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 9,
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This Weekly's Hot Topics
- Four seats on the ANCO Board of Directors are up for election in 2018 (ANCO News)
- AMA releases 334 updates to the CPT codes effective January 1, 2019. (National News)
- ACCC 35th National Oncology Conference, October 18 & 19. (Affiliate Association News)
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California News
- The
California Medical Association's
(CMA)
Center for Economic
Services
(CES) has published updated payer profiles on each of the major payers in California
at
- Californians and Americans are living longer with cancer - but some are living longer than others. California Healthline's Facebook Live: The Cancer Divide addresses disparities in cancer diagnosis, treatment and care - and what can be done about them.
- Tech startup OODA Health has partnered with Blue Shield of California to pilot a real-time, point-of-service payment system designed to streamline health care payments among providers, patients and health insurers. The pilot program for the cloud-based software platform will be tested in collaboration with California-based Hill Physicians and Dignity Health, which has facilities in Arizona, Nevada and California.
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- Noridian/JEMAC has the following updates on their website
- MLN Connects Provider eNews:
Announcements
:
New Medicare Card: Replacement Card; MIPS Targeted Review Request: Deadline October 15; MIPS Virtual Groups: Election Period Open through December 31; MIPS: List of Quality Measures Impacted by ICD-10 Updates
Publications
:
Laboratory NCD Edit Software: Changes for January 2019 MLN Matters Article-New
* New Medicare Card: MBI on Remittance Advice October 1
* Changes in the Laboratory National Coverage Determination CR10941
* Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) CR10901
* Positron Emission Tomography Scans Coverage-R14
* Recovery Auditor (RAC) Program Webinar (November 2)
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Genentech cordially invites MOASC and ANCO members to the LunchTimes Series presentation, Oncology Health Care Trends
, Wednesday, October 31, 2018 at 12:00pm Pacific time. Dawn Holcombe, President DGH Consulting, will present perspectives from managed care organizations, specialty pharmacies, oncologists, practice managers and employers. To RSVP, go to:
www.geniersvp.com/SGEN19453
or contact Jennifer Fraga at
fraga.jennifer@gene.com
or (415)740-5445.
- SAVE THE DATE! Saturday, February 23, 2019 for MOASC's Oncology Summit,
Advancing Cancer Care in the Elderly,
at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa. Mark your calendar and keep watch for further information on speakers and topics.
JOB BOARD
- Immediate opening for an experienced and dynamic
Practice Administrator at Ventura County Hematology Oncology Specialists. Minimum requirements: A bachelor's degree in management and 5 years' experience in medical practice management. Please send your resume to employment@venturaoncology.com.
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- Four seats on the ANCO Board of Directors are up for election in 2018. ANCO seeks nominations for candidates for 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 2019-2021, inclusive). Nominate an ANCO member (including yourself) to stand for election to the Board via e-mail/FAX to the ANCO office at execdir@anco-online.org/(415) 472-3961.
- ANCO salutes Alan Venook, M.D., UC San Francisco, and Harvey Bichkoff, Marin Cancer Care, for being named ASCO Advocacy Champions during the 2018 Advocacy Summit on Capitol Hill in September. Advocacy Champions are ASCO volunteers who have been exceptionally active in ASCO's advocacy activities throughout the year. Advocates meet with Federal lawmakers and agencies, send personalized letters to members of Congress through ASCO's ACT Network, engage with state lawmakers on policy priorities at the state level, and hold site visits during Congressional recesses.
- Steven Artandi, M.D., Ph.D., has been named the next Director of the Stanford Cancer Institute, an ANCO Institutional Member. He succeeds ANCO member Beverly Mitchell, M.D., who served as the Director for 10 years. For more information, please visit,
- ANCO is organizing a series of Hematologic Malignancies Updates in 2018. These updates are supported by AMGEN, Janssen Oncology, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Novartis Oncology, and Seattle Genetics. The next Update takes place on November 17 in San Francisco; download the meeting announcement/registration form at
- ANCO members may take advantage of complimentary registration at the Best of World Conference on Lung Cancer organized by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer and taking place in San Francisco on November 17. Register for an "Early Bird ANCO Member" ticket at https://bestofwclc2018.eventbrite.com.
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National News
- The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) has released a final evidence report assessing the comparative clinical effectiveness of three antiandrogen therapies of nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. The report, which reviews abiraterone, apalutamide, and enzalutamide, also the value of apalutamide and enzalutamide. Read the report at http://icer-review.org/material/prostate-cancer-final-report/.
- On September 17, the Senate passed the Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act, with a vote of 98-2, which would make it easier for patients to get the lowest price on prescription drugs by removing "gag clauses" currently imposed on pharmacists by private health insurance plans. These "gag clauses" prohibit pharmacists from telling customers whether they could save money by buying their prescriptions out-of-pocket rather than through their health insurance. Earlier, the Senate passed the Know the Lowest Price Act, which prohibits pharmacy "gag clauses" within Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans.
- Reps. George Holding, R-N.C., and Seth Moulton, D-Mass., introduced a bill that would change the status of diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals from supplies to drugs so they would be reimbursed separately from bundles under the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System. Supporters said the legislation would reduce the financial burden on hospitals and increase patient access to necessary diagnostic tests.
- A multi-year study revealed that the cost of unwarranted components of oncology treatments averaged $25,579 per member with cancer. The study was performed in association with professionals from Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania and Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. See the poster.
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CMS News
- CMS has revised its Medicare program integrity manual as part of efforts to improve transparency in the local coverage determination process and expand patients' access to new therapies and medical devices. Under the redesigned process, Medicare Administrative Contractors will be required to provide standardized summaries of clinical evidence supporting LCD decisions, give the public access to contractor advisory committee meetings and allow patients to request an LCD.
CMS takes steps to improve LCD process transparency
- The final performance period for the Value Modifier and Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) programs was 2016 and the final payment adjustment year is 2018. The Quality and Resource Use Reports (QRURs) and PQRS Feedback Reports will no longer be available after the end of 2018. All QRURs and PQRS Feedback Reports provided under these programs will remain available for download until December 31, 2018. Authorized representatives of groups and solo practitioners can access their QRURs and PQRS Feedback Reports at https://portal.cms.gov.
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Affiliate Association News
- Don't miss the ACCC 35th National Oncology Conference, October 18 & 19 at
the
Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass
.
Register online
, email us or call 301-984-9496, ext. 200 or 267. Full conference or one day, per your choice to attend inspiring keynotes and noteworthy sessions. Experience big strategies to optimize cancer care delivery that will leave you motivated and invigorated, plus tactical, "how-to" knowledge to help your team overcome current or future challenges, work more efficiently to enhance your position in the marketplace, and more.
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ASCO has provided comments to the
United States Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) on biosimilars
. ASCO's comments, entitled ASCO Statement: Biosimilars in Oncology, express appreciation for the FDA's efforts to gather stakeholder perspectives on enhancing access to biologic cancer therapies and ensuring greater availability of biosimilars, while retaining a balance between innovation and competition. ASCO's comments offer specific guidance on the following issues--safety and efficacy; interchangeability, switching, and substitution; naming, labeling, and other regulatory considerations; value of biosimilars; prescriber and patient education. Read ASCO's comments at
https://www.asco.org/sites/new-www.asco.org/files/content-files/advocacy-and-policy/documents/2018-ASCO-Biosimilars-Public-Hearing-Comments.pdf
.
- You are cordially invited to the Research To Practice (RTP) "Year in Review," moderated by Dr. Neil Love, Saturday, November 17, 2018 at Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows; 101 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90401. Physicians, nurses and other healthcare providers are welcome. This activity is accredited for CME-ABIM MOC and CNE - ILNA/ONCC. To view the invitation, click HERE. To register or to learn more, please visit: http://www.researchtopractice.com/Meetings/YIR2018/CA
- As Partners with ASH, MOASC & ANCO invite you to register for the 60th ASH Annual Meeting
on Hematologic Malignancies
in San Diego, December 1 - 4, 2018.
Read more about the meeting and register by November 1 at
www.hematology.org/Annual-Meeting
.
- SAVE THE DATE for the 2019 Community Oncology Conference! The conference is on April 4-5, 2019 at the Wald Disney World Dolphin Hotel, Orlando, Florida.
- Oncology practices face new challenges daily in delivering high-quality and cost-effective care. The ASCO Oncology Practice Conference: The Business of Cancer Care covers the essentials of running a day-to-day practice and offers real-world strategies for organizing a team of caregivers. Missed The ASCO Oncology Practice Conference?
- NCCN has published the following updates at www.nccn.org: B-cell lymphomas (V5.2018), basal cell skin cancer (V1.2019), breast cancer screening and diagnosis (V3.2018), chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (V2.2019), dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (V1.2019), gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (V1.2019), kidney cancer (V2.2019), Merkel cell carcinoma (V1.2019), older adult oncology (V2.2018), squamous cell skin cancer (V1.2019), survivorship (V2.2018).
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- AMGEN informs ANCO and MOASC that the United States Food and Drug Administration has expanded the prescribing information for Kyprolis to include a once-weekly dosing option in combination with dexamethasone (once-weekly Kd70) for patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.
- Pharmacyclics informs ANCO and MOASC that the United States Food and Drug Administration has expanded the approved indications for Imbruvica, in combination with rituximab for both treatment-naive and previously treated adult patients with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM).
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MOASC CALENDAR
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SAVE THE DATE
19th Multidisciplinary Management of Cancers: A Case-based Approach
(Napa, March 15-17)
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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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