provides two-way, engaging education on operational, administrative, and clinical topics.

  

- The 6th edition of the ASH Self-Assessment Program (ASH-SAP) contains 23 pertinent peer-reviewed chapters, covering the full spectrum of adult and pediatric hematology. Order your copy or learn more at www.hematology.org/BuyASHSAP6 . 

 

- The Community Oncology Alliance (COA) has launched the Advance Practice Provider Network (CAPP Network) to support advanced practice providers (NPs, PAs, etc.). To join the CAPP Network, visit www.communityoncology.org/capp .

 

- COA has launched a peer-to-peer support network for practices participating in the CMS Oncology Care Model (OCM). The COA OCM support network was created at the request of OCM practices, and nearly 200 individuals from more than 112 cancer care teams have already joined. It is free of charge for all OCM practices to join, completely noncommercial, and practices to no have to be members of COA to participate. The COA OCM support network is focused on helping practices succeed. It is enabling ongoing, private, peer-to-peer knowledge sharing to ease the challenges practices face; hosting monthly calls for participants; developing free tools and resources to help practices deal with IT and other implementation issues; and, working as a unified voice for practices engaged in this effort. If you are interested in joining the support network, e-mail  OCMSupport@coacancer.org  

 

- NCCN has published updates to the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) and the NCCN Drugs & Biologics Compendium (NCCN Compendium®) for: chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) (V1.2017); genetic/familial high-risk assessment: colorectal (V2.2016); kidney cancer (V1.2017); myelodysplastic syndromes (V1.2017); myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN; V1.2017); occult primary (cancer of unknown primary) (V1.2017); small cell lung cancer (V2.2017). Please visit NCCN.org .

- AbbVie is hosting a clinical discussion about Venclexta (venetoclax) for Treatment of Previously Treated CLL with 17p Deletion with Daruka Mahadevan, MD, PhD, University of Arizona Cancer Center, on October 20 in Sacramento. RSVP at http://abbvie.meintl.com/OHD08-OB02-16  or with Sean Taylor at (916) 521-7805.

 

- Genentech BioOncology will host a dinner program entitled Cotellic in Combination with Zelboraf for the Treatment of Unresectable or Metastatic Melanoma with BRAF V600E or V600K Mutation with Scott Christensen, MD, UC Davis, on October 12 in Modesto. RSVP at http://www.medforcereg.net/SGEN4602 .