California Oncology Weekly
"An Oncologists’ Source for Timely Information"
A publication of the
Medical Oncology Association of Southern California, Inc.
March 9, 2021
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URGENT! Send your “white bag” patient story. MOASC News
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(SB) 250 to reduce administrative burdens. California News
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This weekend, March 12-14, is the 21st Multidisciplinary Management of Cancers meeting. Affiliate Association News/ANCO News
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MOASC Board of Directors met, virtually, last Saturday for their Annual Retreat. MOASC President, Ashkan Lashkari, M.D., shared his 2021-2023 goals of continued Advocacy, Relationships and Education with emphasis on Clinical Research. This is to be achieved through the development of: monthly clinical presentations, clinical trial promotions with academic partners, and reinstate the fellows program including recruitment. Executive Director, Nichole East presented the 2020 MOASC dashboard review focusing on the mission and Who We A.R.E. in advocacy, relationships and education. Educating more than 400 physician-members throughout California, from solo to group, institutions to academic, fellows to retired physicians and their staff, through the Annual Oncology Summit, Spotlight on Hematology, Spotlight on Oncology, Oncology Administrator & Oncology Biller Programs, LunchTime Series and Evening Clinical webinars. The MOASC platforms have more than 2,000 readers and followers on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and the California Oncology Weekly.
The Board met with representatives from: AstraZeneca, BeiGene, Bristol Myers Squibb, Grail, Oncopeptides, Pfizer, PUMA and Takeda.
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MOASC, with numerous other organizations, recently met with the California State Board of Pharmacy and the Department of Managed Health Care regarding the issue of White Bagging and its impact on patient care. As a result, both the California State Board of Pharmacy and the Department of Managed Health Care has asked that MOASC share patient complaints with the Departments, in order to demonstrate the public health impact of white bagging policies. We implore you to share your patient stories with us. We will compile them and forward them to the California State Board of Pharmacy, Department of Managed Health Care and COA. We are hopeful that if they receive enough patient complaints, they will then take action to revise these policies. Send Your Patient Story to moasc@moasc.org
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MOASC wishes to thank the following companies who assist in the fulfillment of MOASC’s mission in advancing and protecting the ability of cancer patients to obtain, and the ability of the oncology physician to provide, optimal cancer care.
AstraZeneca, BeiGene, Bristol Myers Squibb, Grail, Oncopeptides, Pfizer Oncology, PUMA and Takeda. AbbVie, Merck and Verastem. Astellas, Foundation Medicine, Incyte, and Johnson&Johnson. Agios, Genentech, Exact Sciences, Kite Pharma, Eli Lilly, MorphoSys, Novartis, Pharmacyclics, Regeneron, Sanofi-Genzyme, Seattle Genetics, Stemline and Walgreens. Immunomedics and Verde Pharm Health. Alexion, Amag and Bayer.
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MOASC Programs - Save the Dates - All Times are Pacific
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VerdePharmHealth, a MOASC Industry Sponsor, is the first organization of its kind in the U.S., providing comprehensive multi-specialty group purchasing, clinical solutions, and healthcare technology. An introductory webinar on VerdePharmHealth services is scheduled for March 17, 2021 at 6:00pm.
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MOASC’S Annual Oncology Summit virtual webinar, Exciting Advances in Oncology, will be presented on Saturday, March 27, 7:00 am - 1:00 pm (PST). Please join us for a virtual presentation by nationally recognized speakers, that will follow a multi-tumor approach, reviewing current management strategies and recent advances in Breast cancer, Colorectal-Genitourinary cancers, Thoracic cancer and Lymphoma. This will be a great opportunity to learn from experts and network with colleagues. This event is free to all those interested in attending.
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MOASC Member, Tanya Siddiqi, MD, Associate Clinical Professor, Director, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Program, Department of Hematology & HCT, City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, CA will present Advances in Treatment for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). This free telephone/web education program is scheduled for Wednesday, April 7, 10:00am – 11:30am. Topics to be discussed, are: Current and emerging therapies for CLL; Managing side effects to promote a better quality of life; Impact of COVID-19 on CLL treatment decisions. Register online (below) or by phone (855) 922-1531.
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CMA is sponsoring a legislative effort to reduce administrative burdens in physician practices, so physicians can spend less time on paperwork and billing and more time dedicated to patient care. Senate Bill (SB) 250 introduced by Senator Richard Pan, M.D., will reduce administrative burdens by reforming prior authorization and billing processes.
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California Dept. of Health Care Services (DHCS) is delaying the April 1, 2021, implementation of the Medi-Cal Rx program. According to DHCS, the delay is needed to give the agency time to review new conflict avoidance protocols submitted by Magellan Health, Inc., the project’s contracted vendor.
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CMA's new online portal offers California physicians the ability to register for specific types of PPE including coveralls, face shields, goggles, hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, isolation gowns, N95 masks, surgical masks and vinyl gloves. The PPE is free, and the medical practice pays a nominal cost for shipping and handling.
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The California Medical Association (CMA) is proud to stand with Assemblymember Autumn Burke in support of AB 80, which will bring full conformity between California state tax code and federal law with regards to Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for health care and several other sectors.
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Noridian News
MOASC Board Chair, Warren Fong, M.D. attended the Noridian Informal Medicare Professional Advisory Council (IMPAC) Meeting held last week.
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CMS News
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it would be granting automatic exceptions from reporting requirements for clinicians and providers participating in Medicare quality reporting programs due to the significant disruptions the COVID-19 public health emergency is having on physician practices.
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The Senate Finance Committee voted along party lines to approve the nomination of California Attorney General Xavier Becerra for HHS secretary, sending his nomination to the full Senate for consideration. Despite opposition from Republican senators, Becerra is expected to be confirmed as soon as next week.
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The Biden administration is looking at launching an entity akin to Germany's Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care to advise federal health programs on drug, diagnostics and device pricing and reimbursement issues. "[A]n IQWiG-like entity could enable the federal government to negotiate 'ceiling prices' for newly approved drugs that would apply to Medicare and Medicaid, and could extend beyond that to the commercial sector," writes health care analyst Joshua Cohen.
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Nearly 1 in 4 physicians (22%) know a physician who committed suicide and the majority (58%) express feelings of burnout. On March 4, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) announced the re-introduction of the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act. Named in honor of Dr. Lorna Breen, who died by suicide while serving on the frontlines of the pandemic, the legislation aims to reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, and mental and behavioral health conditions among health care professionals. It also supports funding for mental and behavioral health treatment programs to help them now and in the future. First introduced in July 2020, Sen. Kaine said the act has received bipartisan support. He’s pushing for it to be included in the next COVID-19 relief package.
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Affiliate Association News |
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ANCO News
21st Multidisciplinary Management of Cancers meeting to be held March 12-14, 2021. The 2021 program represents a collaborative effort of expert clinicians from the Stanford Cancer Institute, University of California, Davis, University of California, San Francisco, and the Association of Northern California Oncologists. The program will be held virtually.
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ASH News
Registration is Open for the 2021 Highlights of ASH Series. This year’s all-virtual experience will take place March 1 – April 2, 2021 and feature program curated annual meeting content derived from all four regions ASH has historically presented in: North America, the Mediterranean, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. Attendees will receive full access to the entire program and content on the virtual platform until April 2.
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ASCO is conducting a survey on Member Perceptions of Health Equity. The results of this survey will help ensure ASCO's mission is achieved: To conquer cancer through research, education and promotion of the highest quality and equitable patient care. The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. Thank you.
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The virtual ASCO Annual Meeting is scheduled for June 4-8, 2021. Register now for the best rates. The early registration deadline is April 28, 2021 at 8:59 PM (PT).
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COA News
Please contact COPA right away if your practice has received a notice from Anthem that requires white bagging or filling specialty drugs through CVS in various practice and outpatient settings. Currently, we are aware of letters sent by Anthem to practices in California, Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee. It is believed that Anthem will continue to expand this policy to other states. If your practice received one of these notices, it is important that you reach out to Anthem right away, and inquire how you can be admitted back into Anthem as a specialty pharmacy to continue to administer and treat your patients the same way you have always done. COA leadership met with Anthem last year and were told that practices are to reach out to Anthem to determine next steps to allow you to continue to operate as you had in the past.
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Do not miss the 2021 Community Oncology Conference, April 8 & 9, 2021. See community oncology from a new perspective. This year’s, free, virtual-conference is so much more than just best-in-class educational programs. Not only does the Conference offer unmatched opportunities to hear from key players in the field of oncology, but more importantly, the content is focused on the needs of independent, community oncology practices. Learn about social determinants of health and how other practices are incorporating this data into their workflow. Economics greatly affect how care is provided and successful patient outcomes. Get a deeper understanding of how oncology care can address the community’s needs. There’s something for every member of community oncology, so bring a large contingent from your practice!
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Pfizer announces FDA approval of LORBRENA® (lorlatinib) for patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors are anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive, detected by an FDA-approved test.
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Kite Pharma, a Gilead Company announced that the FDA has granted accelerated approval to Yescarta® (axicabtagene ciloleucel) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma (FL) after two or more lines of systemic therapy. The approval makes Yescarta the first chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy approved for patients with indolent follicular lymphoma, follows FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation and a priority review, and marks the third approved indication for a Kite cell therapy.
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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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