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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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California News
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- California doctors thought they would see higher Medi-Cal reimbursement rates from revenue raised by the new tax, but Gov. Jerry Brown's budget directs that the funds instead cover other increases for the program.
Doctors have long argued that the money they receive for serving Medi-Cal patients isn't enough to sustain a practice, leading to a shortage of medical providers willing to treat California's poorest residents in rural communities and other pockets of the state.
- After a sluggish start, the Cal INDEX medical database has agreed to a merger that would create one of the largest repositories of patient records in the country.
The nonprofit California Integrated Data Exchange, was launched by insurers Blue Shield of California and Anthem Inc.,
in 2014
, announced Tuesday that it intends to merge with the Inland Empire Health Information Exchange. Together, they would have insurance claims and medical records of 16.7 million people.
- The California Dialogue on Cancer is excited to announce the addition of the CDOC Stakeholder Spotlight program, to recognize those CDOC stakeholders who have gone above and beyond to make a difference in cancer control efforts. The CDOC Project Spotlight program promotes CDOC projects, interventions, and other cancer-related activities.
Please help the CDOC stay connected and recognize the strides t
hat are taking place in our state by allowing them to promote and showcase what CDOC stakeholders are accomplishing.
To submit a
CDOC Project Spotlight
, or nominate yourself or someone you know for a
CDOC Stakeholder Spotlight
, please complete this brief questionnaire. The form takes only a few minutes to complete. It is available here: http://bit.ly/Spotlight_Form.
Additionally, if you have any content you would like included in the
Spring CDOC Newsletter
, please email me Judy Polakoff by January 20th
[email protected]
with any stories, updates, announcements or other cancer-related content idea.
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Noridian News
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- For 2017, a new CPT procedure code (96377) was developed and published for the application of an on-body injector for timed subcutaneous injection. Unfortunately, 96377 did not originally appear in the Medicare Part B fee schedule and the January update included it with an "Inactive" rather than a "Contractor Priced" code. ANCO, MOASC, and ASCO have contacted Noridian/JEMAC and CMS regarding this matter and hope for a correction in the near future. In the meantime, Noridian/JEMAC has informed ANCO and MOASC that you may use 96372 to bill for the application of an on-body injector for time subcutaneous injection.
- Noridian/JEMAC has posted the following updates to its website http://med.noridianmedicare.com/web/jeb:
* MLN Connects Provider News
Announcements
--Chronic Care Management Services Changes for 2017; Medicare Quality Programs: ICD-10 Code Updates and Impact to 4th Quarter 2016
Claims, Pricers, and Codes
--Pricing and Payment Changes for DME Infusion Drugs Effective January 1, 2017
Events
--Hospice Quality Reporting Program Provider Training-January 18; Medicare Quality Programs: Transitioning from PQRS to MIPS Call-January 24
Publications--PECOS for Provider and Supplier Organizations Fact Sheet-Revised; Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, Anesthesiologist Assistants, and Physician Assistants Booklet-Reminder; Chronic Care Management Services Changes for 2017 Fact Sheet-Revised
* Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule and Laboratory Services Subject to Reasonable Charge Payment-20117 Update CR9909
* Medicare After Hours-Evening Webinars Available for Your Professional Growth
* Changes in PECOS e-Signature Timeline-Effective January 9, 2017
* MolDX: Comprehensive Genomic Profiling to Guide Treatment in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Draft LCD Published for Review and Comments
* MolDX: DecisionDx-UM (Uveal Melanoma) Draft LCD Published for Review and Comments
* MolDX: Polaris Prostate Cancer Genomic Assay for Men with Favorable Intermediate Risk Disease Draft LCD Published for Review and Comments
* Self-Administered Drug Exclusion List-R11
* MolDX: Comprehensive Genomic Profiling to Guide Treatment in Patients with Metastatic Melanoma Draft LCD Published for Review and Comments
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DHCS/Medi-Cal News
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CMS has finalized a rule related to pass-through payments in Medi-Cal managed care
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The rule applies to all states with Medicaid managed care plans and would block billions in supplemental funding to safety net providers, and are used to entice providers to see Medicaid beneficiaries. CMS doesn't have exact numbers of providers that would be affected but it's estimated to be thousands of hospitals, doctors and clinics.
The payments are paid to Medicaid managed care plans on top of the base capitation rate. The plans are required to pass these payments to contracted providers that treat a disproportionate share of Medicaid or uninsured patients with complex or costly cases.
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- Oncology Revolution: Are your treatment choices still relevant in the era of Immuno-oncology and Molecularly-targeted therapies? Join us for the 2017 MOASC Oncology Summit of Nationally known and regionally based key-opinion leaders and assess your tools for thriving in an era of Personalized Medicine! We will discuss how to use the new tools of "Personalized Medicine" to guide treatment choices for Lung Cancer, Prostate Cancer and Multiple Myeloma. This will be a practically-oriented, clinically relevant discussion and you will leave with new insights into your own practice patterns and how to make sure you are embracing the future today!
- The 2nd Annual UC Irvine Health Hematology Symposium, presented by the Department of Pathology and the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, will take place on Saturday, March 25, 2017, at Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel, Anaheim, CA.
Topics will include:
* Molecular diagnostics in selected disorders
* Myelodysplastic syndrome
* Primer on flow cytometry for the general practitioner
* Venous thromboembolism
* Approach to the evaluation of anemia
* Selected vector-borne diseases
* Lupus anticoagulant and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.
NURSE PRACTITIONER
Long Beach c
ommunity-based Hematology-Oncology practice is
seeking a full time Nurse Practitioner
. The candidate must
provide quality healthcare services including:
exams, diagnosis, treatment, education, and counseling for patients in accordance with the clinic protocols. This is a full time job Monday through Friday.
· Active license in good standing in the state of California.
· Oncology experience (desirable)
· Supervisory/management experience
· CPR certified: Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers
· Effective communication skills both written and verbal
· Critical thinking and problem solving skills
· Furnishing of prescriptions for pharmacolgics needed in the management and support of cancer patients.
· Supervising, educating and acting as a resource to other nurses and medical assistants.
· Initiating and writing orders following treatment protocols outlined by the physician for patients undergoing cancer therapy.
· Assisting in the management of patient education, patient issues and concerns.
· Overseeing and supervising the Infusion Center and assisting in the evaluation, treatment and orchestration of application of treatment for patients on regimens, protocols or treatment interventions.
· Screening and triage of telephone calls or other correspondence from patients, patients' families, hospice agencies, nurses and physicians.
· Night calls with physician on 1st call
Please contact the MOASC Office for more information at: [email protected] or 909-985-9061 x 1.
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ANCO's
SABCS Highlights 2016
will take place on January 26 at The Claremont Resort in Oakland
. Download the meeting announcement and registration form at
www.anco-online.org/SABCSHL2016.pdf
.
- ANCO is pleased to announce the 17th Multidisciplinary Management of Cancers: A Case-based Approach on March 17-19, 2017 at The Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa. Registration and housing now open at www.multicancers.org. EARLY REGISTRATION DISCOUNTS ENDS JANUARY 31; THE HOUSING BLOCK IS ALMOST FULL!
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- The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has reversed its announced decision to eliminate its grace period for renewing applications.
- The Food and Drug Administration and the Office of Human Research recently published final guidance on how to use electronic systems and processes to obtain informed consent in clinical investigations. Read the final guidance here.
- Cigna, in partnership with eviCore, will release an Integrated Oncology Management Program for treatment plans on February 20. This program will provide utilization management for medical and pharmacy oncology medications that currently require recertification through Cigna.
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CMS is now accepting applications for a new Clinical Practice Improvement Activities (CPIA) study
, which will examine workflow and data collection methods so that CMS can better understand the challenges of collecting and reporting quality data. Clinicians and practices that participate in the CMS CPIA study will receive full credit for the CPIA performance category through the Quality Payment Program. Receiving full credit in the CPIA performance category will help boost participants' composite scores in the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). Participants in the study will need to complete at least three survey questionnaires, participate in at least three focus groups, and submit at least three clinician quality performance measures to CMS by December 2017. Applications are being accepted through January 31 at
https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/Value-Based-Programs/MACRA-MIPS-and-APMs/MACRA-Feedback.html
.
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Affiliate Association News
- ASCO has launched the 2017 Survey of Oncology Practice Operations (SOPO), an annual survey of business and operational issues in oncology practices. The Society aims to capture the current state of oncology management practices to help practices navigate the evolving cancer care delivery system. Complete the Survey by January 27 at www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZCV5GWB.
- The Alliance for Patient Access, is a national network of physicians advocating for patient access to approved therapies and appropriate clinical care. AFPA's National Physicians Biologics Working Group is hosting its annual meeting in Phoenix, AZ on January 27th and 28th to discuss issues related to patient access to biologic therapies. If you are policy-minded and interested in advocacy, you are invited to attend the working group meeting. AfPA will cover expenses, including travel, hotel and meals, incurred by attending physicians.Interested physicians may register for the meeting here - or contact Alexa DeVantier [email protected] with questions, requests for additional information, or to register for the meeting.
- ASH's 2017 Highlights of ASH in North America will take place in Seattle on January 27-28. Go to www.hematology.org/highlights for more information and to register.
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The 2017 Community Oncology Conference
will take place just outside of Washington, DC at the Gaylord National Hotel & Convention Center in National Harbor, MD. Attendees will gain the insight and knowledge they need to fuel innovation and success in community oncology. For more information and to register click
here
.
- Applications are now being accepted for ASCO's Quality Training Program at www.asco.org/training-education/professional-development/quality-training-program. This comprehensive 6-month program is oncology-focused and teaches clinicians how to improve quality using evidence-based decisions and how to reduce clinical and process variation for predictable and sustainable results. In 2017, there will be two regional locations, including Portland, OR (Session 1: April 20-21; Session 2: June 28-29; and Session 3: October 18).
- ASCO, the Association of Molecular Pathology, and the College of American Pathologists have issued a joint consensus statement on standardizing the interpretation and reporting of sequence variants in cancer in the January issue of The Journal of Molecular Pathology at http://jmd.amjpathol.org/article/S1525-1578(16)30223-9/abstract.
- ASCO is pleased to remind members that you can use the QOPI platform to meet the MIPS reporting requirement of one measure through manual reporting. While one is the minimum requirement to avoid the 2019 penalty, ASCO encourages practices to report on at least four measures to become fully acquainted with the system and ensure that the CMS requirements are met. In addition, ASCO is using 2017 as a transition year to modify the QOPI Quality Clinical Data Registry (QCDR) to allow practices to meet 2018 MIPS reporting requirements. In the meantime, ASCO encourages all oncology practices to use 2017 to ensure they are positioned to report at the significantly higher volume (60% of their eligible charges for ALL measures) requirement in 2018.
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View ACCC's webcast on the MIPS--The Final Rules Under MACRA
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Download all the oncology coding updates now from ACCC
at
- NCCN has published updated NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) with NCCN Evidence Blocks™ chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma, myelodysplastic syndromes, non-small cell lung cancer, penile cancer (V1.2017); and, prevention and treatment of cancer-related infections (V1.2017). For the complete updated versions of the NCCN Guidelines, NCCN Guidelines with NCCN Evidence Blocks™, the NCCN Compendium®, the NCCN Chemotherapy Order Templates (NCCN Templates®), and the NCCN Imaging Appropriate Use Criteria (NCCN Imaging AUC™), please visit www.nccn.org.
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- Genentech BioOncology informs ANCO and MOASC that the United States Food and Drug Administration has modified Tarceva's indication for non-small cell lung cancer to limit use to patients whose tumors express specific epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations.
- Janssen Biotech is hosting an educational program entitled Darzalex-based Triplet Therapy for Multiple Myeloma Patients at First Relapse with Amy Marsala, N.P., UC San Francisco, on March 17 at Morimoto, 610 Main Street, Napa. RSVP at www.medforcereg.net/SOMP1085229.
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MOASC CALENDAR
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Best of 17th WCLC (International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, San Francisco, February 4)
(NCCN, San Francisco, March 11)
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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-online.org
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