Challenges, Opportunities, and MCC

March 4, 2008

Dear Colleagues:

Oncology is one of the most exciting and fulfilling specialties in medicine, and yet, one of the most frustrating. As we start 2008, we face many challenges nationally. The federal budget remains in crisis, and Medicare has become a target for cost reductions without clear leadership on the source of the problems. We face onerous changes in the use of erythropoietin stimulating agents (ESAs), potentially without scientific backing, leading to an increase in transfusion requirements for our patients. Medicare is restructuring and realigning its carrier system and last but not least, the challenges of the Physicians Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI), electronic medical records, and decreases in reimbursement are all in place to test us in the near future. We can’t deal with all these issues as individuals, so now more than ever; we need a strong, vocal state society to help us influence change.

Please join me in spreading the word about our organization and recruiting nonmembers into MCC.

The Issues. The Clinical Practice Committee of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) addressed the challenges at a recent meeting in January that took place in Washington, D.C. In addition to ASCO, the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) and many other national organizations are continuously monitoring congressional issues and needing our help in dealing with Congress. One thing is clear: Members of Congress looks to us for guidance; if they hear nothing, they assume all their decisions are acceptable.

If you haven’t already established relationships with your Representatives and Senators, or those running for these positions, the time to do so is NOW. It is hard to share concerns and make requests of elected officials who don’t know who you are and who you represent.

This year will be noteworthy as we move to the new Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) Jurisdiction for Region 5 in which the local carrier in July will be Wisconsin Physician Services (WPS). Region 5, also known as Jurisdiction 5 or J5, will consist of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. The structuring and re-alignment of the Medicare carrier system is occurring as a result of the enactment of the Medicare Modernization Act.

On a local level, MCC is a conduit for helping its members with their local Medicare problems. I serve on the Carrier Advisory Committee for Medicare in Missouri and in that capacity, I receive considerable information about Medicare.

Please contact me at joseph.muscato@USOncology.com if you or your practice is experiencing Medicare coverage problems.

Electronic medical records are inevitable now. ASCO is supporting a yearly meeting to help oncologists in this regard, and information about the meeting and other EMR issues is available on the ASCO website. I suggest that you look at this website if you are trying to make an informed decision about electronic record keeping.

The Value of a Collective Effort. Simply put, MCC can help sort things out for you. Our biggest endeavor this year is to encourage all Missouri oncologists to join MCC and to contact us with questions or to discuss problems. We will try to get you the answers or the names of appropriate contact people who can help you. The Board joins me in the desire to make MCC a resource for you in dealing with the problems and dilemmas that face us in Missouri.

And last, but not least, Please plan now to attend MCC’s Annual Membership Meeting on November 7 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Columbia. Check MCC’s website at: www.mocancercoalition.org as details become available.

Sincerely,

Joseph J. Muscato, MD, FACP
MCC President