May 2008 Practice Update (part two)

News from ASH

ASH Committee on Practice Visits Congress to Urge Medicare Physician Payment Fix
The ASH Committee on Practice met with nearly 30 congressional offices today urging Congress to prevent the scheduled 10.6 percent cut in Medicare physician payments that is scheduled to go into effect July 1, 2008, and replace the cut with a positive update for 18 months. In addition, the ASH members asked for support of a permanent replacement of the formula currently used to calculate physician payment rates.

In April, ASH met with Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-MT) to discuss his proposal to avert the scheduled Medicare payment cuts. Senator Baucus would pay for his bill through "balloon financing," which means physicians would face a payment cut of 21 percent in 2010. For additional information on Senator Bacus's bill, visit the Policy and Practice News section of ASH Web site. The Committee on Practice met with Senator Baucus's staff and heard negotiations among Finance Committee members have broken down over several issues. Consequently, Senator Baucus plans to introduce his bill and have it go directly to the Senate floor for a vote around the second week of June. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) has also proposed legislation to prevent physician payment cuts, and ASH has signed a letter of support for this bill.

ASH will send a "legislative alert" once Senator Baucus’ bill goes to the Senate and will continue to keep you apprised of progress regarding Medicare physician payment.

ASH is currently accepting nominations for leadership and committee member positions.
ASH needs your help identifying "new blood!" The Society is currently accepting nominations for committee and leadership positions. We strongly encourage you to nominate colleagues or yourself for committee service.

Completed nomination forms should be sent to LaFaundra Neville at ASH Headquarters. Nominations must include all requested information.

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Health Alert from FDA

The FDA Calls on Health Professionals to Ensure the Proper Recall of Heparin Products
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is asking health professionals and facilities to examine all drug/device storage areas, including emergency kits, dialysis units, and automated drug storage cabinets, to ensure that all recalled injectable heparin products and heparin flush solutions that may be contaminated with oversulfated chondroitin sulfate have been removed and are no longer available for patient use.

Although the recall instructions were widely distributed, affected heparin products have been found in medical facilities in one state since the February 2008 recall announcement. There have also been reports of deaths associated with allergic or hypotensive symptoms after administration of heparin, and officials believe the recall may not have been fully acted upon at all locations where heparin is used.

Additionally, the FDA would like to make health professionals aware of other medical devices that contain, or are coated with, heparin.

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Legislation in Congress

Senate Revises Bill That Would Require Drug, Medical Device Makers to Publicly Report Payments, Gifts to Physicians
The Senate has revised the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, a bill that would require drug and medical device manufacturers to publicly report payments and gifts to physicians. The bill requires drug and device manufacturers to disclose to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, on a quarterly basis, anything of value given to doctors, such as payments, gifts, honoraria, or travel. The companies would have to report the name of the physician, the value and the date of the payment or gift, its purpose, and what, if anything was received in exchange. The original bill required all gifts valued at $25 or more to be disclosed, but that amount has been increased to $500 in the revised legislation. The bill would require the Department of Health and Human Services to make information available to the public through a searchable Web site. If a company fails to report, the Physician Payments Sunshine Act imposes a penalty ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 for each violation.

Senator Grassley plans to include the Physician Payments Sunshine Act to any Medicare legislation developed this year.

ASH has not taken a position on this bill. ASH believes preventing industry bias is critical to protecting scientific integrity. Consequently, for years the Society has implemented policies and procedures to identify, disclose, and manage conflicts of interest.

ASH has been invited to testify before the Institute of Medicine on this important topic.

Former and Current Members of Congress Begin to Develop Health-Care Reform Proposals
Four former Senate Majority Leaders – George Mitchell, Bob Dole, Tom Daschle, and Howard Baker - have announced a joint effort to make specific recommendations for health-care reform to the President-Elect and members of Congress before the end of the year. Their plan is to convene at least four meetings around the nation to hear from health-care providers, consumers, industry, and others engaged in the health-care debate before attempting to craft a unified set of recommendations. The group plans to develop its bipartisan recommendations through the fall and will present its report after the November elections.

Meanwhile, Reps. Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Christopher Shays (R-CT) are introducing legislation that would provide U.S. residents with access to the same level of health insurance as members of Congress. The bill allows residents to purchase private health insurance through a federally managed system, which should over time, replace the employer-sponsored health insurance system. Under the legislation, residents would have to obtain health insurance, and employers would have to help cover the cost. Finally, because there is an assumption that hospitals will treat fewer patients without health insurance who cannot pay their bills, the bill would require hospitals to pay a new tax. This legislation was originally introduced in 2004.

ASH Keeping Track of Comparative Effectiveness Initiatives
The issue of comparative effectiveness is getting increased attention from policymakers in Washington. Many lawmakers view comparative effectiveness research, which would systematically evaluate the relative efficacy of different treatment options for a particular condition, as a mechanism to save on health care costs while potentially improving the quality of care delivered. Many consider it likely that some kind of comparative effectiveness program will be included in any Medicare reimbursement legislation that passes through Congress this year. ASH is monitoring this issue closely and will keep its membership updated on any new developments.

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Information from Medicare

Center for Medicaid & Medicare Services Updates
The Center for Medicare & Medicare Services (CMS) has updated its the National Oncology PET Registry (NOPR). CMS has also clarified billing issues for utilization of blood and blood products. Finally, CMS has expanded the data requirements on hospice claims.

Medicare to Host National Provider Conference Call May 28 on PQRI
Medicare will host the third in a series of national provider conference calls on the 2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI). This toll-free call will take place from 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., EDT, on Wednesday, May 28, 2008.

The call will provide an overview of the alternate reporting periods and alternative criteria for satisfactorily reporting of 2008 quality measures. You must register to participate in the call.

Medicare Recruiting Registries to Submit PQRI Data
Medicare is now accepting self-nominations from registries that want to be considered a qualified, established clinical data registry to help eligible professionals qualify for Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) incentive bonus payments. In April, Medicare announced new options for participating in the PQRI, including the option for eligible professionals to submit quality measures data to Medicare through a qualified, established clinical data registry.

To learn more about how registries can apply, refer to the "2008 PQRI Registry Requirements for Submission Under New Options" available online. Medicare is accepting self-nominations from registries through May 31, 2008, and will determine qualified registries by the end of August. More information on the measures that are relevant to hematology is available on the ASH Web site.

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