NCCS joined colleagues in the Cancer Leadership Council in commending the work of the Senate Finance Committee on the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2014.  The legislation offers a responsible process for moving the Medicare program away from a system that emphasizes volume of services to ...

In a recent article posted online via CURE Magazine, Shelley Fuld Nasso describes experiences that underscore the need for improved communication between patients and providers, as well as the evidence-base that informs NCCS' push for cancer care planning. The Institute of Medicine recently proposed a framework for quality cancer care ...

A summary and overview of the recent "Putting the Cancer Patient First" meeting was posted via Oncology Times online. The meeting was co-hosted by NCCS and the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) on February 28, 2014 and convened leaders in health care policy to discuss issues that impact cancer patients and survivors. Read the summary >> The ...

NCCS joined with 20 patient advocacy groups and professional societies to urge the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to correct a long-standing inequity in Medicare coverage by requiring Medicare Advantage plans to provide coverage for clinical trials. Currently, individuals with Medicare Advantage plans must revert to standard fee-for-service ...

NCCS joined its colleagues in the Cancer Leadership Council in urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to reconsider the new policy on classes of clinical concern that has been proposed for Medicare Part D beginning in contract year 2015. CMS has proposed removing three classes of drugs ...

In recent months, there has been significant discussion among cancer patients, their physicians and other health care providers, and cancer organizations about the adequacy of the provider networks in their insurance plans.  Cancer patients want assurances that they will receive quality care and can seek second opinions from those with ...

This week the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) joined colleagues in the Cancer Leadership Council (CLC)--a coalition that represents cancer patients, health care professionals, and researchers--in submitting comments on several standards for certification of qualified health plans as outlined in the 2015 Letter to Issuers in the Federally-facilitated Marketplace ...

Several articles published on Tuesday, February 11, reported on a study in the British Medical Journal which finds death rates from breast cancer from all causes were the same in women who got mammograms and those who did not. The articles points out that the screening also had consequential effects when mammograms detected ...

On February 8, a New York Times opinion piece published online describes a common situation where the disparities in communication and comprehension of clinical information from doctor to patient may have adverse consequences for patients.  The author, Theresa Brown is an an oncology nurse, and she points out that not only can ...

In his ASCO Connection commentary, " The Awakening of the e-Patient: Are We Prepared to Engage?" Dr. Don Dizon confirms from the provider perspective what we at NCCS know to be true: patients want to be engaged in decision-making about their care, especially for a serious diagnosis like cancer. Dr ...