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California physicians have ability to succeed in value-based care California News
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Interoperability and data blocking rules establishing clear goals for improving patient access to data, mitigating health care provider burnout and reducing costs. Medicare News /CMS News
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The AMA HOD voted to approve two, oncology-friendly, resolutions National News
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MOASC President, Ashkan Lashkari, MD, will join ANCO President, Thach-Giao Truong, MD, on ANCO Connections, Thursday, July 15, 12:00pm-1:00pm. The title of the program is, Connecting with MOASC: Re-opening of California, and what it means for Oncologists.
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MOASC Programs - Save the Dates - All Times are Pacific
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Clinical Peer to Peer Discussion on Lung Cancer, Wednesday, July 28, 5:30pm – 7:00pm-PDT. MOASC Secretary, Joshua Mansour, M.D., City of Hope will host moderator Hatim Husain, M.D., UCSD in a panel discussion of case presentations and discussion of various treatment options with; Munveer Bhangoo, M.D., Scripps MD Anderson Cancer Center; Misaqh Karimi, M.D., City of Hope; Jonathan Goldman, M.D., UCLA Hematology & Oncology.
The purpose of this meeting is multifaceted; to provide ongoing clinical education through community outreach, discuss new treatment options, side effect management and clinical trials. This will be a great opportunity to learn from key opinion leaders and network with colleagues.
Benefits of Attending:
Submit questions and cases for discussion with KOL’s in the field;
Hear the latest clinical trial data and apply it to your patients; and
Consider real-world scenarios and how to mitigate barriers to treatment.
Target Audience:
This educational activity is directed toward medical oncologists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses and other professionals with an interest in hematology/oncology.
This event is complementary registration is required.
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Physicians Education Resource (PER) cordially invites all MOASC members to their 22nd Annual International Lung Cancer Congress (ILC) on July 29-31, 2021, in Huntington Beach. They have extended a discounted registration code for all MOASC members.
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SAVE THE DATE! MOASC presents their virtual Spotlight On Clinical Oncology, Saturday, August 14, 8am – 12pm. Topics to be discussed are on breast cancer, GU cancers, upper GI and lower GI cancers, lung cancer and melanoma/sarcoma. Renowned speakers from UCI, UCSD, Cedars-Sinai and more are being lined up to present a most valuable program for you.
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Deadline to apply is August 3, 2021! CMA is collaborating with Aledade Inc. to help independent physicians succeed in value-based care, ensuring practices and health centers are able to thrive while delivering the best possible patient care. As the top-rated, physician-led ACO in the country, Aledade’s proven process helps practices and community health centers quickly improve financial performance and get more from the data and technologies they have.
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On July 1, 2021 the minimum hourly wage in certain California cities increased as follows:
Berkeley: $16.32 (including youth work and training)
Emeryville: $17.13
Fremont, 25 or fewer employees: $15.00
Fremont, 26 or more employees: $15.25
Long Beach (hotels): $15.69
Los Angeles City and unincorporated Los Angeles County, 25 or fewer employees: $15.00
Los Angeles City and unincorporated Los Angeles County (hotels with 150+ rooms): $17.64
Malibu, 25 or fewer employees: $15.00
Milpitas: $15.65
Pasadena, 25 or fewer employees: $15.00
San Francisco: $16.32
CalVaxGrant is a new program administered by Physicians for a Healthy California (PHC) that will offer grant funding, one-on-one myCAvax support and vaccine administration resources to help physician practices vaccinate their communities against COVID-19. Individual practices may receive up to $55,000 to support vaccination efforts, and to be eligible, practices must complete Section A of the myCAVax application process.
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CMA has recently received several inquiries regarding challenges with reimbursement of COVID-19 vaccine administration services. While the federal government has purchased hundreds of millions of doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and is providing those at no cost, vaccinating providers are still able to bill and be reimbursed for administering the vaccine. Providers should be aware, however, there are some nuances to successfully submitting claims for COVID-19 vaccine administration services that differ from the normal claim submission process.
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People who received a COVID-19 vaccine or test at a University of California San Diego Health vaccination site now have access to a secure online vaccination record through UCSD Health's patient portal and smartphone app. Vaccination and testing records are available through a QR code, or patients can download a PDF, says UCSD Health Associate Chief Medical Officer Christopher Longhurst.
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Noridian’s Medicare Part A and B Provider Outreach and Education (POE) team is providing their latest news and updates.
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Effective June 24, 2021, Billing and Coding: MolDX: Targeted and Comprehensive Genomic Profile Next-Generation Sequencing Testing in Cancer - R5 -. This coverage article has been revised and published for notice under contract numbers: 01112 (NCA), 01182 (SCA), 01212 (AS, GU, HI, NMI), and 01312 (NV).
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Effective June 24, 2021, MolDX: Next-Generation Sequencing for Solid Tumors LCD coverage article has been revised and published for notice under contract numbers: 01112 (NCA), 01182 (SCA), 01212 (AS, GU, HI, NMI), and 01312 (NV).
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Effective July 08, 2021, MolDX: Next-Generation Sequencing Lab-Developed Tests for
Myeloid Malignancies and Suspected Myeloid Malignancies LCD has been revised and published for notice under contract numbers: 01112 (NCA), 01182 (SCA), 01212 (AS, GU, HI, NMI), and 01312 (NV).
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Effective July 23, 2021, the Billing and Coding: Complex Drug Administration Coding coverage article has been revised and published for notice under contract numbers: 01112 (NCA), 01182 (SCA), 01212 (HI and Territories), and 01312 (NV).
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July 8, 2021 Quarterly Medicare Updates After Hours webinar is intended for Medicare Part A/B Providers and will include: • CMS and Noridian Updates • July 2021 Quarterly Provider Updates • Change Requests (CR) • Recurring Updates • Special Editions (SE) • Resources.
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July 13, 2021 Telehealth Services webinar is intended for Medicare Part B Providers and will include: • Overview • Eligible Providers • Covered Services • Coding and Billing • Virtual Services • Resources.
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July 14, 2021 Prior Authorization for Certain Hospital Outpatient Department (OPD) Services webinar is intended for Medicare Part A/B Providers and will include: • Overview • Authorization Process • Submitting Prior Authorization Request (PAR) • Services Requiring Prior Authorization • Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN) • Resources.
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July 22, 2021 Modifier 59, National Correct Coding Initiative and Medically Unlikely Edits webinar includes: National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI), Modifier 59, Procedure to Procedure (PTP) CCI Edits, Medically Unlikely Edits (MUEs), CCI Examples, Resources.
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July 29, 2021 Noridian Medicare Portal (NMP) Functionality webinar includes: NMP Functionality for Eligibility and MBI Lookup Tool, Claim Status, Financial, Appeals Status and Submission, Remittance Advices, Provider Enrollment, Message Center.
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HHS and the CMS began enforcing interoperability and data blocking rules last Thursday and are working with the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT to establish clear goals for improving patient access to data, mitigating health care provider burnout and reducing costs. While the final rule has been in effect since January 1, 2021, CMS put off enforcement of the new requirements until July 1, 2021 due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The rules require health insurers and providers to facilitate patient access to claims and clinical data via application programming interfaces.
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A Special Meeting of the American Medical Association’s (AMA) House of Delegates (HOD) convened last month. The AMA HOD is the principal policy-making body of AMA and meets twice a year to discuss pressing issues and establish association policies. While the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency required a cancellation of the in-person Annual Meeting, AMA’s Board of Directors called for a virtual, Special Meeting focused on priority items. During the Special Meeting, the AMA HOD voted to approve two, oncology-friendly, resolutions on:
Payment Reform Models, directing AMA to advocate for CMS to seek innovative payment and care delivery models, which are voluntary and tailored to the needs of local communities and different specialties. The resolution, which was approved by the HOD, also directs AMA to continue to advocate against mandatory CMMI demonstration projects; and
Patient Financial Incentives for Treatment Switching, directing the AMA to support legislation banning patient financial incentives for switching treatments.
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Reduce EHR physician burnout by making clinical documentation integrity invisible to physicians. CDI leaders also have an opportunity to make their own lives easier and improve the organization. The American Health Information Management Association published an article outlining the key is to build a program that will work for the users. If you understand physicians, partner with them, and build a program they actually love, then your program will be truly transformational and cost-effective. How to do it: build alliances rooted in compassion for physicians, design a physician-centered CDI program, and push the organization to measure burnout.
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The idea of extending Medicare coverage of telehealth after the federal public health emergency declaration expires has bipartisan support in Congress, with 59 senators co-sponsoring a bill by Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, that would make some temporary Medicare payment rules permanent. However, the Congressional Budget Office, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission and the Government Accountability Office are among those urging caution.
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Affiliate Association News |
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AHRQ News
The Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality’s Patient Safety Network (PSNet) highlights journal articles, books and tools related to patient safety.
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ANCO News
On July 15 at 12:15, you’re invited to the next ANCO Connections virtual roundtable & networking series. Connect with Thach-Glao Truong, MD, ANCO President and Ashkan Lashkari, MD, MOASC President, as they discuss California’s Reopening: What It Means for Oncologists, What You Need to Know for Your Practice. Last month, California lifted most capacity and distancing restrictions. What does that mean for those in the cancer care community? Hear about: Current California Department of Health guidelines and recommendations; The latest updates to the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards for your staff; What you should know about case rates, test positivity rates and vaccine metrics and reopening; Special safety considerations for your patients with cancer; Ways that COVID-19 might continue to change cancer care delivery. For optimal interaction, attendance is limited to the first 20 participants who register for this free program, so register TODAY!
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ANCO is in the beginning stages of planning for their Professional Education Conference for the Fall of 2021. Please take a few moments and help with their planning by completing this very short, 4-question survey. Thank you!
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ASH News
The American Society of Hematology (ASH) looks forward to seeing you at the 63rd ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition being held December 11-14, 2021 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA and virtually.
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ASCO News
In a new joint statement, ASCO and Friends of Cancer Research assert that individuals with cancer should be eligible for clinical trials—including COVID-19 vaccine trials—unless there is safety justification for exclusion. Since clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccines have largely excluded patients with cancer, more information is needed to better understand how safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines are for patients in active treatment. Especially now that multiple vaccines have been authorized for emergency use. Eligibility should be immediately expanded to include patients with cancer as the default.
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If you want a law or regulation to change, you’ve got to make your voice heard. Saying it loud and proud is one of the themes of the free, virtual 2021 COA Patient Advocacy Network (CPAN) Advocacy Summit on Wednesday, July 21. The power to create a better cancer care system rests with the physicians, patients, survivors, and advocates of community oncology. You'll hear from advocacy, legal, clinical, and communications experts who will help you and your patients hone your advocacy skills.
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COPA News
An increasing number of oncolytic drugs are administered orally, meaning that they can be dispensed at community oncology clinics. However, the field is constantly changing with new best practices, challenges, and improved tools. COPA is a free network for oncology pharmacy professionals looking to improve the patient experience. COPA members have access to resource sharing sites, a listserv of other professionals, and more. In a time of changing regulations and pandemic restrictions, access to a network of like-minded professionals is crucial to success.
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Merck announced the FDA approval of an expanded label for KEYTRUDA, Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, as monotherapy for the treatment of patients with locally advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) that is not curable by surgery or radiation.
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CURE® | Targeted Oncology™ have confirmed another virtual roundtable for the southern California region. B-Cell Lymphoma: New Approaches for Relapsed/Refractory DLBCL will be moderated by Dr. Elizabeth Budde (City of Hope) on Wednesday, July 14th at 7:00-8:30pmPDT. Dr. Budde, a thought leader in the field, will discuss pathology report findings, patient diagnostic workup, the most likely diagnosis and potential treatment options for a few case studies. This program is open to, and intended for, oncologists treating B-Cell Lymphoma.The audience is encouraged to ask questions and discuss as the cases are presented. Attendees are paid $400 of compensation by Healthcare Research Analytics® for their attendance, participation & completion of the post-event HRA survey.
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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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