COA released a set of Quality and Value Standards for cancer care earlier this month. The COA Standards serve as a foundation for practices that wish to ensure the provision of high-quality care, participate in certification programs, as well as discuss and demonstrate what quality care is with patients, employers, and other payers for cancer care. Learn about the COA Standards.

Seniors’ Access to Critical Medications Act Passes House of Representatives 

H.R. 5526 passed the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this week. The bill would allow patients with cancer and other serious diseases to have medications delivered, couriered, or picked up by a family member or caregiver. The next step is for the Senate to pass the bill. Learn more.

Advocates Visit with Members of Congress at Hill Day 

Nearly 40 practice leaders met with members of Congress and their staffers at COA’s fall Hill Day. The advocates held 15 meetings, speaking with staffers from key committees and 10 representatives. The advocates, pictured above, also had the chance to personally thank several of the house members for their work passing H.R. 5526. 

Analysis Shows Oncologists Face $12 Billion Cut Due to IRA Negotiations 

A recent analysis was published showing providers could lose billions in Medicare and commercial payments due to the drug negotiation process introduced by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). COA is urging Congress to fix this issue by removing providers from the middle of negotiations. Learn more. 

COA Submits Comments on Proposed 2025 PFS and HOPPS 

Earlier this month, COA submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on the proposed 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment rules. COA notes that the continued trend of cutting independent physician reimbursement while increasing hospital payments is fueling practice closures and consolidation. Read more. 

Fifteenth Annual Payer Exchange Summit Brings Together Cancer Care Stakeholders 

Nearly 300 attendees gathered in Reston, VA, this month to attend the Payer Exchange Summit on Oncology Payment Reform. The attendees represented practices, employers, payers, regulators, and other stakeholders who are pursuing lower-cost, high-quality cancer care. Read more. 

NYCBS CPAN Chapter Hosts Representative Nicholas LaLota 

This month, the COA Patient Advocacy Network (CPAN) chapter at New York Cancer and Blood Specialists (NYCBS) hosted Nick LaLota, representative for New York’s first congressional district, as part of COA’s Sit in My Chair Program. The CPAN chapter leaders walked Rep. LaLota through a typical diagnosis and treatment process, giving him a firsthand look at the patient experience in independent community oncology. 

IRA Smoothing: What Pharmacists Need to Know for 2025 

The Inflation Reduction Act offers Medicare Part D patients new coverage opportunities, and pharmacists should be prepared to integrate these options. Join COA’s Judy Alberto, MHA, RPh, BCOP, and other experts on October 8, at 1 p.m. ET to learn about these changes and how to navigate them. Register today.

The Role of Pharmacists in Community Oncology: A CPAN Advocacy Chat

On Wednesday, October 16, at 12 p.m. ET, COA Patient Advocacy Network leader Rose Gerber, MS, will talk to Judy Alberto, MHA, RPh, BCOP, and Lisa Sowinski-Raff, PharmD, MSPharm, BCPS, BCOP, about the key roles that pharmacists play for community oncology patients, from sorting through complicated insurance processes to advocating for lower prescription costs. Register today.

Learn from Your Pharmacy Peers During Monthly COPA Calls  

Save the date for October 24, at 12 p.m. ET. COPA supports pharmacy teams who serve community oncology patients and/or are part of integrated practice pharmacies. Members have access to tools, peer support, and learning opportunities, including monthly calls that take place on the fourth Thursday of each month and feature presentations from industry experts and troubleshooting major issues with your peers. Learn more.

Sharpen Your Practice Administrative Skills on Monthly CAN Calls 

Save the date for October 24, at 2 p.m. ET. Taking place on the fourth Thursday of each month, CAN calls address the latest issues facing oncology practice leaders and administrators and feature presentations from field experts. Not a member of CAN but want to join? It’s free for administrative and leadership personnel. Learn more. 

Track Oncology Pharmacy Laws in Your State 

Community Oncology Pharmacy Association (COPA) members can track the status of various issues, like Any Willing Provider laws or Gold Card programs, by using the COPA Policy Tracker. The interactive map lets you track the status of your state’s policies and compare them to laws in other states. Learn more.

Create 2025 Practice Projections with COAnalyzer 

COAnalyzer now has the ability to incorporate Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) data into its practice projections. The proposed 2025 MPFS was released a few weeks ago, and practices want to know how this will affect them. If you’re a COA member, you have access to COAnalyzer for free.