Share

    


In This Section

Home / News & Media / Oncology Newsfeed

Oncology Newsfeed

  • CMS Issues FY2021 IPPS and LTCH Final Rule

    On September 2, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the fiscal year (FY) 2021 Medicare Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and Long Term Acute Care Hospital (LTCH) final rule, which includes important provisions designed to ensure access to potentially life-saving diagnostics and therapies for hospitalized Medicare beneficiaries. The changes will affect approximately 3,200 acute care hospitals and approximately 360 Long-Term Care Hospitals. CMS estimates that total Medicare spending on acute care inpatient hospital services will increase by about $3.5 billion in FY 2021, or 2.7 percent. 

    CMS’ rule creates a new Medicare Severity Diagnostic Related Group (MS-DRG) that provides a predictable payment to help adequately compensate hospitals for administering Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies.

    Also in the final rule, CMS approved a record number of 24 new technology add-on payments, which is an additional payment to hospitals for cases involving eligible new and relatively high cost technologies. This will provide additional Medicare payment for these technologies while real-world evidence is emerging, giving Medicare beneficiaries timely access to the latest innovations.

    Read the fact sheet and final rule from the Federal Register.

    Posted 9/2/2020



  • FDA Approves Azacitidine for AML Continued Treatment

    On September 1, 2020 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Onureg® (azacitidine) for the continued treatment of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who achieved first complete remission or complete remission with incomplete blood count recovery following intensive induction chemotherapy and are not able to complete intensive curative therapy.

    Read the Bristol Myers Squibb announcement.

    Read the FDA announcement.

    Posted 9/2/2020


  • FDA Approves Daratumumab + Carfilzomib and Dexamethasone for R/R MM

    On August 20, 2020 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Darzalex® (daratumumab) in combination with Kyprolis® (carfilzomib) and dexamethasone (DKd) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) multiple myeloma (MM) who have received one to three previous lines of therapy.

    Read Janssen's announcement.

    Read the FDA announcement.

    Posted 8/21/2020



  • CMS Extends AUC Program Educational + Operational Testing Period to 2021

    On Monday August 10, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services updated the Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) Program website to announce that the Educational and Operations Testing Period, during which there are not payment penalties, has been extended through 2021. You can view this update at the top of the AUC web page in a green boarder.

    CMS does not have further information to share, but as new information becomes available it will be accessible via the outreach and education page of the AUC website.

    Posted 8/19/20



  • NCCN Adds Tafasitamab-cxix to Guidelines for B-Cell Lymphomas

    On August 18, 2020, MorphoSys and Incyte announced that the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has included Monjuvi® (tafasitamab-cxix) in its latest Clinical Practice Guidelines update in oncology for B-cell Lymphomas. Specifically, the NCCN Guidelines in the United States now include Monjuvi in combination with lenalidomide with a Category 2A designation as an option for the treatment of previously-treated adult patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not otherwise specified, including DLBCL arising from low grade lymphoma who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant.

    Read the corporate press release.

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approved to Monjuvi in combination with lenalidomide in July 2020. Read the FDA approval announcement.

    Posted 8/19/2020


  • CMS Opens CHART Model Webinar Registration

    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will host a webinar on August 18, 2020 to provide an overview of the Community Health Access and Rural Transformation (CHART) Model.

    The CHART Model will test whether upfront investments, predictable capitated payments, and operational and regulatory flexibilities will enable rural health care providers to improve access to high quality care while reducing health care costs.

    During the session, the CHART Model team will present on key aspects of the Model, including its objectives, eligible participants and their roles, payment options, and timeline. The forum will also provide an opportunity for potential applicants to ask the CHART team questions regarding these topics.

    When: Tuesday, August 18, 2020, 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm ET.

    Click here to register.

    To learn more about the model visit the CMS CHART Model web page. Following the event, presentation materials will also be available on its web page.



  • CMS Opens PFS Listening Session Registration

    Registration is now open for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) listening session. Please note that the PFS proposed rules include expanding telehealth and licensing flexibilities beyond the current public health emergency.

    Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule: Understanding 4 Key Topics Listening Session

    Proposed changes to the CY 2021 Physician Fee Schedule are aimed at reducing burden, recognizing clinicians for the time they spend taking care of patients, removing unnecessary measures, and making it easier for clinicians to be on the path towards value-based care. During this listening session, CMS experts briefly cover provisions from the proposed rule and address your clarifying questions to help you formulate your written comments for formal submission: 

    1. Extending telehealth and licensing flexibilities beyond the public health emergency
    2. Updating Evaluation and Management (E/M) coding guidance
    3. Updating the Quality Payment Program/MIPS Value Pathways
    4. Updating opioid use disorder/substance use disorder provisions.

    When: Thursday, August 13, 2020, 1:30-3:00 pm ET.

    Who: Medicare Part B fee-for-service clinicians; office managers and administrators; state and national associations that represent health care providers; and other stakeholders.

    Click here to register

    CMS encourages you to review the following materials prior to the call:

    Visit the CMS event page for more information.

    Posted 8/6/2020




  • FDA Approves Belantamab Mafodotin-blmf for R/R Multiple Myeloma

    On August 6, 2020, GlaxoSmithKline announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Blenrep (belantamab mafodotin-blmf) as a monotherapy treatment for adult patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) multiple myeloma who have received at least four prior therapies including an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, a proteasome inhibitor and an immunomodulatory agent.

    Read the corporate press release.

    Read the FDA announcement.

    Posted 8/6/2020


  • CMS Releases CY 2021 OPPS Proposed Rule

    On August 4, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Reimbursement (CMS) issued the calendar year (CY) 2021 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Proposed Rule (CMS-1736-P). ACCC and counsel are reviewing these proposed rules and will be providing comments.

    Until this analysis is complete, read the proposed rule. Then register for ACCC’s August 14 webcast on The 2021 Proposed PFS and OPPS Rules: Practical Implications and Considerations to gain insight into how these proposed rules will affect your cancer program.

    Posted 8/4/2020



  • CMS Releases CY 2021 PFS Proposed Rule

    On August 4, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Reimbursement (CMS) issued the calendar year (CY) 2021 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Proposed Rule. ACCC and counsel are reviewing these proposed rules and will be providing comments.

    Until this analysis is complete, read the proposed rule. Then register for ACCC’s August 14 webcast on The 2021 Proposed PFS and OPPS Rules: Practical Implications and Considerations to gain insight into how these proposed rules will affect your practice.

    Posted 8/4/2020