• The US Oncology Network Submits Comments to CMS on 2013 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposal
• U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommends Against Routine Ovarian Cancer Screening
• Congress Returns for Brief Session, Lawmakers Seek Continuing Resolution
• MedPAC Explores Options for Medicare Premium Support
• CMS: EHR Incentive Payments Total Nearly $6.6 Billion
  

• SGR Fix Deadline Approaching for Conference Committee
  
• House Legislation Introduced to Address Drug Shortages
  
• New Institute of Medicine Report Addresses Living Well with Chronic Illnesses

• Lawmakers return next week to renewed SGR fix discussions
• Cancer drug shortages drawing increasing attention in 2012
• Supreme Court health care reform case kicks off with opening briefs
• CMS reports a slowed rise in U.S. health care spending due to weak economy
• American Cancer Society report indicates continuing declines in most cancer rates

• The House and Senate continue to disagree on doc fix legislation
• Cancer care coalition maintains opposition to ASP cuts
• HHS releases essential health benefits informational bulletin
• CMS issues proposed physician payment "sunshine" rule
• Attention on cancer drug shortages continues with Senate HELP Committee hearing
• Pioneer accountable care organizations announced

• Cancer community urges Congress to reject ASP cuts to cancer drugs as potential payment offset for SGR
• Donald Berwick steps down as Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator; President nominates Deputy Administrator Marilyn Tavenner as  replacement
• House and Senate hearings address cancer drug shortages
• Stage 2 deadline for "meaningful use" of electronic health records is delayed, giving providers more flexibility in adopting health information technology

• Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction announces failure to reach agreement on deficit-cutting plan
• Physicians to receive 27.4 percent reimbursement cut under SGR on January 1 without end-of-year legislative action
• U.S. Supreme Court announces it will rule on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) lawsuit
• New poll highlights physicians' overwhelming support for end-of-life care

• Take Action TODAY to urge lawmakers to reject cuts to cancer-fighting drugs!
• Opposition to cancer cuts is growing – but we still need your help making our voice heard.
• Select Committee agreement on a package is still uncertain
• CMS Releases Final 2012 Physician Fee Schedule Rule
• President Obama issues Executive Order in response to drug shortages  

• Opposition to the proposed $3.2 billion cut to cancer-fighting drugs continues to gain momentum with:
  • Webinar on the important new Milliman study showing cost benefits of community-based cancer for the Medicare program & Medicare patients
  • Editorial from the National Patient Advocate Foundation
  • New report from the American Action Forum
  • Senate Aging Committee letter to the Select Committee recommending changes to Part B payments
• Another short-term SGR fix looking likely
• CMS final rule on Accountable Care Organizations
• CDC campaign to lower infection rates in oncology clinics

• Bipartisan letter opposing cuts to Medicare Part B reimbursement for cancer drugs will soon be sent to Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction
• In spite of strong push-back from physician groups, MedPAC votes to approve its draft SGR fix recommendations
• Lawmakers call for SGR repeal in bipartisan letter to Select Committee
• U.S. Preventative Services Task Force issues recommendation against regular prostate cancer screenings for healthy men
• U.S. Supreme Court anticipated to hear challenges to health care reform law soon

• Senate passes six-week continuing resolution; House expected to vote on measure next week
• President unveils $3 trillion deficit reduction plan including $320 billion in Medicare and Medicaid cuts
• MedPAC outlines payment options to fund its proposed SGR fix
• FDA, lawmakers and other stakeholders gather to discuss possible solutions for national drug shortages

• Tell Your Representative to Oppose Medicare Cuts to Cancer-Fighting Drugs!
• MedPAC Releases SGR Fix Draft Recommendations
• Community Oncology Alliance to Host Capitol Hill "Stop Cancer Care Cuts Day" on Sept. 22
• FDA Holds Meeting to Discuss Nation's Drug Shortages
• New Survey Shows Uninsured Have Limited Knowledge of Health Reform Law's Benefits

• This week, the US Oncology Network submitted comments to CMS relative to the 2012 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) proposed rule. Read about the Network’s recommendations
• The deficit reduction Select Committee has just announced its staff director and is beginning to lay the groundwork for its task ahead
• FDA is reporting increased shortages of life-saving cancer drugs. Read about policy proposals to address this shortage
• CMS has announced its bundled payments initiative for hospitals and physicians. Learn more about the program’s payment models and initial stakeholder reactions
• The National Institute of Nursing Research has just held a conference to set priorities for end-of-life care research and propose solutions for palliative care access challenges for patients

Health Policy Report - August 16, 2011

• With the naming of the members of the Budget Control Act Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (Select Committee), the cancer care community is continuing to urge for opposition to Medicare cancer cuts. Find out how you can get involved with community grassroots advocacy.
• Physician Groups are asking the Select Committee to implement a long-term SGR fix – read about groups' recent outreach to the committee members.
• CMS has released the results of its five-year Physician Group Practice Demonstration, described by the agency as a model for accountable care organizations (ACOs).
• A federal appeals court has ruled against the Affordable Care Act (ACA) individual coverage mandate, making it more likely that the case will ultimately be seen before the Supreme Court.
• Read about the newly released proposed rules on insurance exchange enrollment, Medicaid eligibility and premium tax credits.

• President Obama signs a compromise debt ceiling plan into law. Find out more about this bill and what it could mean for cancer care.
• new study has found that Medicare patients treated by hospital-based physicians incur higher costs than those managed by primary care physicians.
• The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released a proposed rule outlining the standards states must meet in establishing the new reform law created health insurance exchanges.
• Read about lawmakers' latest efforts to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB).
• Please click here to review the report.

• In this special issue of the Health Policy Report, we bring you the latest news about the evolving deficit- reduction negotiations and their potential impact on cancer drug reimbursement. US Oncology is partnering with the oncology community and patient advocacy groups to oppose any potential cuts.
• Click here to learn about recent debt limit talks, the joint advocacy effort underway and how you can get involved with speaking out against these potential cuts.

• Agreement on a debt ceiling deal remains uncertain as the August 2 deadline approaches
• CMS releases proposed Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) rule for 2012
• Proposed $400 million medical imaging cuts removed from Senate trade bill
• CMS to cover Avastin and Provenge FDA calls for restricted use of erythropoietin-stimulating agents

• McKesson Specialty Care Solutions | US Oncology joins multi-stakeholder coalition on letter urging Senate to support prompt pay discount legislation
• Negotiations on Capitol Hill continue as lawmakers look to raise the federal debt ceiling and cut spending
• MedPAC releases its June report to Congress
• Plus: American Cancer Society reports continued decline in cancer deaths, new Health Affairs study finds that cancer drugs reach patients in the U.S. sooner than in Europe

• Budget Negotiations Continue as Debt Limit Deadline Approaches
• CMS Receives Comments on the Proposed Rule for ACOs
• Whitfield Introduces CARE Act in Congress

• CMS Acknowledges Criticism of ACOs; Announces Three Initiatives to Encourage Participation
• Government Officially Reaches Debt Limit; Congress Continues Debate Over FY 2012 Budget
• New York Times Reporter Walt Bogdanich discusses “Radiation Boom” series on NPR
• Ways and Means Committee continues ongoing discussions on “doc fix”

• Congress Turns Focus to Ongoing Debate Over “Doc Fix”
• GOP Continues Efforts to Defund Health Care Law
• Debate Continues of Budget Proposals for FY 2012 
• Plus: CARE Act Expected to be Reintroduced in Congress Soon 

• US Oncology Joins Key Stakeholders for Radiation Therapy Educational Briefing on Capitol Hill
• CMS Releases Accountable Care Organizations Proposed Rule, US Oncology Prepares Comment on Proposal 
• FY 2011 Budget Negotiations Continue as Resolution Deadline Approaches 
• Plus: CMS Issues Proposed National Coverage Decision on Provenge, “Dear Colleague” Letter Distributed  in Support of CARE Act, Cancer Care Advocates Oppose Cancer Research and Prevention Program Cuts 

• Health care reform hits its one-year anniversary – read about what it’s already accomplished and its continued  challenges
• As CMS estimates a 29.5 percent Medicare payment cut to physicians next year, lawmakers are pursuing new solutions
• Congress passes another temporary FY 2011 budget resolution as lawmakers grapple with finding a longer- term agreement
• Plus: Medical associations call for adjustments to stage 2 meaningful use, national coverage decision on  Provenge anticipated next week, new CDC study shows cancer survivors on the rise in the U.S. 

• Prompt Pay Discount bill introduced – Contact your Representatives for support
• Washington Post article questions self-referrals with IMRT
• MedPAC meeting focuses on payment accuracy and appropriate use of ancillary services
• President Obama signs continuing resolution to fund federal government for the next two weeks, urges Congress to settle on budget agreement for the remainder of FY 2011
• Plus: Health care reform repeal update, ACO rule said to be released soon, National Journal survey reveals  public support for end-of-life care

• President Obama releases FY 2012 Budget
• FY 2011 funding measure under debate, threatening government shutdown without resolution
• FDA announces accelerated review process for select breakthrough devices

• US Oncology Network Patient’s Story Featured in President’s State of the Union Address
• Following Defeat of Senate GOP Attempt to Repeal Health Reform Law, State-Level Challenges Continue
• Blumenthal Resigns Post as National Health IT Coordinator
• House Bill Calls for Repeal of Health IT Incentives
• Senate Legislation to Repeal Medical Device Tax Introduced

• President Obama to deliver State of the Unionaddress tonight
• House passes bill to repeal health reform legislation, sets stage for additional action on law
• FDA announces plans to reform medical device approvals process
• Plus: CER institute names members of methodology committee; AHRQ seeks input on
• Medicaid meaningful use; fear shown to be top deterrent to colon cancer screening

• McKesson acquisition of US Oncology complete
• Congress returns to session, picks up debate over repeal of health care reform
• Stakeholders provide robust commentary on ACO development
• Registration begins for electronic health records meaningful use program