California Oncology Weekly
"An Oncologists’ Source for Timely Information"
A publication of the
Medical Oncology Association of Southern California, Inc.
October 27, 2020
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Click anywhere on picture to view the past 30 years |
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MOASC Members needed to participate in a 15-minute interview MOASC News
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Friday! Submit nomination for Extraordinary Woman Mentor Affiliate Association News/Conquer Cancer News
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Friday! Webinar on impact of COVID-19 on cancer screenings, diagnoses & treatments Affiliate Association News/COA News
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MOASC partners with the editorial staff of Targeted Oncology (TO) who have begun planning for Pancreatic Cancer and Lung Cancer awareness month next month. They are reaching out to MOASC Members who would want to participate in a 15-minute interview. This would be oncologist focused in either disease area. The goal is to let the physician guide the discussion and see what they would like to focus on for the awareness month. If the physician so chooses, questions may be provided beforehand.TO is aiming to have the interviews scheduled by the end of next week (Nov. 2 – 6). If you are interested, please contact, no later than Friday, October 30, Brooke Weinstein bweinstein@mjhassoc.com, Manager, Strategic Alliance Partnerships, CURE® | Targeted Oncology™.
Physicians’ Education Resource (PER) invites physicians to their upcoming Chemotherapy Foundation Symposium, being held November 4-6th. PER is excited to announce the 38th Annual CFS®. This year’s program has been transformed into a virtual, interactive event that will continue to provide updates on all of the latest innovations in cancer care with access to 100+ renowned experts, in a 3-day, highly engaging conference. MOASC Members will receive 35% off the cost of registration with code CFS20FOFB when you sign up by October 30. Click here to Register Now
MOASC PROGRAMS - SAVE THE DATES All Times are Pacific
A payer's request for an itemized claim statement may signal the claim is being closely scrutinized. Including a coding specialist on every claims denial team prevents line-item denials. Appeals must be submitted within a deadline, often 30 to 45 days, and health information management and coding professionals need time to identify the physicians involved in the case, review records and help develop justification for the services in question. Billers need to
Register now for MOASC’s 30th Annual Educational Series virtual Billing Track, which will be held on November 12 View the agenda. The virtual Administrator Track will be on November 4 View the agenda. MOASC has secured the professionals to provide attendees with the tools and resources to tackle the challenges of addressing patient care, protecting staff, safety and surviving financially during this most unique time. Register Here.
Please welcome and thank these MOASC Series partners when they visit your practice.
AstraZeneca, BeiGene, Pfizer Oncology, Puma Biotechnology, AbbVie, Merck, Verastem, Astellas, Bristol Myers Squibb, Foundation Medicine, Johnson and Johnson, Agios Pharmaceuticals, Exact Science, Genentech, Immunomedics , Kite Pharma, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Oncology Supply, Pharmacyclics, Regeneron Healthcare, Sanofi-Genzyme, Stemline Therapeutics, Takeda and Walgreens.
Don’t miss the next MOASC Virtual Clinical Conference scheduled for November 12, 2020 titled Up Close and Personalizing Gastric Cancer Care Precision Medicine With HER2-Targeted Therapies and Other Novel Agents. As the management of gastric/GEJ cancer is rapidly evolving, oncologists and other healthcare professionals will benefit from receiving practical guidance on the role and use of current and emerging personalized therapies. PeerView has developed this collection of educational activities to highlight the importance of molecular testing, help synthesize the latest advances and data of novel HER2-directed and other targeted therapeutics, and offer optimal strategies to effectively integrate personalized medicine in gastric cancer care. Register Now.
MOASC’s membership drive started October 1 with renewing member dues prorated through June 2021. Please support the association that supports you. Renew your membership TODAY! Thank you. moasc@moasc.org
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The California Medical Association (CMA) has published their 2020 Voter Guide, which includes CMA’s positions on November 2020 statewide ballot measures. We hope that you will show up to the polls (or mail in your vote-by-mail ballot) and ensure the voices of physicians are heard loud and clear.
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As reported in this publication, recently signed AB 890 authorizes two newly created types of nurse practitioners (NPs), Section 103 and 104, who would be allowed to perform certain functions without standardized procedures. To clarify specifically regarding Section 103&104 NP’s: The bill does not prohibit the supervision of NPs; the bill requires NPs to refer cases beyond their training and education to a physician; the bill does not prohibit physician supervision of nurse practitioners, and implies a continuing role for physicians in the care of patients who are treated by Section 103 or 104 nurse practitioners.
Implementation of the law now moves to the Board of Registered Nursing, which will be responsible for establishing guidelines for these new categories of nurse practitioners. The Medical Board of California may also have a role to play in the bill’s implementation. The California Medical Association (CMA) will be closely involved in the implementation of AB 890, monitoring and advocating during the regulatory process at the Board of Registered Nursing and at the Medical Board of California, as necessary.
First phase of clinical trial for COVID-19 vaccine begins at Hoag Memorial Hospital in Newport Beach. Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach is the first test site in the U.S. of this particular potential vaccine, which contains two proteins from the virus that causes COVID-19.
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Noridian News
MolDX: Molecular RBC Phenotyping LCD Retirement - Effective December 05, 2020. This Local Coverage Determination (LCD) has been retired under contractor numbers: 01112 (NCA), 01182 (SCA), 01212 (AS, GU, HI, NMI), and 01312 (NV).
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MolDX: Decipher Prostate Cancer Classifier Assay LCD Retirement - Effective December 05, 2020. This Local Coverage Determination (LCD) has been retired under contractor numbers: 01112 (NCA), 01182 (SCA), 01212 (AS, GU, HI, NMI), and 01312 (NV).
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MolDX: Decipher Biopsy Prostate Cancer Classifier Assay for Men with Intermediate Risk Disease LCD Retirement - Effective December 05, 2020.
This Local Coverage Determination (LCD) has been retired under contractor numbers: 01112 (NCA), 01182 (SCA), 01212 (AS, GU, HI, NMI), and 01312 (NV).
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Noridian Medicare Portal Eligibility Webinar - November 12, 2020
This event includes: Hours of availability, Eligibility, Medicare beneficiary identifier look up, and Resources
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Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) Clinic Webinar - October 28, 2020
This event includes: CERT Introduction, Answer Presubmitted Questions, Hot Topics, Website Tour, Documentation Requirements.
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Providers are encouraged to attend the many educational events offered by Noridian. Read the complete update The schedules of region-specific events, webinars and training are JEA, JEB, JAF and JFB. For a schedule of Noridian events of interest, go HERE
Medicare changes that will keep you updated in this next quarter can be found Here
The complete listing of locally hosted coverage articles can be viewed Here. All LCDs and LCAs can be viewed Here.
CMS News
CMS plans to announce that Medicare and Medicaid will cover out-of-pocket costs for any COVID-19 vaccines that obtain emergency use authorization from the FDA, according to sources with knowledge of the plan. The policy will also address other pandemic-related issues such as expanding flexibility for Medicaid beneficiaries seeking COVID-19 care, sources said.
CMS hosts varied recurring stakeholder engagement sessions to share information related to the agency’s response to COVID-19. Calls recordings and transcripts are posted on the CMS podcast page Here.
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As we close Breast Cancer Awareness Month the importance of cancer screening throughout the year, is greater more than ever. Read about how to get back on track with cancer screening though the impact of the universal pandemic has hindered the process here. |
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On September 13, 2020, the Trump Administration issued the “Lowering Drug Prices by Putting Americans First” executive order (EO), which would implement a Most Favored Nation (MFN) model. The MFN model would base prices for certain Medicare Part B and Part D drugs and biologics on the lowest price offered in foreign countries. MOASC and the National Oncology State Network (NOSN) joined the Community Oncology Alliance (COA) in opposition to the EO. We urge against the implementation of the MFN as it will negatively impact community oncologists and the patients they serve. We must not limit access to cancer care or the essential treatment options for patients in need.
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Affiliate Association News |
ANCO News
Four seats on the ANCO Board of Directors are up for election in 2020. ANCO seeks nominations for candidates to stand for election to these seats. 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 2021-2023, inclusive). The ANCO Board of Directors governs the Association, developing advocacy strategies and policies, approving educational meeting proposals and activities, and considering membership benefits. The Board meets in person approximately once per 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 e-mail. You may nominate an ANCO member (including yourself) to stand for election to the Board via e-mail to courtney@anco.org no later than November 16.
Congratulations to Sue S. Yom, MD, PhD, MAS, for being has selected as a distinguished ASTRO member to receive the ASTRO Fellow (FASTRO) designation. Dr. Yom is a Professor at the University of California, San Francisco. See the publication here
ANCO's 2020 Virtual Professional Education Meeting will take place on Thursday, October 29th. The meeting will focus on the fiscal impact of 2021 E&M coding changes, Medicare update and Documentation, as well as preparing for the 2021 E&M coding changes. Register online no later than Friday, October 23.
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ANCO's three part series of Hematologic Malignancies Updates: Leukemias, Lymphomas, & Myelomas 2020 is going Virtual! The faculty will present the latest research on treatment modalities for hematologic malignancies—leukemias, lymphomas, and myeloma—along with case studies for these diagnoses. The series is scheduled to take place on the following Saturdays: November 14, and December 19.
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Use ANCO's job board to post or search for employment opportunities at ANCO member practices.
Follow ANCO on Twitter at @ANCO News.
ASH News
The ASH annual meeting is right around the corner. Watch our new video to learn about some of the unique features of our innovative virtual platform, accessible from anywhere in the world. Advance registration ends next week. If you want to secure your spot at the meeting at a reduced rate and receive meeting materials, make sure to register before November 5!
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Conquer Cancer News
Conquer Cancer, seeks nominations for an Extraordinary Woman Mentor for their Women Who Conquer Cancer Mentorship Award. Please submit your nomination by October 30, 2020.
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COA News
This Friday, October 30th from 9-10 a.m. PT, join experts from COA and Avalere Health for a webinar discussing the results of an important new study on the impact of COVID-19 on cancer screenings, diagnoses, and treatments. Released last week and published in the journal JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics, the study shows a considerable drop in cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment for American seniors and Medicare beneficiaries this year. The study found significant reductions in breast (-85%), colon (-75%), prostate (-74%), and lung cancer (-56%) screenings at the first peak of the pandemic in April 2020, compared with April 2019. What does that mean for patients, practices, and the health care system?
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COA’s analysis of ZIP codes chosen by CMS, for mandatory participation in the Radiation Oncology (RO) Model, finds that over half the zip codes chosen have higher than average rates of COVID-19 infection. 55% of RO Model ZIP codes have a COVID-19 infection rate higher than 5.8% of the average of all the U.S. The American Society of Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) presented the COA analysis to CMS Administrator Verma delaying the access-adverse Radiation Oncology Model until at least July 2021. “The @CMSGov team & I have listened to the feedback from @ASTRO_org & the radiation oncology community regarding the start date of the new Radiation Oncology #radonc Model, & understand that more time is needed to prepare,” Verma tweeted.
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COPA News
New Century/Humana, on November 9, 2020, will be implementing a new dose rounding down initiative for selected drugs. Utilizing the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA) guidelines the insurer will be rounding doses down anywhere up to 10%. Whereby, most practices have instituted dose rounding to decrease waste and may be a motive here, if your practice does this OR if you have received such information from any payer, please contact Ricky Newton rnewton@coacancer.org
NCCN News
NCCN has published updates to the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). These NCCN Guidelines® are currently available as Version 1.2021.
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AbbVie is excited to announce their upcoming National Broadcasts: New Evidence in First-Line AML on Tuesday 11/10 at 2:00pm PT and 5:00pmPT and Exploring Outcomes with Fixed-Duration Treatment in CLL, taking place on Thursday, 11/12 and Tuesday, 11/17 across multiple time zones. These educational events support oncologists and care teams. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn directly from experts in AML and CLL. During this interactive presentation the speakers will:
Recognize VENCLEXTA as a BCL-2 inhibitor for 1L AML, and 1L and R/R CLL;
Review the phase 3 efficacy and safety outcomes of VENCLEXTA + azacitidine from the pivotal VIALE-A study for patients with 1L AML, ineligible for intensive induction chemotherapy due to age or comorbidities;
Explore the efficacy and safety outcomes of VENCLEXTA’s chemo-free, fixed duration CLL regimens.
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Agios Pharmaceuticals Inc. cordially invites MOASC Members, on October 28, October 29 and November 4, to their webcast series on Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency: An Under recognized Cause of Chronic Hemolytic Anemia. Agios is excited to follow the science and evolving work in non-malignant hematology. Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PK Deficiency) is a genetic disease that causes lifelong chronic hemolytic anemia. PK Deficiency is often overlooked and a misunderstood disease. Many PK Deficiency patients may be referred to an oncology clinic because of their chronic hemolytic anemia and associated complications.
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AstraZeneca cordially invites MOASC Members, on November 5, 2020, to their webcast in support of the PAOLA-1 launch. They will hold expert discussions on LYNPARZA® (olaparib) and LYNPARZA + bevacizumab as Maintenance Monotherapy or Combination Therapy in Advanced Ovarian Cancer: Results From Key Clinical Trials. View the multiple dates and invitation here.
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AstraZeneca’s Tagrisso (osimertinib) has received acceptance for its supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) and has also been granted Priority Review in the US for the adjuvant treatment of patients with early-stage (IB, II and IIIA) epidermal growth factor receptor-mutated (EGFRm) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after complete tumour resection with curative intent. Read the announcement
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Foundation Medicine, Inc. announced that the FDA approved FoundationOne®CDx to be used as a companion diagnostic for VITRAKVI® (larotrectinib), which is currently FDA-approved for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with solid tumors that have a neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase (NTRK) gene fusion without a known acquired resistance mutation, are metastatic or where surgical resection is likely to result in severe morbidity, and have no satisfactory alternative treatments or that have progressed following treatment. FoundationOne CDx, the only FDA-approved tissue-based comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) test, is now approved to detect NTRK1/2/3 fusions across all solid tumor types and identify patients who may be appropriate for treatment with VITRAKVI.
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Immunomedics cordially invites MOASC Members to their webcasts on TRODELVY (sacituzumab govitecan-hziy). Presented by: John W Park, MD, Professor of Clinical Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, UCSF School of Medicine. TRODELVY is a Trop-2-directed antibody and topoisomerase inhibitor conjugate indicated for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC), who have received at least two prior therapies for metastatic disease.
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Kite Pharma cordially invites MOASC Members to their upcoming webinar about A CAR T-cell Therapy for the Treatment of Relapsed or Refractory Mantle Cell Lymphoma - TECARTUS™ Prescribing Information. TECARTUS is the first and only CAR T-cell therapy approved for adult patients with relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). Learn about incorporating TECARTUS CAR T therapy into your practice, gain an understanding of MCL disease and unmet needs and review and discuss the use of TECARTUS for R/R MCL. Presented by: Joshua Sasine, MD on Wednesday, November 11, 2020 05:30 PM - 06:30 PM.
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Pharmacyclics & Janssen Biotech has released a study on Guidelines for MCL Set to Change Due to COVID-19.
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Puma Biotechnology invites MOASC Members to their clinical webinar on Protecting Patients With NERLYNX® (neratinib), the first and only HER2-directed small molecule approved by the FDA in both HER2+ eBC and HER2+ mBC. Presented by: Alan Auerbach, CEO & President; Fairooz Kabbinavar, M.D., SVP Clinical Development and Jeff Ludwig, CCO on Thursday, November 5, 2020 at 6:00pm-PST.
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Seattle Genetics cordially invites MOASC Members to their upcoming Educational Program to review data from ECHELON-1, on November 12, 2020. A superiority trial comparing ADCETRIS+AVD to ABVD. This trial introduces a bleomycin-free regimen for adult patients with previously untreated Stage III/IV classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL).1 Also discussed will be the latest data from the North American subset analyses. Presented by: Andrew Evens, DO, MSc, Rutgers Cancer Institute of NJ, New Brunswick, New Jersey. To register contact Stacey Dominguez at sdominguez@seagen.com or 310-560-1104.
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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 material contained in the California Oncology Weekly is intended as general information for 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 accepts no liability for any statements or articles herein. CPT codes are owned and trademarked by the American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
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