|
California Oncology Weekly
"Where California Oncologists Go For Answers!"
A collaborative publication of the
Medical Oncology Association of Southern California, Inc.
and the
Association of Northern California Oncologists, Inc.
September 27, 2016
|
|
|
|
California News
|
- California consumers will have the strongest protections in the nation against getting blindsided by unexpected out-of-network medical bills as part of legislation signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown. AB72 was one of 10 consumer-protection measures - eight related to health care - signed by the governor, last Friday. They include a law that will require health insurers to notify their policyholders when regulators think their price hikes are too high, and one that will allow people to be informed of their rights to timely access to health care and to an interpreter. The surprise medical bill legislation is designed to prevent patients, many of whom checked in advance to make sure their doctor and hospital were in their insurer's list of contracted providers, from getting hit with out-of-network charges after undergoing a procedure or agreeing to services.
|
|
Noridian News
|
MLN Connects Provider eNews
Announcements--
Claims, Prices, and Codes--October 2016 Average Sales Price Files Now Available
Events-- Publications
--
* MLN Connects Provider e-News-September 15, 2016
- Forthcoming Noridian/JEMAC educational events:
* Appeals II (September 28)
* Appeals III (September 29)
* Getting Paid and Keeping it-In-Person Seminar in Union City (October 25)
* Evaluation and Management Modifiers (October 26)
* Ordered, Referred, and Prescribed Services (November 15)
- Noridian/JEMAC will soon be deactivating billing privileges for physicians who received revalidation notices from Noridian but have not submitted completed applications to CMS. Noridian/JEMAC reports that only 19% of physicians have responded to the most recent revalidation process. To prevent deactivation, CMA recommends that practices look up their revalidation dates through the CMS look-up tool. If it shows that your practice missed the deadline, you should submit and sign your application online immediately. Visit https://med.noridianmedicare.com/web/jeb/article-detail/-/view/10546/provider-enrollment-revalidation-cycle-2 for more information.
|
|
|
- This is the last week for you to receive a $50 VISA gift card! PLEASE respond to the MOASC & ANCO 2016 Staff Salary Survey, now!
The purpose of the staff salary survey is to update data relevant to practice expenses in California. This year's survey questionnaire and past survey results can be found at www.anco-online.org/salsrvy.html.. The survey was adopted from The Health Care Group and updated by studying other salary surveys. Please complete the survey and return it to the MOASC office no later than this Friday September 30, 2016.
Thank you to those who have responded to the Survey,
gift cards will be placed in the mail on October 1, 2016. Please contact MOASC if you have any questions at moasc@moasc.org.
- This Friday, September 30th, is the last day for you to take advantage of the opportunity MOASC and ANCO has offered your practice to assess your organization's performance in key areas associated with the ACO, PQRS and CAPHS Surveys. In 2017, Medicare will use patient satisfaction scores to determine up to a quarter of the potential 2% penalty-or reward, in its value-based purchasing program. In 2001 the Institute of Medicine reported on the need to close the gaping "quality chasm" in U.S. healthcare. The report stressed the importance of delivering patient-centered care. From 2001 to 2016, studies have repeatedly shown that a positive patient perception of their experience inside the healthcare system is closely associated with higher quality care, greater safety and better outcomes. Yet caregivers often learn about patient complaints far too late to affect those perceptions, and that can be costly. With MACRA looming, every healthcare provider must lift its patient satisfaction ratings. A happy patient is usually a healthier one. Download more information and an enrollment form at www.anco-online.org/PtSurvey2016.pdf.
- Mark your calendars, and save the date, for MOASC's Fall Clinical Staff, Billing and Administrator Programs, November 9 and 10, 2016 at Embassy Suites Anaheim-Orange 400 N. State College Blvd., Orange. The Clinical Staff Track & Billing Staff Track will be held on Wednesday, November 9th from 8am - 2pm. The Administrator's Program will be on Thursday, November 10th from 8am - 2pm.
|
|
|
-
ANCO is pleased to announce the 17th Multidisciplinary Management of Cancers: A Case-based Approach
on March 17-19, 2017 at The Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa. Sign up for more information at
www.multicancers.org
.
- ANCO and MOASC have partnered with SullivanLuallin Group to offer your practice the opportunity to participate in an Oncology-based Patient Satisfaction Survey. The Survey is designed to assess your organization's performance in key areas associated with the ACO and PQRS CAPHS Surveys. SullivanLuallin Group's eSurv: Online Patient Satisfaction Survey platform allows you to efficiently and cost-effectively capture how your patients feel about your systems, services, and performance. Download more information and an enrollment form at www.anco-online.org/PtSurvey2016.pdf.
- ANCO and MOASC have partnered to conduct a 2016 Staff Salary Survey. The purpose of the Staff Salary Survey is to update data relevant to practice expenses in California. Past ANCO Staff Salary Survey results are reported at www.anco-online.org/salsrvy.html. The 2016 Staff Salary Survey was distributed to members the week of May 16 and is available online at www.anco-online.org/SalarySurvey2016.pdf.
Completed Surveys are due no later than September 30 and respondents will be provided with a $50 Visa gift card. Results will be analyzed and reported during 4Q2016.
|
|
|
- The Community Oncology Alliance (COA) recently testified before the House Committee on the Budget regarding CMS's proposed Medicare Part B drug reimbursement experiment
. After the hearing, several Representatives began circulating a letter to CMS that looks to rein in overreach by CMMI asking CMMI to stop experimenting with Americans' health and cease all mandatory demos. Additionally, they ask CMMI to ensure that future models comply with current law, including appropriate limitations on the size and scope of the models and not expanding models without Congressional approval. Read the letter at www.communityoncology.org/2016/09/20/september-20-res-tom-price-paulsen-boustany-circulate-letter-to-cms/ and ask your Representative to sign it today.
- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Civil Rights (OCR) recently finalized new nondiscrimination rules intended to advance health equity and reduce health care disparities. This final regulation does not change current law which incorporates existing Title VI regulations and Department of Health and Human Services' Limited English Proficiency policy. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act provides that any program or activity (including healthcare professionals) that receives federal funds must take reasonable steps to ensure meaningful access to their activities by persons with limited-English proficiency. Physicians are already required to provide access to language interpreter services. If the physician is contracted to provide care with a Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan, the plan may be providing the service. Otherwise, physicians providing services through Fee-For-Service Medi-Cal would be required to provide the service. Covered physicians are expected to:
* Post a notice of nondiscrimination and taglines in the top 15 languages spoken by individuals with limited English proficiency
* Develop and implement a language access plan
* Designate a compliance coordinator and adopt grievance procedures (applicable to group practices with 15 or more employees)
* Submit an assurance of compliance form to OCR
To assist with implementation, OCR has translated into 64 languages a sample notice and taglines for use by covered entities. In addition, OCR has published a summary of the rule, factsheets on key provisions and a list of frequently asked questions. Physicians should already be in compliance with the existing Title VI provisions required under current law. The final rule includes new requirements with respect to nondiscrimination postings and grievance procedures. Physicians need to be in compliance with the rule by October 19, 2016.
- This week (September 26-30) is Malnutrition Awareness Week. Malnutrition is common among cancer patients because the disease can affect the ability to digest food and absorb nutrients as treatment can impede the body's ability to get the best nutrition. Up to 1/2 ofUS seniors are at risk for developing malnutrition! By taking just a little time this week to share information on your social media platforms, you can help to raise awareness of the serious and costly US public health crisis.
2016 MAW Social Media
- The Internal Revenue Service and its Security Summit partners are warning taxpayers and tax professionals of fake IRS tax bills related to the Affordable Care Act. The IRS has received numerous reports of scammers sending a fraudulent version of a notice- labeled CP2000 - for tax year 2015. The issue has been reported to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration for investigation. This scam may arrive by email, as an attachment, or by mail. It has many signs of being a fake:
* The CP2000 notices appear to be issued from an Austin, Texas, address; * The letter says the issue is related to the Affordable Care Act and requests information regarding 2014 coverage; * The payment voucher lists the letter number as 105C; * Requests checks made out to I.R.S. and sent to the "Austin Processing Center" at a post office box. A real notice requests that checks be made out to "United States Treasury."
IRS impersonation scams take many forms: threatening phone calls, phishing emails and demanding letters. Learn more at Reporting Phishing and Online Scams. The IRS does not initiate unsolicited email contact or contact by social media. The IRS and its Security Summit partners - the state tax agencies and the private-sector tax industry - are conducting a campaign to raise awareness among taxpayer and tax professionals about increasing their security and becoming familiar with various tax-related scams. Learn more at Taxes. Security. Together. or Protect Your Clients; Protect Yourself.
|
|
|
- MOASC encourages all to write to your Congressperson making them aware of, and asking them to sign on to, the letter by Rep. Sinema of Arizona regarding the broad authority of the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI). Earlier this year, CMMI proposed the "Medicare Part B Payment Model", which would reduce payment for many providers and make centralized, one-size-fits-all decisions about treatment, ignoring patient differences and perspectives. This is very concerning to oncology. Fortunately, Rep. Sinema is trying to make sure that CMMI has appropriate Congressional oversight. With programs as large and as impactful in the lives of everyday Americans as Medicare and Medicaid, we need to make sure that any changes that might impact the end user - the patient - are given the proper analysis and oversight. Many Medicare patients rely on Part B to get the medicines they need to treat complex conditions. For people living with chronic illnesses, disruption in treatment plans can have tremendously negative effects, physically and emotionally. These patients need immediate access to the treatments that are most appropriate for their individualized condition. If you have any questions or need more information, please do not hesitate to contact the MOASC office at 909-985-9061. CBO-CMMI Letter
- Access and review your 2015 PQRS Feedback Report and 2015 Annual QRUR now to determine whether you are subject to the 2017 PQRS negative payment adjustment and the 2017 Value Modifier payment adjustment. 2015 Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) Feedback Reports and 2015 Annual Quality and Resource Use Reports (QRURs) are available now.
View the "User Guide: 2015 Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) Feedback Reports" on the
PQRS Analysis and Payment webpage
. Visit the
How to Obtain a QRUR webpage
for instructions on accessing a 2015 Annual QRUR.
-
Physicians are reminded that
CMS's one-year grace period for ICD-10-coded claims is coming to an on October 1, 2016. As of that date, providers will be required to use the correct degree of specificity in their coded claims. For more information, go to
www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/ICD10
.
- CMS has announced that it will allow physicians to choose the level and pace at which they comply with the new MACRA Medicare payment reforms. Participating at any level in 2017 will ensure that you will not be hit with payment penalties in 2019. Under the MIPS fee-for-service program, the most fenian participation option would allow physicians to simply "test" the program to ensure that their systems are working and that they are prepared for broader participation in 2018 and beyond. While physicians who choose this option will not receive bonus payments, they will avoid a negative penalty. Under the second option, physicians can opt to submit data for less than the full reporting year. While CMS has not yet specified the timeline, it is believed that the 2017 reporting period could be only 90-180 days. Physicians who choose this option would not only avoid a negative payment adjustment, but could receive a small bonus. The third option is to participate for the full calendar year. Under this option your practice could qualify for a modest positive payment adjustment. Finally, the fourth option is to participate in an advanced alternative payment model (APM) in 2017. If you receive enough of your Medicare payments or see enough of your Medicare patients through an APM in 2017, then you would qualify for a 5% incentive payment in 2019. Read CMS's announcement at
http://blog.cms.gov/2016/09/08/qualitypaymentprogram-pickyourpace/
and ASH's summary at
www.hematology.org/Advocacy/Policy-News/2016/6688.aspx
.
- Eligible providers and hospitals completing their meaningful use requirements for the EHR Incentive Programs can get help from the CMS through a central repository that will indicate which clinical data registries and public health agencies are ready to electronically receive public health reporting data. Registries may submit a CMS input form until Oct. 31 to become eligible for the 2017 repository.
EHR Intelligence
|
Affiliate Association News
- 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. Three
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.
During the first webinar on Thursday, Sept. 29, Clara D. Bloomfield, M.D., Jessica Altman, M.D., and Aaron Gerds, M.D., will discuss AML risk stratification and the influence of emerging cytogenetics and molecular markers on treatment decisions.
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 all three webinars, or select the ones that fit your schedule. This series is being sponsored by The National Marrow Donor Program®/Be The Match®.
- 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
.
- 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
-
ASCO has joined a diverse set of approximately 90 stakeholder organizations calling on CMS to rescind reimbursement cuts for certain lung cancer screening codes
in the proposed CY2017
Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System
(HOPPS) by retaining current reimbursement rates as established in the CY2016 HOPPS final rule. The proposed rule would lower reimbursement to hospital outpatient departments for both the share decision making sessions between providers and patients for low-dose CT (LDCT) lung cancer screening and the actual screenings themselves by 64 and 44 percent, respectively. Such cuts would like serve as a disincentive for hospital outpatient departments to offer this life-saving screening.
- 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: genetic/familial high-risk assessment: breast and ovarian (V1.2017); non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (translations); older adult oncology (V2.2016); ovarian cancer (V1.2016); small cell lung cancer (V2.2017); smoking cessation (V1.2016). Please visit
NCCN.org
.
- 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.
- 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
|
|
|
- AMGEN informs ANCO and MOASC that the United States Food and Drug Administration has approved Blincyto for use in pediatric patients with Philadelphia chromosome-negative relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
|
|
|
-
MOASC CALENDAR
LunchTime Series
October 26th
Oncology Roundtable Teleconference
November 30th
ASCO State Affiliate
Meeting in Virginia, VA
October 26th - 28th
|
Hematological Malignancies Updates (November 12; Palo Alto)
|
|
|
|
|
The
Medical Oncology Association of Southern California
(MOASC) is a leading oncology society that advances and protects the ability of cancer patients to obtain, and the ability of the oncology physicians to provide, optimal cancer care. The
Association of Northern California Oncologists
(ANCO) is an association of hematologists/oncologists dedicated to promoting high professional standards of cancer care by providing a forum for the exchange of ideas, data, and knowledge.
The material contained in the
California Oncology Weekly
is intended as general information for ANCO and MOASC members. Because diagnostic, treatment, contracting, coding, and billing decisions should be made on a case-by-case basis, any such information contained in the
California Oncology Weekly
may not apply in any given situation. Members are encouraged to contact their own consultants or advisors to obtain specific advice on matters relating to contracting, coding, and billing. The information contained in
California Oncology Weekly
should not be used as a substitute for such advice.
This publication provides a summary of regulations affecting oncology and its business practices. Reading this newsletter does not substitute for understanding regulations and verifying the validity of every claim. This information is time-sensitive and is subject to change. MOASC or ANCO accepts no liability for any statements or articles herein.
CPT codes are owned and trademarked by the American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
MOASC: P.O. Box 161, Upland, CA 91785 | P (909) 985-9061 | F (909) 804-5006| www.moasc.org
ANCO: P.O. Box 151109, San Rafael, CA 94915 | P (415) 472-3960 | F (415) 472-3961 | www.anco-online.org
|
|
| |
|
