2010-08-26
ASH Submits Comments to CMS on
Proposed Changes to Physician Fee Schedule
ASH submitted
comments to the Center's for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in
response to proposed
changes to the physician fee schedule for calendar year (CY) 2011. Primary
among ASH's concerns is CMS's proposal to reduce physician payment because of
rebasing and revisions to the Medicare Economic Index in addition to
significant reductions called for by the Sustainable Growth Rate Formula (SGR).
Read ASH's
full comments to CMS, including recommendations related to the Physician
Quality Reporting Initiative, electronic prescribing, and consultation codes.
10-Year Medicare Physician Pay
Fix Would Cost $330 Billion
In June, Congress passed the Preservation of Access to Care for
Medicare Beneficiaries and Pension Relief Act of 2010 (Pub. L. No. 111-192).
The law canceled the scheduled 21 percent pay cut for doctors and replaced it
with a 2.2 percent increase, but only averted physician payment cuts through
the end of November. Since the law expires on November 30, lawmakers will
once again debate how to handle. Chief
among their concerns is the cost of fixing the current physician payment
formula. The Congressional Budget Office reported this week that adopting a
10-year Medicare payment fix for physicians would cost $330 billion. Read more.
ASH Submits Comments to CMS on
Proposed Changes to Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and CY 2011
Payment Rates
ASH submitted
comments to CMS regarding the ambulatory patient classification (APC)
payment for bone marrow and stem cell transplants under the Hospital
Outpatient Prospective Payment System. ASH believes the current payment
rate is inadequate and does not cover all the costs associated with these complex
procedures. Read more.
ASH Submits Comments to FDA on Risk Evaluation and Mitigation
Strategies (REMS)
ASH submitted a
response to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) request for comments
concerning the issues and challenges associated with the development and
implementation of Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) for drugs. ASH
expressed concerns regarding the current process for developing REMS, the
administrative burden of REMS, and the need to measure the quality and success
of REMS. The Society's recommendations focused on the following:
- Expert Input Is Critical in Development
and Implementation of REMS
- REMS May Create Undue Burden on Physicians
and Practices
- There is a Need for Evaluation and Proof
of Principle of REMS Before Continued Expansion
AHRQ Releases
Technology Assessment on Antiemetic Drugs and Chemotherapy or Radiation Therapy
in Adults
The Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has released a technology assessment
titled "Consideration of Evidence on
Antiemetic Drugs for Nausea and Vomiting Associated with Chemotherapy or
Radiation Therapy in Adults." Read more.
DME MACs Revise Oral Anticancer Drugs Policy
The Durable Medical
Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractors (DME MACs) have published an updated
oral anticancer drug policy that includes a majority of off-label uses that
had been restricted in the June update and indicates that coverage should be
retroactive to June 1, 2010.
CMS to Host National Provider Call on 2010 PQRI & Electronic
Prescribing Incentive Programs
CMS will host a national provider conference call on the 2010 Physician
Quality Reporting Initiative & Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program on
Thursday, September 2, 2010, from 2:30 - 4:00 p.m. EDT. Visit the CMS website to register
for the call. Call participants can access a transcript one week
after the call on the CMS website.
CMS to Host Conference Call on
ICD-10 Implementation
CMS will host a
conference call on "ICD-10 Implementation in a 5010 Environment" on Monday,
September 13, from 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. This toll-free call will focus on ICD-10
implementation issues, including proposals to partially freeze code updates,
and implementation updates for HIPAA versions 5010 and D.0, including
implemented readiness review, how HIPAA 5010 updates impact ICD-10
implementation, and advice for providers in moving toward HIPAA 5010
implementation. Subject matter experts will review basic information on
both ICD-10 and HIPAA 5010 and explain how they are interrelated. Read more.
One week left to register for the State-of-the-Art Symposium
Join your colleagues at the 2010
ASH State-of-the-Art Symposium, taking place September 24 - 25 in Chicago.
Don't miss the chance to network and discuss the most relevant clinical content
in the field of hematology and hematology-oncology. In order to maximize each
participant's experience, attendance at the State-of-the-Art Symposium is
limited. Don't delay - register
today to guarantee your spot at this meeting.
Important dates:
- September
1 - Housing reservation
deadline
- September 3 - Advance registration
deadline
Register for ASH Webinar Series on Thrombosis
ASH is presenting a series of three webinars on thrombosis issues practicing
hematologists frequently confront. The sessions will feature presentations by
experts in the field, provide time for questions and answers, and will cover
the most current information on how to best diagnose and care for patients.
- September 14, 8:00
- 9:00 p.m. EDT - Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT)
Speakers include: Andreas Greinacher, MD, Ted Warkentin, MD, and Adam
Cuker, MD
- October 20, 8:00 -
9:00 p.m. EDT - Coagulation Management in Cancer
Speakers include: Kenneth Mann, PhD, Ken Bauer, MD, and David Garcia, MD
- November 17, 8:00 -
9:00 p.m. EDT - Non-Hemophilia-Associated Conditions Associated With
Bleeding
Speakers include: Catherine Hayward, MD, PhD and Sarah O'Brien, MD
For more information or to register for these
webinars, please visit www.hematology.org/webinars.
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