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!

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

CMS Issues Proposed Changes to Medicare Advantage & Part D

On Feb. 5, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule and Advance Notice Part II.

The CY 2021/2022 Medicare Advantage and Part D Proposed Rule (CMS- 4190-P) would:

require Part D plans to offer real-time drug price comparison tools to beneficiaries starting Jan. 1, 2022, to allow consumers to shop for lower-cost alternative therapies under their prescription drug benefit plan.

allow a second, “preferred” specialty tier in Part D with a lower cost sharing amount.

require Part D plans to disclose the measures they use to evaluate pharmacy performance in their network agreements. This would allow CMS to track and report publicly how plans are measuring and applying pharmacy performance measures.

In the Advance Notice, the agency asks for comments on potentially developing measures of generic and biosimilar utilization in Medicare Part D as part of a plan’s star rating.

Access a fact sheet on the CY 2021/2022 Medicare Advantage and Part D Proposed Rule (CMS- 4190-P).
Download the proposed rule.

Access a fact sheet on the 2021 Medicare Advantage and Part D Advance Notice Part II.

Download Medicare Advantage and Part D Advance Notice Part II.

Posted 2/6/2020