California
Oncology
Weekly
"Where California Oncologists Go For Answers!"
A collaborative publication of the
Medical Oncology Association of Southern California, Inc.
and the
Association of Northern California Oncologists, Inc
.
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This Weekly's Hot Topics
- CMA will host a webinar about 2020 Medicare Changes on October 10 California News
- Catastrophic reductions in Fee-for-Service Medi-Cal reimbursements California News
- CMS to promulgate regulations for Medicare to streamline approval, coverage and coding processes CMS News
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- The CMA to host webinar on Medicare Changes: What Physicians Need to Know About 2020 Changes to Audits and Reimbursements and Other Updates on October 10 at 12:15PM.
- The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors sent a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom about the catastrophic reductions in Fee-for-Service reimbursements and how this will affect local oncology patients' access to care. Read the letter by clicking here.
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As a result of
AB 315
(Wood) as well as
AB 2674
,
the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) is now required to review "patterns of provider complaints for unfair billing patterns
," once you go through the provider dispute resolution process. If you have complaints about billing patterns from your PBM or a health plan, providers need to submit a complaint through this process. The DMHC will only act on "patterns" of complaints, so multiple providers need to submit complaints to establish a record of problems in order for DMHC to act. The link to submit a provider complaint to the Department is
here
.
Towards the bottom of the page you will see "Submit a Provider Complaint." Click on the link to take you to an online portal where providers can register and submit complaints to DMHC online. If you need assistance, you can contact the DMHC Provider Complaint phone line at 1-877-525-1295. DMHC encourages you to read the information on this page about eligible and ineligible claims and the requirement to first go through the Provider Dispute Resolution (PDR) process.
- Unable to recover patient records after a summer ransomware attack, Wood Ranch Medical in Simi Valley, Calif., is shutting down. A medical practice in Michigan was forced to close after its system was wiped when it refused to meet a ransom demand. Health IT Security
.
The sophistication and cost of "broad, indiscriminate" ransomware attacks are growing, though incidence is down, the FBI says. Email phishing campaigns, vulnerabilities in software and remote desktop protocols are the primary routes of entry, and the FBI says business and government entities should ensure employees are well trained and software is kept up to date.
- Gov. Gavin Newsom said the drug revenue model that some safety-net hospitals and other health organizations rely upon is "rather perverse," making clear his dissatisfaction with the federal 340B program that his Medi-Cal drug overhaul would undercut in California. Newsom has ordered a system-wide shift to fee-for-service Medi-Cal drug purchasing by 2021, a move that would save the state money but effectively gut the federal 340B drug discounting program that generates $150 million for community health centers alone.
- The Orange County Pharmacists Association released their 24th episode of their podcast on pharmacy and healthcare. Their new episode highlights an issue affecting many pharmacists in California: DIR Fees and the Medi-Cal clawbacks. The podcast features CPhA President Dr. Ken Thai who speaks with OCPhA member and podcast host, Dr. Tony Dao. You can listen to it by
clicking here.
- Anthem Blue Cross's Provider News (October 2019 is now available online at
date Anthem Blue Cross' Commercial Drug List; June 2019 Medical Policies and Clinical Utilization Management Guidelines Update; Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments for Anthem Blue Cross.
- UnitedHealthcare's Network Bulletin (October 2019) is now available online at
- The Coalition to Protect MICRA (CAPP) invites you to join them for an evening reception in honor of Assembly Member Christy Smith on Wednesday, October 23, from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM. The reception will be held at Oakmont of Valencia (24070 Copper Hill Dr., Valencia, CA 91354).
Please click here to view the invitation.
If you are not far from Valencia, please share this invitation with your colleagues and staff and encourage them to attend. Please RSVP to Kristina Gelaber
kgelabert@micra.org
. Thank you for your continued support of CAPP.
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- Noridian/JEMAC has the following updates on their website
Publications:
* ICD-10 and Other Coding Revisions to NCDs-January 2020 Update-Revised CR11392
* New HCPCS Code J0642 for Levoleucovorin Injection
Forthcoming Noridian JEMAC meetings/webinars/workshops
* Common Errors on all Application Types Webinar (October 9)
* Using the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier Webinar (October 16)
* What's New in the Fourth Quarter 2019-After Hours Webinar (October 24)
* Open Enrollment Webinar (November 6)
Have you received a Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) audit letter? Timely response is critical to the success of reducing the overall national improper payment rate. Read the complete update
For more information and to register visit:
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- MOASC is pleased to support, and be recognized as a Coalition Partner by, the Community Pharmacy Advocacy Group (CPAG).
With 2,400 independent community pharmacies in California,
CPAG is a coalition of community pharmacists who are concerned about the impact of Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) continued erosion of pharmacy practices, as well as recent devastating cuts to pharmacy reimbursement from the state Medi-Cal program. There are
385 pharmacies/pharmacists supporting CPAG, and
MOASC joins other coalition partners such as:
APLA Health;Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association (APAPA); California Chronic Care Coalition; California County Behavioral Health Directors Association;
California Northstate University, College of Medicine, College of Pharmacy and College of Psychiatry;
California Association of Health Services at Home; California Psychiatric Association; California State Association of Counties; Chapman University, School of Pharmacy; Loma Linda University, School of Pharmacy; Loma Linda University Hospital, Department of Pharmacy; United Nurses Associations of California; Union of Health Care Professionals; University of the Pacific, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences; University of Southern California, School of Pharmacy; Western University of Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy.
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Targeted Oncology™ welcomes the Medical Oncology Association of Southern California to its Strategic Alliance Partnership Program.
Targeted Oncology
™, a multimedia resource that offers content and expert opinions on standard and emerging treatments in the oncology field, and The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®), the leading multimedia peer-reviewed journal dedicated to issues in managed care, announce the addition of the Medical Oncology Association of Southern California (MOASC) to their Strategic Alliance Partnership (SAP) programs. "We are so honored to work with MOASC," said Michael J. Hennessy Jr., president and CEO of MJH Life Sciences™, parent company of Targeted Oncology™ and AJMC®. "By teaming up with the association, we look forward to supporting oncologists improving the quality of, and patient access to, care."
"The goal of the Medical Oncology Association of Southern California is to ensure access to oncology care for the cancer patient through the support of oncologists,"
said Nichole A. East, CAE, executive director of the Medical Oncology Association of Southern California, Inc. "MOASC views this collaboration with Targeted Oncology™ and The American Journal of Managed Care® in their Strategic Alliance Partnership Program as meeting these goals, and we look forward to our mutual endeavor."
The SAP program is constantly building a community of advocacy groups, medical associations and medical institutions to foster collaboration and an open exchange of information for the ultimate benefit of patients and their families and to improve patient care. As part of this joint effort, Targeted Oncology™ and AJMC® will work with MOASC to share exclusive content and information.
For more information about MOASC, click here.
For more information about the Targeted Oncology™ SAP program, click here.
For more information about AJMC®'s SAP program, click here.
- Mark your calendars for November 14, 2019, to attend the "MOASC Educational Series Program." The day will present: Bobbi Buell bringing the MOST UP-TO-DATE billing changes from across the board with southern California benchmarks and specific California healthplan issues;
Carynne Godfrey,
from Noridian, addressing specific Medicare changes; Dawn Holcombepresenting current USP800 (eff. 12/1/19) and USP797 news and further actions; Arthur Lurvey, MD, FACP, FACE, California Medicare Contractor, Noridian, Medical Director, speaking on new E&M codes for physicians' awareness coming in 2021; and Remedios Turner, from Medi-Cal, reviewing state initiatives of coverage. Presenters will also address new imaging rules; payment changes; classification of physician relationship to patient; off - label coverage, and more. Please RSVP no later than November 1, 2019 to moasc@moasc.org
- Mark your calendars NOW for the Annual MOASC Oncology Summit, Saturday, March 14, 2020 at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach. The MOASC Oncology Summit continues to highlight cutting-edge topics presented by world-renowned physicians. You will not want to miss our 2020 program!
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ANCO has Moved!
Please note we have moved our offices. Our new mailing address is:
ANCO,
Post Office Box 2954,
Alameda, CA 94501. The ANCO telephone number remains the same--
415-472-3960 (Office); our e-mail addresses are
director@anco.org and
courtney@anco.org. And,
also note the ANCO's FAX number has been disabled.
- ANCO's Annual Professional Education Meeting 2019 is taking place at The Claremont Resort in Berkeley on October 17. Register at
https://bit.ly/2Sz3OsY
.
-
SAVE THE DATE
for ANCO's
4Q2019 Hematologic Malignancies Updates
taking place in San Francisco on November 16. A meeting announcement will be mailed in early October.
- Follow ANCO on Twitter at
@ANCO News
.
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National News
- CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu and its potentially serious complications. It takes about two weeks for your body to make antibodies that help protect you from flu infection. Schedule to get your flu vaccine by the end of October to give yourself the best protection against flu this season.
- It's not too late to get ready for Health Literacy Month in October. Start planning your activities now. One resource is the Health Literacy Month Handbook: The Event Planning Guide for Health Literacy Advocates. This handbook will help you create, plan, run, and evaluate Health Literacy Month events. Get this free resource and more information by visiting the "Share & Interact" section of the CDC Health Literacywebsite. Share with your patients!
- Launched in 2015, the Stop the Clot, Spread the Word® digital campaign was designed to increase public health awareness about life-threatening blood clots to the general public and various high-risk groups, including people diagnosed with cancer. Oncologists are encouraged to discuss the risk for blood clots with their patients and work with your healthcare team to develop a prevention plan before, during, and after cancer treatment. Visit CDC's blood clots and cancer web page to access these free resources and tools.
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CMS News
- An executive order directs the CMS to promulgate regulations for Medicare to streamline the approval, coverage and coding processes "so that innovative products are brought to market faster, and so that such products, including breakthrough medical devices and advances in telehealth services and similar technologies, are appropriately reimbursed and widely available."
mHealth Intelligence
- Earlier, CMS had published updated open payments data reported in 2018 and physicians have until December 31 to review and dispute the 2018 data reported in their name. Learn more and review your data at https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov.
- The CMS Open Payments System has been updated with three new enhancements.
These enhancements consist of an updated physician matching, a new compliance portal, and an ability to view all system-generated emails associated with an organization.
Physician Matching Enhancements:
new ability to validate physician information and download results at any time during or outside the submission period.
Compliance Portal
:
Functionality for the CMS Open Payments Compliance team to upload copies of any compliance related communications that may be sent to reporting entities.
System Generated Emails
:
Ability to view all system generated emails messages associated with an organization.The Open Payments System Enhancement document provides detailed information about each of the new enhancements and improvements that directly affect end users of the Open Payments System.
- ASCO and COA have submitted comments in response to the recent proposed rule for the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) at
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Affiliate Association News
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- You are cordially invited to the Research To Practice (RTP) "Year in Review," moderated by Dr. Neil Love, Saturday, October 12, 2019 at Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel 1700 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, California. Physicians, nurses and other healthcare providers are welcome. This activity is accredited for CME-ABIM MOC and CNE. To view the invitation, click
HERE.
To register or to learn more, please
www.ResearchToPractice.com/Meetings/ YIR2019/CA
- MOASC Member, City of Hope CME presents: Multidisciplinary Approaches to Cancer Symposium on October 10-13, 2019 at the Waldorf Astoria, Las Vegas. This intensive program will provide participants with an enhanced ability to interpret and apply best treatment options into their individual cancer practices. For more information click
HERE.
To register go to:
https://cme.cityofhope.org/eventinfo_10946.html
.
- ZERO
, a leading national nonprofit with the mission to end prostate cancer, will be presenting a screening of the film: "The Silent Killer: Prostate Cancer in the African American Community,"next Thursday, October 17th, 6:30pm - 9:00pm in Los Angeles. This documentary explores the misconceptions about prostate cancer among African-American men. Following the screening, there will be a roundtable discussion about what's being done in Los Angeles and California to address prostate cancer disparities in the African-American community. Light dinner and movie snacks provided. This event is FREE but attendees MUST register.
- Join the Inland Empire Oncology Nursing Society fundraiser event for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light The Night, on October 26, 2019 at the Auto Club Speedway of California in Fontana, money raised through Light The Night allows The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) to fund treatments for patients who are suffering from all forms of blood cancers. In 2018, LLS helped advance 19 of 21 approved blood cancer therapies. Beating cancer is in our blood.
Donate NOW!
- Attend the 2019 Innovatix + Essensa National Meeting & Expo October 28-30 in Atlanta! As a MOASC purchasing member, you pay no registration fee for the conference or the sessions. There is still time to register for this annual event providing three highly
anticipated days of learning, networking, and business development. Make sure you don't miss out on this exclusive opportunity,
REGISTER TODAY
. Please review the
National Meeting web page
for additional details and register to attend today before space or time runs out!
REGISTER TODAY
-The ACCC 36th National Oncology Conference is October 30 - Nov. 1 in Orlando. There's still time to register. From session presenters to Innovator Award winners, featured sessions and networking breaks, you'll find replicable, innovative strategies for the effective delivery of cancer care.
- Research To Practice will hold their First Annual Oncology Nursing Retreat taking place this year November 8 - 10
, 2019 at the Diplomat Beach Resort Hotel in Hollywood Beach, Florida. This educational meeting will focus on covering a plethora of common solid tumors & hematologic cancers with expertise from a stellar faculty panel of clinical investigators and nurse practitioners (33 in total). There is no fee for oncology nurses to participate.
For more information and to register, click on this link:
http://www.researchtopractice.com/Meetings/CNERetreat2019
- Round 2 registration is now open, and data submission will run through December 3, 2019, for ASCO's Quality Oncology Practice Initiative. QOPI is an oncologist-led, practice-based quality assessment program for outpatient oncology clinics. Register for QOPI at
- Register to secure your place at the 61st ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition in Orlando, December 7-10, 2019. To register, you will need to sign in using your ASH username
moasc@moasc.org
and password. If someone else is registering for you, please provide them with your credentials to avoid delays. If you have forgotten your credentials, you may reset them on the ASH website using the "Forgot your
Username
or
Password
" links. Please note that SPARGO, Inc. is the only official housing and registration provider for the 61st ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition. For more information on housing and registration fees, please visit the
ASH website
.
View the preliminary program online
.
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Janssen Oncology has announced that the
United States Food and Drug Administration has approved Darzalex for adult patients with multiple myeloma in combination with bortezomib, thalidomide, and dexamethasone in newly diagnosed patients who are eligible for autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT).
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MOASC CALENDAR
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4Q2019 Hematologic Malignancies Updates (San Francisco; November 16)
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The
Medical Oncology Association of Southern California
(MOASC) is a leading oncology society that advances and protects the ability of cancer patients to obtain, and the ability of the oncology physicians to provide, optimal cancer care. The
Association of Northern California Oncologists
(ANCO) is an association of hematologists/oncologists dedicated to promoting high professional standards of cancer care by providing a forum for the exchange of ideas, data, and knowledge.
The material contained in the
California Oncology Weekly
is intended as general information for ANCO and MOASC members. Because diagnostic, treatment, contracting, coding, and billing decisions should be made on a case-by-case basis, any such information contained in the
California Oncology Weekly
may not apply in any given situation. Members are encouraged to contact their own consultants or advisors to obtain specific advice on matters relating to contracting, coding, and billing. The information contained in
California Oncology Weekly
should not be used as a substitute for such advice.
This publication provides a summary of regulations affecting oncology and its business practices. Reading this newsletter does not substitute for understanding regulations and verifying the validity of every claim. This information is time-sensitive and is subject to change. MOASC or ANCO accepts no liability for any statements or articles herein.
CPT codes are owned and trademarked by the American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
MOASC: P.O. Box 161, Upland, CA 91785 | P (909) 985-9061 | F (909) 804-5006| www.moasc.org
ANCO: P.O. Box 151109, San Rafael, CA 94915 | P (415) 472-3960 | F (415) 472-3961 | www.anco.org
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