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

House Unanimously Votes to Curb Non-Medical Switching of Prescriptions

The Iowa House has unanimously voted to set new rules to prevent prescription drug switches that are not done for medical reasons. Representative Gary Mohr of Bettendorf said this is to protect patients from being denied coverage or being required to accept higher co-pays in the middle of a health plan’s year.

Do you have a patient that has experienced this challenge? We would like to speak with you and/or the patient. Our goal is to share as many of these stories with Iowa legislators as we can. We can help put the message together and, if you’re interested, set up a meeting with your legislator. To participate, please contact Lu Anne Bankert at lbankert@accc-cancer.org by Thursday, March 23, 2023.

Federal Advocacy

IOS Joins Coalition Letter Urging Addition of the Cures 2.0 Concept Paper Title IV Provisions in the Next COVID-19 Relief Package

The Iowa Oncology Society (IOS) joined in a coalition letter to congressional leadership urging that Congress include the 21st Century Cures 2.0 concept paper, recently released by Representatives Diana DeGette and Fred Upton in upcoming legislation to further address the COVID-19 public health crisis. Specifically the letter urges leadership to include policy to provide Medicaid coverage of the routine care costs of clinical trials participation for patients with life-threatening conditions in every state. This critical protection is championed by Representatives Ben Ray Luján and Gus Bilirakis in the Clinical Treatment Act (H.R. 913).

COVID-19 Clinical Trials Coalition 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

ACCC Releases CY 2019 MPFS and OPPS Final Rule Summaries

On November 1 and 2, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized its CY 2019 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS)/Quality Payment Program (QPP) and Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) rules. ACCC has released summaries on these final rules, available for ACCC members here:

On Wednesday, November 28, join legal experts from Hogan Lovells for a one-hour overview and discussion about the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Final CY 2019 OPPS and PFS rules. The agency finalized several significant proposals this year and beyond that will impact payments to Evaluation & Management (E/M) visits, 340B hospitals and outpatient facilities, as well as access for biosimilars and telehealth, and much more.

Webinar: CMS Final CY 2019 Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) & Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Rules: What You Need to Know
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
3:30 – 4:30 PM EST
Register Here (login required)

Posted 11/13/2018

National Policy Resources—Local Advocacy Results

State Advocacy

Federal Advocacy

FROM THE ACCCBUZZ BLOG

Advocacy In the News

ACCC Releases CY 2019 MPFS and OPPS Final Rule Summaries

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