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Cancer Policy Today
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This is a bi-weekly series of communications for ASCO members and others in the cancer community. These timely updates will keep you informed about ASCO’s regulatory and legislative efforts and future advocacy efforts related to Cancer Research, Quality Care and Medicare.
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September 3, 2008 |
August 20, 2008 ASCO recently launched a new podcast series on the use of electronic health records. On August 4, FDA released guidance detailing the procedures for its advisory committee process. |
August 7, 2008 On July 30, the Senate Appropriations Committee released the details of a second economic stimulus package. On July 31, FDA ordered Amgen and Johnson & Johnson to issue revised labels on ESAs.Medicare is starting a new incentive payment program to encourage physicians to adopt e-prescribing systems. |
July 23, 2008 On July 16, Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee leadership introduced a FY 2008 supplemental bill that would add $5.2 billion to the NIH budget, including $1.2 billion for NCI. Congress Overrides President's Veto of Medicare Legislation. On July 15, the House of Representatives and the Senate both voted to override the President’s veto of H.R. 6331, which would avert the 10.6% cut to Medicare physician payments. |
July 10, 2008 On July 9 the Senate passed H.R. 6331, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008. On July 2, CMS provided clarification on its recent decision to hold claims under the Medicare physician fee schedule. |
June 25, 2008 On June 24, the House of Representatives passed the “Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008” (H.R. 6331) that would prevent a 10.6% cut for physician payments scheduled to go into effect July 1. Contact your Senators know and ask them to avert the physician payment cuts. |
June 12, 2008 Consideration of legislation to halt the Medicare physician payment cuts begins today. Please contact your Senators to support this bill. On June 2, ASCO ran an ad in USA Today to raise awareness on the need to increase federal cancer research funding. |
May 28, 2008 On May 21, President Bush signed the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) into law. On April 30, NIH Director Elias Zerhouni, MD, discussed recommendations NIH is considering to enhance the agency’s peer review and grants systems. |
May 15, 2008 On May 8, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing on cancer research and prevention, and challenges and barriers to access to care. On May 1, the House of Representatives passed the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (HR 493) by a vote of 414-1, a week after the Senate passed the bill by a vote of 95-0. |
April 30, 2008 On April 24, the Senate passed the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) by a vote of 95-0. Also, CMS announced changes to the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI), including removing the possibility of ‘capped’ bonus payments for 2008 reporting. |
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