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www.msco-minnesota.com Spring/Summer 2006 |
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Proving We Provide High-Quality Cancer Care The ASCO 2006 Annual Meeting is already history. But, as I write this column before the meeting, I wait with anticipation the research results that will directly impact our care of patients. As important as these research results are, it is clear that the context of how we provide these results to our patients is becoming ever more important. While we may all “feel” that we provide high-quality oncology care to our patients, as never before our medical practices are being required to “prove” it. It is also clear that, in our continual fight for financial stability in our practices, our national advocates clearly see that incorporation of quality measures into our day-to-day care of patients is fundamental to maintaining our slice of the healthcare pie. In other words, the 2006 Oncology Demonstration Project is just the beginning. Sorting out the “who, what, when, where, and how” of quality in oncology care is challenging in these early days. Just the number of organizations potentially instrumental in decision making is daunting. Even an incomplete list includes NCI, CMS, AHRQ, FDA, HRSA, ABIM, ACS, ASTRO, IOM, NCPF, NCCN, NCCS, and ACCC (not to mention private insurers). As I have mentioned in previous newsletters, two ASCO initiatives have helped to establish an early evidence base. The first effort is the National Initiative on Cancer Care Quality (NICCQ). The second project is the Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI)... |
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For the first time in five years, the Minnesota State budget ran a surplus, which allowed for new healthcare spending instead of cuts. The final agreement for the supplemental
budget was to use half of the $405 million surplus for new spending and half for tax relief.
Two proposed rules offer some protection to practitioners that donate software and services
Reimbursement in 2006 is finding a new focus on the private payer market. Without much fanfare, we are noticing that private payers are quicker with the uptake of changes initiated by Medicare. In our oncology practices, we cannot understate the importance of payments from commercial health insurance to compensate for lower revenues received from Medicare and Medicaid. Practices that have paid close attention to commercial contracts and once sat at the table to negotiate reimbursement rates are losing bargaining power, and—along with those practices that paid little attention to the terms of their agreements—are being offered take-it-or-leave-it contracts.
On May 31, 2006, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced an extension to the physician election period for the Medicare Part B Drug Competitive Acquisition Program (CAP). The extension began on June 3, 2006, and will continue through June 30, 2006. Physicians whose completed physician election forms are received by their local carrier and whose forms are postmarked on or after June 3, but no later than June 30, 2006, will begin participation in the CAP starting on August 1, 2006.
Here are brief highlights of advances in cancer research presented at ASCO’s 2006 Annual Meeting.
Low blood levels of vitamin D may worsen bone loss associated with exemestane.
Findings support the use of vitamin D as well as calcium supplementation
for postmenopausal women in general, and for those receiving aromatase inhibitors in particular.
Do you want to refer patients to cancer clinical trials but don’t know how? Are you new to conducting clinical trials in a practice setting but want to know more? If so, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has a course for you. "Incorporating Cancer Clinical Trials Into Your Practice" is a free Web-based tutorial for health care professionals—oncologists, family physicians, internists, nurses, and other clinical staff—who are new to the clinical trials process. The course emphasizes the importance of participating in cancer clinical trials and how to do so, either through patient referral or becoming a clinical trials investigator.
The Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) will present its 23rd National Oncology Economics Conference in St. Louis, Mo., on Sept. 13-16, 2006. For every paying Society/ACCC-member registrant, you may bring a colleague at half price! But hurry. This offer is valid only until August 15. It does not apply to industry representatives and cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotional coupons or discounts. This meeting offers the perfect opportunity for your entire cancer care team (physicians, nurses, administrator, and billers/coders) to strengthen their skills and network with their colleagues. |
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© Copyright 2006 Association of Community Cancer Centers. All Rights Reserved |
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