2009-10-08

Update on Health Reform: Senate Finance Committee Vote on Health Reform Delayed, Obstacles to Passage Continue
The Senate Finance Committee has delayed its vote on health reform legislation – and likely, the bill’s move to the Senate floor – as members review cost estimates by the Congressional Budget Office. Read more.

Hematology Services Identified as Potential Issues in National Rollout of RAC Program
Medicare providers across the country are beginning to prepare for the national roll-out of the permanent Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) program. A summary of the program, description of the limits on audits and appeals rights of providers, and links to further information is available.

ASH Requesting Member Assistance on Validation of PQRI Hematology Measures
The Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI), administered through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), provides a financial incentive for eligible professionals to participate in its voluntary quality reporting program. ASH has developed four hematology measures to ensure that hematologists can participate in this program. For the measures to remain in the PQRI program, they need to undergo a validation process. ASH is currently surveying practices who utilize the hematology measures to develop an appropriate validation process and to elicit volunteer practices.

The validation process involves data extraction from patient medical records by a contractor; there will not be a burden for participating practices. Results will be structured in a way that will be helpful to participating practices.

Please take a moment to complete a 5-minute survey about your practice’s utilization of the ASH PQRI measures. All information gained through this survey and/or through the validation process will remain confidential. The survey will be open until November 5. 

2009 PQRI National Provider Call With Question and Answer Session Scheduled for October 15
CMS will host a national provider conference call on the 2009 PQRI. This toll-free call will take place from 2:30 - 4:30 p.m., EDT, on Thursday, October 15, 2009. Participants can register and access a PowerPoint slide presentation on the CMS Web site.

FDA Announces Change in Heparin USP Monograph
On October 1, 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an alert noting a change to the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) monograph for heparin, effective immediately. The change includes a new USP reference standard and test method that is used to determine the potency of the drug. Read more.

ASH Requests National Coverage Determination for Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (HCT) for Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)
ASH has requested that CMS develop a national coverage decision that addresses allogeneic HCT for MDS. The current lack of an established Medicare national policy addressing allogeneic HCT has created coverage inequities for a small subset of Medicare patients for whom this treatment is the only established curative therapy. Without an explicit and well-defined national policy, hospitals have been reluctant to extend HCT services to Medicare beneficiaries that would benefit. A complete copy of the letter signed by 12 organizations is available.

DHHS Releases Guidance to Providers on Data Breaches – Congressional Leadership Requests Repeal of "Harm Standard" for Breach Notification
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has issued a rule requiring that patients are notified if their personal health information is breached. Congressional leaders have sent a letter to DHHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius expressing their concern that the bar set to trigger notification is too high. Read more.

First Coast Service Options and Wisconsin Physician Service Release Revised LCDs on ESAs
First Coast Service Options and Wisconsin Physician Service (WPS) released revised local coverage policies on erythropoiesis-stimulating agents. The Society is pleased to see that the local coverage decisions (LCDs) are consistent with "ASH's Model Policy: Indications for ESA Treatment for Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes".

The First Coast policy covers areas in the Jurisdiction 9 region including: Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The WPS policy covers areas in the Jurisdiction 5 region including: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. Revisions to both policies are effective immediately.

If you have additional questions or would like further information, please contact ASH Government Relations Manager, Stephanie Kart, at 202-776-0544.