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Coronavirus and Cancer Resources for Survivors
Cancer survivors have expressed concerns and questions about COVID-19, the coronavirus, and how they may be at higher risk due to their cancer history. Here are some resources about COVID-19 generally, and its impact for cancer survivors specifically. NCCS is seeking answers from public health experts on the coronavirus and its impact on cancer patients and survivors. Please leave a comment [...]
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NCCS Concerned About New CMS Guidance on 1332 Waiver Process
The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) is extremely concerned by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) new guidance document that significantly alters the standards that states must meet in order to be granted a waiver from certain Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements. The Trump administration would permit states to revise the rules of their health insurance markets significantly, including to authorize [...]
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NCCS Expresses Reservations Regarding Effectiveness and Impact of New CMS Drug Pricing Proposal
A focus of the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) since it was founded over thirty years ago continues to be empowering patients to make informed decisions, and this includes transparency about the cost of health care. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently proposed that list prices be included in direct-to-consumer (DTC) television advertisements of drugs that are reimbursed by Medicare and Medicaid. [...]
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Health Care Roundup: Drug Pricing in TV Ads; Even with Insurance, Serious Illness Can Mean Financial Distress; Fertility in Young Survivors; More
HHS Proposes Rule Requiring Drug Pricing in TV Ads – On Monday, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar announced that HHS introduced a proposed rule to require direct-to-consumer television advertisements for prescription drugs include pricing information. According to the proposed rule, drugs paid for by Medicare or Medicaid must include the list price of the drug if it costs more than $35 for a month’s supply [...]
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Health Care Roundup: Patient Orgs Push Back on ‘Junk Insurance’; Rx ‘Gag Clause’ Bans; What Survivors Wish Others Understand; ACA Premiums; More
NCCS & Patient Orgs Push Back on Short-term Plans — Recently, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it would allow insurers to offer expanded short-term, limited duration plans, known as “junk insurance.” This action led NCCS to join several other national organizations in filing an amicus curiae brief in support of a lawsuit that challenges the regulation authorizing short-term health insurance plans. The amicus brief [...]
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NCCS Joins 11 Organizations in Filing Amicus Curiae Brief Supporting Lawsuit Challenging Short-Term Health Plans
The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) joined 11 other patient groups in filing an amicus curiae (or “friend of the court”) brief in support of the lawsuit that challenges the regulation authorizing short-term health insurance plans. The amicus curiae brief explains to the court the potentially devastating impact of short-term health insurance plans on people with cancer and other Americans with serious and chronic diseases. [...]
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Health Care Roundup: Medicare ‘Step Therapy’ Concerns; Alternative Cancer Treatment Risks; Immunotherapy Scientists Win Nobel Prize; More
HEALTH CARE HIGHLIGHT – NCCS Submits Concerns to HHS Regarding New “Step Therapy” Plan – NCCS joined with other cancer organizations of the Cancer Leadership Council (CLC) in a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the new plan announced on August 7 that gives Medicare Advantage plans the option of applying step therapy for [...]
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NCCS Joins with Cancer Leadership Council to Outline Concerns Regarding New “Step Therapy” Plan
NCCS joined with other cancer organizations of the Cancer Leadership Council (CLC) in a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the new plan announced on August 7 that gives Medicare Advantage plans the option of applying step therapy for physician-administered and other Part B drugs. The letter outlines several concerns regarding the application of step therapy [...]
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NCCS Congratulates Nobel Prize in Medicine Winners for Cancer Immunotherapy Research
Silver Spring, MD – The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) issued the following statement after the announcement of this year’s winners for the Nobel Prize in Medicine, James P. Allison and Tasuku Honjo, whose research into the human immune system led to immunotherapy cancer drugs. “The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) congratulates Dr. James Allison and Dr. Tasuku Honjo for their breakthrough research [...]
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Health Care Roundup: NCCS on Proposed OPPS Changes; Bipartisan Proposal to End ‘Surprise Billing’; Medicaid Work Req’s; Financial Toxicity Survey; More
HEALTH CARE HIGHLIGHTS—NCCS submitted a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the proposed update to the hospital outpatient prospective payment system, known as OPPS, for calendar year 2019. In the letter, NCCS addressed the proposed “site neutral” payments, which would reduce patient cost-sharing but could have other unintended consequences for patient access. NCCS also commented on [...]
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NCCS Joins Cancer Leadership Council Recommendations to FDA Regarding the Biosimilar Action Plan
NCCS joined with other organizations of the Cancer Leadership Council (CLC) in commenting on the FDA Biosimilar Action Plan (BAP). The comment letter commended the FDA for the development of a plan that balances both innovation and competition. The letter stated that these products provide significant benefits to cancer patients, but that they also come at a significant expense to patients and the health care system. [...]