Call Your Senators and ask them to Avert Physician Payment Cuts
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.

The bill, which passed by a veto-proof vote of 355 to 59, would maintain the current 0.5% increase from 2007, effective July 1 through the end of the year. On January 1, 2009, the payments would be increased by 1.1%.

The Senate is planning to vote tomorrow on similar legislation. Visit ASCO’s Grassroots Action Center to contact your Senators and urge them to prevent the physician payment cuts before they take effect July 1.

ASCO will continue to provide updates as more details emerge. For more information, contact ASCO's Cancer Policy & Clinical Affairs Department at 703-299-1050 or publicpolicy@asco.org.

NIH Appropriations Update
On June 19, the House of Representatives approved a FY 2008 supplemental appropriations bill that includes an additional $150 million in funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It is estimated that the National Cancer Institute (NCI) would receive approximately $9 million in 2008 supplemental funding.

Also on June 19, the House Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee approved the draft FY 2009 appropriations bill that would include a $1.1 billion increase over 2008 funding levels for NIH, for a total of $30.1 billion in FY 2009. NCI would receive a $170 million funding increase, for a total of $4.9 billion. The full House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to mark up the bill on June 26.

The Senate Appropriations Committee also approved its subcommittee allocations on June 19. The Labor-HHS-Education Subcommittee received $153.1 billion, which is an increase of $7.9 billion (5.5%) over the FY 2008 allocation. The Subcommittee passed a bill that would increase funding for NIH by $1 billion and for NCI by $153 million. The full Senate Appropriations Committee also will mark up the bill on June 26.

The President has stated that he will veto any bill that comes in over his proposed budget. This bill is currently over the President’s budget by $7.8 billion.

For more information, contact ASCO’s Cancer Policy and Clinical Affairs Department at 703-299-1050 or publicpolicy@asco.org.

FDA Warns Companies Against Selling Fake Cancer “Cures”
On June 17, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) sent warning letters to 23 U.S. companies, as well as two foreign individuals, that were marketing products fraudulently claiming to prevent and cure cancer.

The FDA also warned consumers against using or purchasing the products, which include tablets, teas, tonics, black salves, and creams, and are sold under various names on the Internet. The FDA Web site has a complete list of the companies warned in addition to a list of the fake cancer 'cure' products.

The warning letters are part of the FDA's ongoing efforts, in collaboration with the Federal Trade Commission and other North American government agencies, to prevent these deceptive products from reaching consumers.

The initiative originated from a Web search for fraudulent cancer products by FDA and members of the Mexico/United States/Canada Health Fraud Working Group in addition to consumer complaints.

Consumers and health care professionals should notify the FDA of any complaints or problems associated with these products. These reports may be made to MedWatch, the FDA's voluntary reporting program, by calling 800-FDA-1088 or electronically through the FDA Web site.

For more information, contact ASCO’s Cancer Policy & Clinical Affairs Department at 703-299-1050 or researchpolicy@asco.org.

House Passes Conquer Childhood Cancer Act
On June 12, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the “Caroline Walker Pryce Conquer Childhood Cancer Act” (H.R.1553), which will increase research into childhood cancer, by a vote of 416 to 0.

The legislation, introduced by Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-OH), was renamed during committee mark-up in honor of Rep. Pryce’s daughter, who was nine-years-old when she died of cancer in 1999.

The legislation authorizes $30 million per year for Fiscal Years 2009-2013 to:

• Encourage and expand support for NCI’s existing biomedical research programs designating a multi-center national infrastructure for pediatric cancer research.
  
• Establish a population-based national childhood cancer database, called the Children's Cancer Research Network, to evaluate incidence trends of childhood cancers.
  
• Authorize grants to organizations for expanding and implementing activities to raise public awareness of treatment and research for pediatric cancers.
  
• Support the development, construction and operation of a comprehensive on-line public information source on childhood cancers.
  
• Establish a fellowship program in pediatric cancer research.

The Senate companion legislation (S.911), introduced by Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), currently has 66 co-sponsors. The Senate HELP Committee advanced the bill in November 2007, but it has stalled since then. A hold has been placed on the bill by an unknown senator.

The legislation has been endorsed by the Alliance for Childhood Cancer, of which ASCO is a member. ASCO thanks Rep. Pryce for her dedication and efforts in advancing this bill.

For more information, contact ASCO’s Cancer Policy and Clinical Affairs Department at 703-299-1050 or publicpolicy@asco.org.

Participate in the Physician Practice Information Survey
The American Medical Association (AMA) and more than 70 other organizations are conducting a comprehensive multi-specialty survey of America’s physician practices. The results will be used to positively influence national decision makers to ensure accurate and fair representation for all physicians and patients, and to articulate the challenges of running a practice that provides expert patient care, while operating a business that is sustainable. Of particular importance is the section of the study pertaining to practice expenses and the amounts that are attributable to you.

CMS will use the results of this study to help determine physician payment. The survey firm, Dmrkynetec, will contact randomly selected physicians and practice managers to collect responses. All responses will remain confidential.

Please alert your staff regarding your willingness to participate in this survey and the importance of accepting incoming calls, faxes or emails from Dmrkynetec. If you are selected to participate in this effort and have any questions, call Dmrkynetec toll-free at 1-877-816-8940 and ask to speak with an executive interviewer about the 2008 Physician Information and Practice Expense Survey.

ASCO Conducting Learning Needs Assessment of Member Physicians
ASCO is conducting a Needs Assessment of community practice members, focusing on learning styles, barriers to learning, access to technology, and other educational topics. This information will help ASCO more closely tailor products and meetings to members’ individual needs. You may be invited to join a focus group or to simply answer a few questions about your specific educational needs and how ASCO can help.

News and Notes
Cancer Policy Today Goes Completely Electronic
Today’s issue of Cancer Policy Today will be the last that will be distributed by fax. Starting July 9, Cancer Policy Today will only be distributed through email. To sign up for email distribution, contact Tara Leystra at tara.leystra@asco.org. Members who currently receive Cancer Policy Today via email will not experience any changes.

New ESA Instruction Sheet Available on ASCO Web site
An instruction sheet on reporting hematocrit/hemoglobin in conjunction with claims for erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) is available on ASCO’s Web site.

Join ASCO's Advocacy Network
Advocacy is most effective when Members of Congress and government agencies hear from you, their constituents. By participating in ASCO's Advocacy Network, you will have the opportunity to develop ongoing relationships with your legislators while helping ASCO raise awareness on important cancer issues. To join the Advocacy Network, visit ASCO's Grassroots Action Center.

ASCO Extends Resources to Practice Administrators
ASCO encourages members whose practice administrators are interested in receiving Cancer Policy Today to forward their administrator's contact information to practice@asco.org.