ACCC URGES CMS TO PROTECT PATIENT ACCESS UNDER NEW DRUG PRICE NEGOTIATION PROGRAM

WASHINGTON - The Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC) is urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to protect patient access to life-saving cancer drugs under the new Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program (DPNP).

The organization, which represents approximately two-thirds of all oncology programs and practices in the U.S., sent a letter in June to CMS leadership responding to the agency’s IPAY 2028 Draft Guidance released in May.

The letter makes the following recommendations to CMS:

• Ensure continued patient access to essential cancer drugs and support services by protecting cancer centers' ability to provide comprehensive oncology care to Medicare beneficiaries.
• Develop and release detailed implementation policies for Part B drugs selected for the DPNP, with adequate time for public notice and comment.

 “ACCC believes that the DPNP might make it nearly impossible for many of our member organizations to continue providing necessary services for their patients with cancer,” says Meagan O’Neill, ACCC Executive Director. “Hospital systems and physician practices could be forced to choose between providing the most appropriate cancer treatment for Medicare beneficiaries or accepting inadequate reimbursement that could force them to reduce services.”

The association is requesting that CMS release detailed implementation instructions by October 1, 2025, to provide adequate preparation time before the first Part B drugs are selected for negotiation in early 2026.

The full letter is available here.

The Association of Cancer Care Centers

The Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC) is a leading education and advocacy organization dedicated to serving the cancer care community. ACCC is viewed as a well-established and highly respected organization within the oncology industry, built on our 50+ year history of serving cancer care teams and the patients they support. ACCC is differentiated by our unique multidisciplinary focus and wide-reaching nationwide footprint. The current membership base encompasses 45,000+ cancer care professionals from more than 1,700 different member organizations. As advances in cancer screening and diagnosis, treatment options, and care delivery models continue to evolve, so has ACCC. The organization continually adapts its resources to meet the changing needs of the entire oncology care team.
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