- This Thursday, June 25 at 3:00pm Pacific, ASH is presenting a COVID-19 & Thrombosis webinar. New evidence is emerging daily that COVID-19 isn't just a respiratory disease, it is a blood disease. Data are emerging that COVID-19 infection can result in coagulopathy in severely ill patients, and there are reports of an increased risk of clinical and subclinical thrombosis in the setting of severe COVID-19 disease with multiple reports citing an increased incidence of thrombosis, especially venous thromboembolism. Click here to Register.

- Please submit ALL your Express Scripts information by June 29! This is your chance to make a difference in bringing about change. Has your practice suffered from these issues with Express Scripts?

§  Your pharmacy is not allowed to participate in Express Scripts commercial or Part D networks;

§  Your pharmacy is reimbursed below cost from ESI on what they reimburse verses the direct cost of the drug;

§  Your pharmacy is reimbursed below cost from ESI on what they reimburse less cost of drug plus DIR fees plus pharmacy staff salaries and benefits plus all other direct and indirect costs;

§  Patients you have that participate in Prime Therapeutic commercial and Medicaid networks is now being managed by ESI as of April 1, and

§  You have received notice that patients that participate in Prime Therapeutic Part D networks are going to be managed by ESI as of January 1, 2021

If you have, please click on this survey https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ESICancerCare.

The very last question asks for the date you are submitting all specific data and examples to Jesse, please note the date you are submitting that information.   Frier Levitt is collecting this data to determine an action plan from which they will follow up with next steps. It is very important that on the very last question to provide specific examples directly to Jesse Dresser jdresser@FrierLevitt.com regarding being reimbursed below cost from ESI which includes direct and indirect costs. If you do not provide specific information, Frier Levitt will not be able to provide next steps. Jesse walks through and describes each question on the survey by clicking on this link https://vimeo.com/425976701. Hopefully this will help if you are confused and need more direction on any of the questions in the survey. This survey is very important as COPA has, for over a year, discussed multiple issues with filling drugs for your patients that participate in ESI networks and either not be able to participate in network or are reimbursed below cost. Thank you.

- You must contact Jesse Dresser jdresser@FrierLevitt.com by June 30, and let him know that you wish to participate in complaint of CVS slow-rolling your application, to be guaranteed to receive the benefit of any action against CVS! Over the past year COA/COPA spent a lot of resources with Frier Levitt through surveys with oncology practices from across the country, regarding CVS' slow rolling the processing of network applications. COA has seen no oncology practices following up with Frier Levitt. For a cost of $1,500, Frier Levitt will review your application to see if CVS is slow rolling your application. If it is determined that this is the case your practice will be included in a letter written by Frier Levitt to CMS, pertinent members of Congress, CVS and any other parties deemed important on this issue, demanding CVS stop the slow rolling of these applications. If CVS responds appropriately by discontinuing the slow rolling of your application, only those practices that will be noted in the letter will be guaranteed to receive the benefit of any action by CVS on this issue. Please contact Jesse Dresser jdresser@FrierLevitt.com at Frier Levitt and let him know that you wish to participate in this matter. Thank you.

- Supplies are limited, so we encourage you to place your order soon! As part of MOASC's   participation in NCCN's State Oncology Society Forum, print-ready files of the following NCCN Guidelines for Patients are available for you to disseminate to patients and caregivers, free of charge:

Metastatic Breast Cancer

Prostate Cancer

Lung Cancer (early stage)

Lung Cancer (metastatic)

Please respond to Kara Martin, MPH, NCCN Policy and Advocacy Fellow at Martin@nccn.org by filling out the information listed below if you are interested.

Name:

Title:

State Oncology Society: MOASC

Patient Guideline(s) Requested:

- Being informed keeps patients in charge of their journey. Ensure your patients gain knowledge about issues that matter to them. Invite your patients to join you on Wednesday, July 15, 2020 for the Community Oncology Advocacy Summit:Cancer Care in a COVID-19 World.  The Community Oncology Advocacy Summit is a free, virtual learning event for patients with cancer and patient advocates. COVID-19 has turned the health care world upside down. This event will empower patients and advocates to obtain the best treatment knowledge possible in an uncertain world.  Attendees will learn about the latest in cancer policy and legislation, what cancer care will look like in the future, issues that impact your treatment, and much more. I hope you'll join us and the thousands of other attendees for this exciting live event. Click Here to Register!

- The International Lung Cancer Congress will hold their 21st Annual meeting on July 23-25, 2020. The live webcast will provide current, practical information on the management of lung cancer, as well as a look at the novel agents and strategies with the potential to shape the future of lung cancer therapy. Leading international and national experts will provide perspectives on how to apply the latest data on targeted agents, immunotherapy, surgery, and radiation oncology in the clinic. Click here to register. 

-  ASH has decided to transition the ASH Meeting on Hematologic Malignancies to a virtual experience to provide important education while assuring the wellbeing of the hematology community around the world. FromAugust 27 to September 12, 2020 the ASH Meeting on Hematologic Malignancies features the top experts in the field, comprehensive clinical content, and opportunities for engagement - all during times and place that is the most convenient to participants. Hear exciting updates in each of the core hematologic malignancies, including: Leukemia; Lymphoma; Myelodysplastic syndromes; Myeloma and Myeloproliferative neoplasms. By transitioning the ASH Meeting on Hematologic Malignancies to a virtual experience that will combine both live and on-demand sessions. Visit their website for schedule updates.

- Cedars-Sinai 3rd Annual Gastrointestinal Tumor Conference is on Saturday, September 12, 2020. Concise and comprehensive updates on the most recent research and advances in immunotherapy for gastrointestinal cancers, will be presented. A stellar faculty has been assembled to share developments in precision medicine, research, and immunotherapeutic approaches to the treatment of cancers of the pancreas, liver, and gastric/esophagus. For more information and to register go to cedars.cloud-cme.com/gicancercme.

- If you are looking for information on clinical trials, telemedicine, PBMs, or COVID-19, experts weighed in, at COA 2020, on all these topics and more. Access all recordings and the virtual exhibit hall at https://coaconference.com/.

- COA and CancerCare have partnered to create the Patient Assistance Transportation Program. Practices can register to join the program at no cost to you or your patients to secure safe, sanitized transportation for patients. Register your practice for the Patient Assistance Transportation Program.

- ASCO's Nominating Committee is seeking recommendations for potential candidates for the upcoming ASCO election, for service beginning in June 2021. All members are invited to recommend individuals you believe possess the qualities needed to lead the Society in the future. Your participation in this process will help ensure that our Society's leaders represent the diversity of our membership. Please contact ascoelection@asco.org with any questions.

- NCCN Updated Cutaneous Melanoma Version 3.2020. For the complete updated versions of the NCCN Guidelines, NCCN Guidelines with NCCN Evidence Blocks™, the NCCN Drugs & Biologics Compendium (NCCN Compendium®), the NCCN Biomarkers Compendium®, the NCCN Chemotherapy Order Templates (NCCN Templates®), the NCCN Radiation Therapy Compendium™, and the NCCN Imaging Appropriate Use Criteria (NCCN Imaging AUC™), please visit NCCN.org.