National Policy Resources—Local Advocacy Results

As cancer care professionals who experience the challenges of providing quality cancer care first-hand, MSCO 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

MSCO and ASCO Together Support Efforts to Control PBMs Influence Over Patient’s Pharmacy Services

MSCO and ASCO jointly support a pair of bills (HF 544 and SF 482) that target anti-competitive pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) business practices. The bills would prohibit PBMs and payers from requiring oncologists to administer chemotherapy agents that have been prepared outside the physician’s office by an entity under contract with the payer. Both bills have passed their first committee hearings and are now in their second committees.

Read Letter (HF 544) Read Letter (SF 482)

MSCO and ASCO Submit Letter of Concern Over Upper Payment Language in SF 168

The Minnesota Society Clinical Oncology Society (MSCO) and the Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) have issued a letter to Minnesota legislature showing concerns that Section 9 of SF 168 – Prescription Drug Affordability Board, if passed, would jeopardize access to necessary care for Minnesota patients with cancer.

Read Letter

MSCO Joins in Support Letter for HF 3717 and Its Provisions to Address Out-of-Pocket Costs for Patients

The Minnesota Society of Clinical Oncology (MSCO) joined national organizations in a support letter for copy-only bill language in HF 3717 inspired by HF 633 (Bierman) and SF 365 (Nelson). This language would give consumers who purchase coverage on the individual and small-group markets the option of buying a plan that restructures the out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs.

Read Letter

Federal Advocacy

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

The Minnesota Society of Clinical Oncology (MSCO) 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

CMS Strengthens Federal Support to Californians Affected by Wildfires

On November 14, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that the agency has taken steps to support California residents displaced and recovering from the wildfires destroying portions of the state.On November 13, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar declared a public health emergency (PHE) in areas of California retroactive to November 8. The PHE allows CMS to waive or modify certain Medicare, Medicaid, and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) requirements if necessary to provide health services.

The agency will take the following steps to support the state of California and those residents impacted by wildfires:

Waivers for Skilled Nursing Facilities and Assistance for Hospitals and other Healthcare Facilities: CMS will issue a blanket Skilled Nursing Facility waiver, described on the website below; and the Regional Office will provide numerous technical assistance responses to the state, California Hospital Association and providers on specific types of CMS and other HHS program flexibilities that are available with and without waivers. These program flexibilities and waivers work to provide continued access to care for beneficiaries. For more information on the waivers CMS will grant, visit https://www.cms.gov/Emergency.
Special Enrollment Opportunities and Medicare Flexibilities: CMS will be providing beneficiaries affected by the California wildfires an Special Enrollment Period (SEP) that gives them an additional opportunity to add, drop, or change their Medicare health and prescription drug plan in the event they are eligible for an SEP and unable to make an election during the fall open enrollment period or another election period for which they were eligible. For more information on special enrollment periods, visit: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Eligibility-and-Enrollment/MedicareMangCareEligEnrol/index.html. When a public health emergency is in effect, Medicare Advantage Organizations in affected areas are required to waive prior authorization and other gatekeeper requirements and to allow care to be provided by non-contracted providers and facilities. In addition, Part D plan sponsors are expected to lift certain limits for drug benefits.
Dialysis Care: Dialysis patients who are unable to receive dialysis services at their usual facility and who need assistance to locate a facility where they can be dialyzed, should call the NW 17 (Northern California) Patient Hotline (800.232,3773) or NW 18 (Southern California) Patient Hotline (800.637.4767) for assistance. The following large dialysis organization hotline numbers are also available for patients: DaVita Emergency Dialysis Services (800.400-8331); Fresenius Kidney Care Emergency Hotline (800.626.1297); Dialysis Clinic Inc. (DCI) Emergency Command Center (866.424.1990); and U.S. Renal Care Emergency Hotline (866.671.8772).