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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.
October 25, 2016
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California News
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- California's Office of the Patient Advocate released its annual report cards on health plans and medical groups. These tools are meant to help guide consumers and employers as they shop for coverage during the upcoming open enrollment season. The report cards assign ratings to the 10 largest HMOs and five largest PPOs in the state, based on quality of care and patient experience. It also rates more than 200 physician groups. Quality of care measures include ensuring that heart patients' blood pressure is well managed and that children get their immunizations. The goal of the agency's report cards is to make that process less daunting. For the first time in the 16 years that the OPA has produced the report cards, it is including cost of care information in its medical group ratings. Those figures are based on the average amount that health plans and patients paid each group for care in the past year.
- Forthcoming CMA webinars include:
* Is Your Practice at Risk for a HIPAA Security Breach? (November 2)
* Nondiscrimination Statements: A Detailed Guide to Compliance (November 9)
- The Anthem Network Update (October 2016) is now available online http://www11.anthem.com/ca/provider/f5/s3/t3/pw_g268758.pdf and features articles about health insurance exchange updates, billing, guidelines and quality programs, and pharmacy.
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Noridian News
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* MLN Connects Provider News
Announcements--New Data to Increase Transparency on Medicare HospicePayments; SNF Value-Based Purchasing Program: Confidential Feedback Reports Available; EHR Incentive Programs: Review Resources on 2016 Program Requirements; CMS Finalizes the New Medicare Quality Payment Program; CMS Announces New Initiative to Increase Clinician Engagement; Physician Compare Review Period Ends November 11; Value Modifier: Informal Review Request Period Open through November 30; 2015 Supplemental Quality and Resource Use Reports Available
Claims, Pricers, and Codes--October 2016 OPPS Pricer File Update
Events--How to Report Across 2016 Medicare Quality Programs Call-November 1; Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Test Payment System: Data Reporting Call-November 2l Quality Payment Program Final Rule Call-November 15
Publications--Medicare Quarterly Provider Compliance Newsletter Educational Tool-New; SNF Value-Based Purchasing Program Call: Audio Recording and Transcript-New; 2015 QRURs Webcast: Audio Recording and Transcript-New
* Diagnostic Colonoscopy LCD-R6 and R7
* Flow Cytometry LCD-R5
* Self-Administered Drug Exclusion List-R8
- Forthcoming Noridian/JEMAC educational events:
* Evaluation and Management Modifiers (October 26)
* Ordered, Referred, and Prescribed Services (November 15)
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Part B providers can now use the Noridian/JEMAC Medicare Portal to conduct self-service clerical corrections to previously processed Part B claims
to add/change a modifier or to add/change a diagnosis code. View a tutorial on this new service at
www.brainshark.com/noridian/vu?pi=zHKzLif8fz6h8nz0.
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- MOASC's Fall Clinical Staff, Billing and Administrator Programs, are scheduled for November 9 and 10, 2016 from 8:00am - 2:00pm, at Embassy Suites Anaheim-Orange 400 N. State College Blvd., Orange. On Wednesday, November 9th, the Clinical Staff Track discussion highlight is Chemotherapy and Biotherapy Clinical Hot Topics in 2016. The Billing Staff Track discussion highlight is Oncology Billing Overview and Updates. OnThursday, November 10th the Administrator's Program discussion highlights are: Self Advocating for Protections Against Hazardous Drugs with an overview of USP 800; MACRA, and Mitigating financial risk in the practice and Payer Contracting/Negotiations. Contact the MOASC Office for more information and registration. moasc@moasc.org
- The 2nd Annual Practical Recommendations in Immuno and Molecular Oncology (PRIMO) Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 9, 2017 through Sunday, February 12, 2017 at the Marriott Wailea in Maui, Hawaii. This is a CME-certified event aimed to help practicing providers keep up with the latest advances in immuno and molecularly targeted therapies, while approaching real-world issues on how and when to optimally integrate them into clinical practice. The agenda has been carefully tailored to ensure all will benefit from the information, with an emphasis on the following key areas across 15 tumor types: Practical considerations of applying biomarkers and targeted therapy Integration of immunotherapy, with a focus on novel management approaches Patient selection, as well as timing and sequencing of therapy Dealing with important trends, such as big data and defining value in cancer care MOASC Members are afforded a special discount for registration to attend the meeting.
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- ANCO's 4Q2016 Hematological Malignancies Update will take place on November 12
at the Stanford Park Hotel, Menlo Park, with Bruno Medeiros, M.D., Stanford University, Jeffrey L. Wolf, M.D., University of California, San Francisco, and Gregory P. Kaufman, M.D., Stanford University. The latest research on novel treatment modalities for acute and chronic leukemia's, and myeloma, along with case studies for these diagnoses will be presented. The program begins at 8:30AM with breakfast. This meeting is supported by Janssen Biotech, Seattle Genetics, and Takeda Oncology. Space is limited to the first 50 physician or nurse registrants only. Meeting announcements were mailed in early October. Download the meeting announcement/registration form at www.anco-online.org/4Q2016HemeMalig.pdf.
- 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 seeks nominations to its Board of Directors. Four seats on the Board are up for election in 2016. This year's election will be conducted via mail ballot in December. Candidates with the top four vote totals will serve for three years (i.e., from 2017-2019, inclusive). The ANCO Board of Directors governs the Association, developing advocacy strategies and policies, approving education meeting proposals and activities, and considering membership benefits. The Board meets in person approximately once each year in the San Francisco Bay Area and via bimonthly teleconference. Expenses associated with attending Board meetings are reimbursed. Communication with the Board is also conducted via FAX broadcast and e-mail. You may nominate an ANCO member (including yourself) to stand for election to the Board via FAX to the ANCO office at (415) 472-3961 or e-mail to execdir@anco-online.org no later than November 18, 2016.
- 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.
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- Premiums for midlevel health plans under the Affordable Care Act will increase by an average of 25 percent next year, while consumers in some states will find significantly fewer insurance companies offering coverage, the federal government said Monday.
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- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) invites you to join a webinar on October 26 at 11:00am-12:00pm Pacific Time, Register: https://engage.vevent.com/rt/cms/index.jsp?seid=530on the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) final rule with comment period. The webinar will provide an overview of the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Advanced Alternative Payment Model (APM) incentive payment provisions under MACRA, collectively referred to as the Quality Payment Program.
- Over the last several years many of you have been supportive of efforts to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), the Healthcare Leadership Council (HLC) is again spearheading a large group sign on letter similar to efforts we have conducted in previous years. In order to make the most impact, our goal is to exceed the amount of signers on the previous group sign-on letter, which most recently had over 530 signers. For organizations who would like to add their organization's name to the letter, please follow this link and fill out the form. Additional background information is also available there.
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) with the MLN Connects® call invites you to join a webinar November 15 on Quality Payment Program Final Rule 10:30am to 12:00pm Pacific Time MLN Connects Event Registration. Target Audience: Medicare Part B Fee-For-Service clinicians, office managers and administrators; state and national associations that represent healthcare providers; and other stakeholders. During this call, learn about the provisions in the recently released final rule; participants should review the rule prior to the call. A question and answer session will follow the presentation. To learn more about the final rule and the Quality Payment Program, view the following resources:
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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.
- Join the Healthcare Leadership Council's tele-town hall to hear the latest on the Affordable Care Act's Independent Physician Advisory Board repeal efforts and the potential impact on Medicare beneficiaries, as well as proposed Senate activity. Beth Nelson with Senator John Cornyn's office will be joining the call to share the Senator's concerns with IPAB, his interest in repealing IPAB, and discuss his ongoing leadership on the issue.
Participant Dial-In: 888-455-0031
Passcode: MEDICARE Speakers: Mary R. Grealy, Healthcare Leadership Council
Beth Nelson, Senator John Cornyn (R-TX)
- 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.
*On Thursday, Nov. 17, Fred Appelbaum, M.D., James Foran, M.D., Laura C. Michaelis, M.D., will discuss patient co-morbidities, 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.
- Learn about the most significant scientific discoveries in hematology and how these discoveries impact clinical practice, at the 58th ASH Annual Meeting & Exposition. December 3-6, 2016 in San Diego. Advance registration is open for a limited time.
Register today to secure the best rates available for this year's event and to book your housing. ASH Registration and Housing Center, 888-273-5704 (U.S. toll free)
Email: ashregistration@spargoinc.com ashhousing@spargoinc.com
- 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
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Comments on the proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for CY2017 have been submitted by:
- ASCO is accepting applications for its 2017 Quality Training Program. In 2017, the Program is shifting its model of in-person sessions at ASCO headquarters in Alexandria to regional settings, including Portland. The comprehensive six-month program brings oncology teams together to create and facilitate an improvement project. Each team selects a project that will solve a problem in its own clinical setting, so the learning experience is simultaneously fostering a solution or best practice. For more information about the Quality Training Program, visit
www.asco.org/training-education/professional-development/quality-training-program.
- ASCO is accepting applications for its prestigious Health Policy Fellowship, a one-year Fellowship opportunity designed to give early-career oncologists the unique skills necessary to monitor and shape the regulatory and legislative policies that directly affect the practice environment and impact patients with cancer and their care teams. The deadline for submitting applications is December 30 at
www.asco.org/node/7556.
- 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.
- ASCO's Annual Election of leaders opens November 1 and will remain open through December 2. Go to
www.asco.org/election to learn about the candidates and vote.
- 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.
- View the 2016 ASH Meeting on Hematologic Malignancies Webcast with more than 13 hours of exclusive educational content. The webcast provides access to 21 sessions and 8 panel discussions featuring top experts in hematologic malignancies. The content is available online as video recordings of the speakers synced with slides from their presentations. Free previews from the 2015 meeting are available for viewing. Order Now
- 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. If you are interested in joining the support network, e-mail
OCMSupport@coacancer.org
- NCCN has published updated NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) with NCCN Evidence Blocks™ for the following disease sites:
* adolescent and young adult oncology (V1.2017)
* cervical cancer (V1.2017)
* chemotherapy order templates (nivolumab)
* colorectal cancer screening (V2.2016)
* head and neck cancer (V2.2016)
* myeloproliferative neoplasms (V2.2017)
* non-small cell lung cancer (V1.2017)
For the complete updated versions of the NCCN Guidelines, NCCN Guidelines with NCCN Evidence Blocks™, the NCCN Compendium®, the NCCN Chemotherapy Order Templates (NCCN Templates®), and the NCCN Imaging Appropriate Use Criteria (NCCN Imaging AUC™), please visit
NCCN.org.
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- AMGEN informs ANCO and MOASC that the American Medical Association has issued a new CPT code (96377) for the application of on-body injector (includes canola insertion) for timed subcutaneous injection effective January 1, 2017. This new code may be used by providers to describe the physician services associated with Neulasta Onpro.
- Astellas Oncology informs ANCO and MOASC that the United States Food and Drug Administration has modified the indication for Tarceva for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to limit use to patients whose tumors have specific EGFR mutations. The labeling change applies to patients with NSCLC receiving maintenance or second or greater line treatment. These indications will be limited to those patients whose tumors have EGFR exon 19 deletions or exon 21 L858R substitution mutations as detected by an FDA-approved test. The first-line indication previously was limited to patients with EGFR exon 19 deletions or exon 21 substitution mutations.
- Astellas Pharma announces XTANDI (enzalutamide) capsules is indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).
- Clovis Oncology is hosting several webcasts entitled The Evolving Science of Ovarian Cancer on October 26 and 27 and November 8 and 11. Learn more and register at
www.clovisspeakers.com.
- Genentech BioOncology informs ANCO and MOAS that the United States Food and Drug Administration has approved Tecentriq for the treatment of people with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy, and have progressed on an appropriate FDA-approved targeted therapy if their tumor has EGFR or ALK gene abnormalities.
- Lilly Oncology informs ANCO and MOASC that the United States Food and Drug Administration has approved Lartruvo for the treatment of patients with soft tissue sarcoma (STS) non amenable to curative treatment with radiotherapy or surgery and with histologic subtype for which an anthrocycline-containing regimen is appropriate.
- Pharmacyclics will host an exhibitor theater to discuss Imbruvica in CLL/SLL with Kevin R. Kelly, M.D., University of Southern California, on October 29 in Anaheim. Please RSVP at
http://bit.ly/registerCSHP.
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MOASC CALENDAR
LunchTime Series
October 26th
Oncology Roundtable Teleconference
November 30th
ASCO State Affiliate
Meeting in Virginia, VA
October 26th - 28th
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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
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