Tag Archive for: CMS
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 Recommends Making COVID-19 Medicare Telehealth Coverage Expansion Permanent
NCCS recently submitted a comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) regarding the Medicare physician fee schedule…
NCCS and Cancer Groups Make Recommendations to CMS Regarding Proposed 2021 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS)
NCCS joined with other cancer patient and provider groups in a comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)…
Health Care Roundup: Virtual Cancer Policy Roundtable; COVID-19 News; Coronavirus Resources for Survivors; More
NCCS Hosts First-Ever Virtual Cancer Policy Roundtable – Last week, NCCS hosted its spring Cancer Policy Roundtable event, which convened patient advocates, providers, health care experts, and government agencies to discuss pressing issues in cancer care policy. NCCS has been hosting roundtables for 20 years, but given the public health crisis we are currently facing, this was the first virtual roundtable event. We are proud to say that it was a success, [...]
NCCS Expresses Opposition to CMS Healthy Adult Opportunity Guidance Permitting Medicaid Block Grants
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) earlier today announced a guidance to state Medicaid programs that encourages states to create a block grant program for the portion of their Medicaid program expanded under the Affordable Care Act. The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) opposes the CMS action to permit Medicaid block grants because of their potential negative impact on people with cancer. NCCS issued the statement below [...]
NCCS Submits Comments to CMS on Oncology Care First Model
The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) submitted comments in response to an Informal Request for Information on the proposed Oncology Care First Model. This model was released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The comments focus on concerns regarding adequate resources in the model to support high quality cancer care. The letter also identifies shortcomings in the model that could influence [...]
Health Care Roundup: Drug Pricing Bill Advances; ACA Open Enrollment & Premium Data; Cancer Overdiagnosis; “Medicaid Haves and Have-Nots”; More
House Drug Pricing Bill Advances Out of Committee – The biggest health care news this week was the approval by the House Ways and Means Committee of H.R. 3, the Lower Drug Costs Now Act — Speaker Pelosi's drug pricing bill. The bill advanced along party lines, with opponents citing a recent report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) that said the plan would harm drug innovation and reduce the number of new drugs coming to the [...]
Health Care Roundup: Medicare Payments for CAR-T; Cancer Screenings in Older Adults; Cancer and At-Home DNA Tests; End of Life Care; More
CAR-T therapies, a cutting-edge type of immunotherapy, are seen by many as the next generation for cancer treatments. Of course, they are expensive and complicated to administer. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced long-awaited policies regarding payment for these treatments. CMS stated, “Medicare will pay for CAR-T therapies so long as they’re administered in health care facilities that follow the [...]
NCCS Concerned That Proposed ACA Rule Changes Could Raise Costs for Patients and Disrupt Treatment
NCCS and member organizations of the Cancer Leadership Council (CLC) submitted comments to the HHS in response to the agency’s Notice of Benefits and Payment Parameters for 2020. The Notice contains rules and provisions that will apply to the individual market (the Affordable Care Act marketplace), and small group health insurance markets. The letter states NCCS’ concerns about specific provisions that may threaten cancer patients’ access [...]
Health Care Roundup: Health Care Spending; Survivorship Care Delivery; Metastatic BC at NY Fashion Week; Susan Gubar on Financial Toxicity; More
This week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published new health care spending projections for the United States. Unsurprisingly, Medicare spending growth is projected to outpace that of other payers in the coming decade due to enrollment growth and higher use of services. See a breakdown of the projections here. On Wednesday, six hospital groups laid out an eight-point plan for dealing with surprise medical billing, [...]
House Votes to Intervene in ACA Lawsuit; Drug Pricing News; Colon Cancer Rates Rising in Young Adults; More
This week, the House of Representatives voted to formally intervene in Texas v. United States, the lawsuit seeking to invalidate the Affordable Care Act (ACA). With support from three Republican members, it passed by a vote of 235-192. The resolution now heads to the Senate where Republican leaders will likely not bring it up for a vote. This vote follows passage of last week’s provision authorizing the House legal counsel to defend the law. [...]