
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 [...]

NCCS Letter to CMS Highlights Concerns About Proposed Medicare Part B Reforms
On December 31st, NCCS submitted our final comment letter of the year to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding the advance notice of proposed rulemaking for the Medicare Part B drug program.
In the letter, we outlined concerns that this proposal could have on Medicare beneficiaries such as impacts on patient access to innovative therapies, as well as concerns regarding the enormous scope of the test. NCCS suggested [...]

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 [...]

NCCS Submits Recommendations to CMS Regarding Proposed Changes to Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS)
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 outlines support for a change in payment for clinical services that are provided at off-campus provider-based departments that will reduce cost-sharing for patients for clinic visits. Additionally, CMS included a “request for information” [...]

NCCS Raises Concerns Over Impact on Patients of Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Revisions
NCCS submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the Medicare physician fee schedule revisions proposed for calendar year 2019 and proposed revisions in the Quality Payment Program. In our comments, NCCS addressed proposed changes to evaluation and management services, which are provided in the office or outpatient setting and are a critical element of cancer care. CMS proposed creating a [...]

NCCS Applauds Resolution to Block Short-Term Insurance Plans, Protect Those with Pre-Existing Conditions
Washington, DC – NCCS applauds the efforts of Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and 30 of her colleagues to advance a resolution blocking the final rule permitting expansion of short-term plans. The final rule extending the availability of short-term plans will put more Americans at risk of purchasing junk insurance plans and will also undermine the individual insurance markets on which many people with cancer rely. “NCCS considers these new short-term plans a serious threat,” [...]

NCCS Statement on HHS Final Rule for Short-Term, Limited Duration Health Plans
The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) issued the following statement regarding the Trump administration’s announcement of the final rule on short-term, limited-duration health insurance plans: “NCCS is deeply concerned that the Administration’s new rule on short-term, limited-duration plans, called ‘junk insurance’ by health insurance experts, will harm cancer patients and survivors by providing inadequate coverage for cancer care [...]

NCCS Joins Cancer Leadership Council Comment Letter Regarding the Drug Pricing Blueprint “American Patients First”
The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) joined with other organizations of the Cancer Leadership Council (CLC) to…

NCCS Letter to HHS Highlights “Deep Reservations” Concerning Massachusetts 1115 Waiver
The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) sent a letter to Eric Hargan, Acting Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to express “deep reservations” regarding the proposal by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to amend its Section 1115 waiver. In the letter, NCCS states: Many cancer patients have been assured access to care through MassHealth, the state’s Medicaid program. We are concerned [...]