National Policy Resources—Local Advocacy Results

As cancer care professionals who experience the challenges of providing quality cancer care first-hand, IOS members are well positioned to educate decision-makers on how coverage and reimbursement issues affect community oncology. State and federal legislation can have a significant impact on the financial viability of local cancer programs, which is why it's so important that our members make their voices heard.

In an effort to provide resources needed to effectively advocate on the issues that are important to them, our redesigned advocacy webpage features activity from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), national healthcare coverage through the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC), local news articles and webinars, and more.

We want to hear from you! If there is a specific piece of legislation you want to know more about, an important resource we're missing, or if you want to get more involved, please contact us!

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ASCO® Advocacy Summit
April 16-17, 2024

Mark A. Henderson, MD, President for Indiana Oncology Society (IOS), Named Advocacy Champion by the Association for Clinical Oncology

The Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) named Dr. Henderson as an Advocacy Champion during the 2024 ASCO Advocacy Summit in April. Advocacy Champions are ASCO volunteers who have made meaningful contributions to the Association’s advocacy activities throughout the year to ensure that every patient with cancer has access to high-quality, equitable cancer care no matter who they are or where they live. Advocates speak with federal lawmakers and agencies, send personalized letters to Members of Congress through ASCO’s ACT Network, engage with state lawmakers on policy priorities at the state-level, and host site visits for lawmakers in their home states and districts.

Throughout the past year, Dr. Henderson has worked with IOS on Policy in Indiana that would affect cancer patients along with federal policy.

Mark A. Henderson, MD is a Radiation Oncologists at Columbus Regional Hospital Cancer Care For more news, advocacy, and analysis on cancer policy, please visit asco.org/ascoaction.

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2024 ASCO Advocacy Day

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IOS President, Mark Henderson, MD, ASCO President Elect, Robin Zon, MD, meet with Rep Rudy Yakym III

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IOS President outside the Capital in
Washington, DC

State Advocacy

On July 1, 2021, the Indiana Department of Health, Indiana Board of Pharmacy, Indiana Department of Insurance, and the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration released its Specialty Drug Channel Management Report.

The report identifies the recent effects of white bagging in Indiana and why the practice of white bagging is a safety risk for patients. In addition to state and federal considerations, the report provides examples of patient experiences and outlines best practices for reimbursement and communications.

Stay tuned for more communications and advocacy opportunities from the Indiana Oncology Society as we work with these state organizations to ensure that we provide the best care for patients with cancer across the Hoosier state.

Download Report

Federal Advocacy

IOS Joins 400+ Organizations in Support of MCED Legislation
May 5, 2022

The Indiana Oncology Society (IOS) joined more than 400 organization from all 50 states to urge Congress to pass the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) Screening Coverage Act (H.R.1946/S.1873) this year. This legislation would create a pathway for MCED tests to be covered by the Medicare program following approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Read the Letter

FROM THE ACCCBUZZ BLOG

An Update on Healthcare Legislation at the State Level
By Christian G. Downs, MHA, JD
March 22, 2023
If you are looking for legislative action, look no further than your state's legislatures. Most—if not all—states have had issues relating to oncology care and healthcare in general come up during their 2023 sessions.
ACCC Announces its 2023 Advocacy Agenda
March 07, 2023
For 2023, ACCC members have identified four core areas of focus (e.g., reimbursement, utilization management, provider-patient choice), among a larger set of issues and concerns, that the association will be supporting this year.
ACCC Recognizes National Caregivers Day: Analyzing a Mental Health Crisis
February 17, 2023
Today is National Caregivers Day, and ACCCBuzz analyzes the current mental health crisis that is affecting the caregivers of loved ones everywhere.

Advocacy In the News

CMMI to Test Part D Payment Model & Update to MA VBID Model

On January 18, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that its Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) will test a new model for Part D plans and an update to the Medicare Advantage Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) model that the agency launched in 2017.

The Part D model, titled the Part D Payment Modernization model, is voluntary as is the MA VBID update model, meaning that certain Medicare Advantage and Part D plans can choose to participate, and patients can choose to enroll in participating plans.

The Part D Payment Modernization model will begin in January 2020. The model is intended to test the impact of a revised Part D program design and incentive alignment on overall Part D prescription drug spending and beneficiary out-of-pocket costs.

The voluntary, five-year Part D Modernization model will be open to eligible standalone Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs) and Medicare Advantage-Prescription Drug Plans (MA-PDs) that are approved to participate.

The CMS fact sheet on the Part D Modernization model states:
"Through this model, CMS is testing the impact of a modernized Part D payment structure that increases and better aligns Part D plan sponsor liability with the costs paid for by CMS and Medicare beneficiaries. Ultimately, this model will allow CMS to address the high list price of drugs covered by Medicare Part D and evaluate the impact on cost and quality for Medicare beneficiaries."

Read CMS fact sheet on Part D Modernization Model here.

More information is available on the CMMI website here.

The CMS press release is available here.

Posted 1/18/19