Continuing Congressional Efforts to Advance Cancer Legislation
Although health care reform debate is a primary focus in Congress, there are multiple ongoing complementary efforts to advance legislation to improve the cancer care delivery system in the United States.

Update on Congressional Health Care Reform Activities
Members of the Senate are starting to review draft health care reform legislation, and President Obama is speaking publicly about the provisions that such legislation may contain.

President Obama Signs FDA Tobacco Bill into Law
On June 22, President Obama signed into law the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which gives FDA authority over tobacco products.

CCHIT Selects ASCO Members for Clinical Research Work Group
The Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT) selects 2009-2010 work groups.

Continuing Congressional Efforts to Advance Cancer Legislation
Although the health care reform debate is the primary focus in Congress, there are currently multiple complementary efforts to advance legislation to improve the cancer care delivery system in the United States. ASCO applauds the leadership of many other members of Congress who are focusing critical attention on cancer care issues during this important debate.

Legislation to correct the flawed ASP formula and to establish a new Medicare service for treatment planning and summaries continue to be two of ASCO’s key priorities. We encourage you to reach out to your members of Congress in support of these key bills:

• H.R. 1392, introduced by Reps. Gene Green (D-TX), Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Ed Whitfield (R-DY), and the Senate companion bill, S. 1221, introduced by Sens. Arlen Specter (D-PA) and Pat Roberts (R-KS) would address the remove prompt pay discounts from the ASP calculation for payments for Medicare Part B drugs.

Including these discounts in the ASP calculation threatens oncology practices by artificially lowering the reimbursement rate for chemotherapy treatments, resulting in some cases to reduced patient access to treatment. Significant support of this legislation will be critical to its passage, so it is crucial that you let your member of Congress know the effect that underwater drugs are having on your practice and your patients.

• The Comprehensive Cancer Care Improvement Act (H.R. 1844), introduced by Reps. Lois Capps (D-CA) and Charles Boustany (R-LA), encourages a system that coordinates active cancer treatment and appropriate symptom management, to ensure that patients and families have a smooth transition from primary treatment to survivorship care and follow-up.

H.R. 1844 would establish a new Medicare service for care planning, including a written care plan, treatment summary and survivor care plan that is communicated to survivors. These plans are a vital step in improving the quality of cancer care.

Additional bills were introduced this week aimed at establishing demonstration projects for different aspects of cancer care:

• Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY) has introduced legislation to establish the “Oncology Care Quality Improvement Program of 2009,” which would create a pilot program to identify areas of improvement to oncology care, including error reduction, increased patient education and care coordination, and expansion of end-of-life planning and counseling services.
• Rep. Arthur Davis (D-AL) introduced a bill, H.R. 2872, to establish a demonstration project that would establish quality metrics and align Medicare payment incentives in the areas of treatment planning and end-of-life care for Medicare beneficiaries with cancer.

This is an important time for you to communicate with your Members of Congress in their DC offices before June 29, and in their home districts until recess ends on July 6. You can find their contact information, send emails and see ASCO’s latest alerts and background information, including talking points and draft letters at ASCO’s Grassroots Action Center.

ASCO continues to advocate on behalf of oncologists, practices and cancer patients during this historic debate. We will continue to update you on legislation and health reform as they develop. For more information, contact ASCO's Cancer Policy & Clinical Affairs Department at 571-483-1670 or publicpolicy@asco.org.

Update on Congressional Health Care Reform Activities
As mentioned above, the debate about the contours of health care reform is heating up in Congress, as legislative language is being drafted and considered by members of the Senate and the House of Representatives. On June 17, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee began discussions on the Affordable Health Choices Act, legislation to reform the health care system.

The Senate Finance Committee also is expected to begin discussions on health reform legislative proposals in the next few weeks, and the House will begin holding hearings on health reform this week.

On June 15, President Obama spoke about health care reform efforts at the annual meeting of the American Medical Association. Specifically, the President addressed the need to reduce health care costs and discussed the potential for developing a government-run public health plan.

On June 13, during his weekly address, President Obama announced that part of his health care reform plan included a $313 billion cut in funding Medicare and Medicaid over 10 years.

While the administration has not been specific about where the reductions would occur, ASCO is deeply concerned about the effects that such a reduction in funding could have on cancer patients. We are engaged with key players in this debate, are monitoring the almost hourly developments, and will vigorously oppose proposals that threaten access and quality for cancer patients. We will keep you informed on these developments.

For more information, contact ASCO's Cancer Policy & Clinical Affairs Department at 571-483-1670 or publicpolicy@asco.org.

President Obama Signs FDA Tobacco Bill into Law
On June 22, President Obama signed into law the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which gives the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) authority over tobacco products.ASCO President Douglas M. Blayney, MD, who attended the historic signing at the White House said this “marks a new era in which the federal government now has sweeping regulatory authority over how tobacco products are manufactured and marketed in the U.S.”

On June 22, President Obama signed into law the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which gives the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) authority over tobacco products.

Dr. Blayney also acknowledged the members of ASCO’s leadership who have worked tirelessly to promote tobacco prevention initiatives over the years, including past and present members of ASCO’s Prevention Committee. In particular, Dr. Blayney recognized ASCO Past President Paul A. Bunn, Jr., MD, who, during his term from 2002 to 2003, spearheaded the development of ASCO’s Statement on Tobacco Control. ASCO’s policy statement promotes a comprehensive, science-based effort to address all elements of the tobacco problem, including reducing tobacco use among youth, requiring disclosure of ingredients in tobacco products, and increasing research on tobacco addiction and prevention strategies, with the ultimate goal of achieving a tobacco-free world.

ASCO commends the President, Congress and the public health community for their work to pass this legislation and looks forward to its swift implementation. For more information, contact ASCO's Cancer Policy & Clinical Affairs Department at 571-483-1670 or publicpolicy@asco.org.

CCHIT Selects ASCO EHR Workgroup Volunteers for Clinical Research Work Group
The Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT) has selected ASCO members, Lawrence Shulman, MD, and Peter Yu, MD, as a co-chair and member, respectively, for its Clinical Research Working Group. Dr. Yu is the Chair of ASCO’s Electronic Health Records (EHR) Workgroup and Dr. Shulman is the Quality of Care Committee liaison to the Society's EHR Workgroup.

The Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT) selected 265 members out of over 600 applicants for its 19 all-volunteer 2009-2010 work groups. All CCHIT volunteers will aim to transition the Commission’s existing certification programs and develop new paths to certification to directly satisfy the objectives and measures of meaningful use, to be released by the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) and its Advisory Committees.

CCHIT has already approved an oncology-specific EHR certification program to launch in 2011 and oncologists will impact the future of EHRs and its meaningful use with representation on this CCHIT working group.

Visit the CCHIT Web site for their press release as well as the full list of Clinical Research Working Group members.

News and Notes

Participate in QOPI and the QOPI Certification Program
ASCO recently announced the QOPI® Certification Program, a new program to certify oncology practices that achieve rigorous, oncologist-defined standards for high-quality cancer care. Practices that participate in the fall 2009 QOPI data collection process will be the first eligible to receive certification in early 2010. Visit www.asco.org/qopi or email qopi@asco.org for more information on QOPI or the QOPI Certification Program.

ASCO Breast Cancer Registry Pilot Program, Funded by Susan G. Komen for the Cure©, Accepting Applications
ASCO is seeking up to 20 diverse outpatient hematology/oncology practices to participate in the 18-month Breast Cancer Registry Pilot Program data entry and evaluation research study. Practices selected to participate will receive a $20,000 stipend. The application deadline for the Breast Cancer Registry Pilot Program is June 30. To learn more about the Breast Cancer Registry Pilot Program, visit www.asco.org/bcr or contact Ginger Norris at ginger.norris@asco.org or Charmaine Cummings at charmaine.cummings@asco.org.

Submit Your Case Report Forms Template
The Case Report Form Harmonization & Standardization project is requesting that members of the cancer clinical trials community submit case report forms template from their institutions, centers, organizations, or companies to be included in the standardization project. The case report forms template is due June 26. For more information or to submit Case Report Forms, contact Riki Ohira at ohira_riki@bah.com.

New Edition of Practical Tips for the Oncology Practice
Practical Tips for the Oncology Practice, 5th Edition is the premier resource for oncology practices. This publication provides guidelines on coding, billing and coverage of oncology-related services and outlines the laws and regulations that affect an oncology practice. Practical Tips contains explanations of many Medicare initiatives and provides excerpts from Medicare manuals. This resource is a must-have for oncology practices. Order yours today by visiting www.asco.org/practicaltips or by calling ASCO’s Customer Service hotline at 888-273-3508.

Join ASCO's Advocacy Network
Advocacy is most effective when Members of Congress and government agencies hear from you, their constituents. By participating in ASCO's Advocacy Network, you will develop ongoing relationships with your legislators while helping ASCO raise awareness on important cancer issues. To join the Advocacy Network, visit ASCO's Grassroots Action Center.