Congresswoman Renee Ellmers (R-NC) bill, the Cancer Patient Protection Act of 2013 (H.R. 1416), continues to add cosponsors to stop the application of the sequester cut to cancer drugs. The bill is gaining support in the House.

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Today’s seniors are facing higher Medicare costs. Over the next five years, current law, as amended by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA, also known as Obamacare), already guarantees higher out-of-pocket costs for today’s seniors. Beyond the current law, the President’s latest budget proposal would increase seniors’ costs even more.

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Medicare is withholding more than $1 million from metro Omaha and Lincoln hospitals because too many of their patients returned to the hospitals within a month of being sent home.

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Congress again is working on a solution to solve the problem of how Medicare can continue to pay physicians without making cuts. How did we get into this position?

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The advice to detect and treat cancers at the first opportunity may not apply to older men with prostate tumors, according to the latest study.

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Congresswoman Renee Ellmers (R-NC) bill, the Cancer Patient Protection Act of 2013 (H.R. 1416), continues to add cosponsors to stop the application of the sequester cut to cancer drugs. The bill is gaining support in the House.

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Special report: Because of nationwide shortages, Washington hospitals are rationing, hoarding, and bartering critical nutrients premature babies and other patients need to survive. Doctors are reporting conditions normally seen only in developing countries, and there have been deaths. How could this be allowed to happen?

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How much will the United States spend on health care during the next decade or two? The answer matters greatly to physicians, federal and state governments, businesses, and the general public. The

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In October 2012, the University of Kentucky launched the country’s first working model for EHR reporting of cancer cases to a state’s cancer registry. The project marks a milestone in the operation of cancer registries, institutions that have been collecting and analyzing cancer-related data for nearly 100 years.

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Physicians weighing the benefits and risks of CT scans for detecting lung cancer now have more information to help with the decision. A new analysis of a 2010 U.S. study finds that low-dose CT scans pick up significantly more lung tumors than chest X-rays do.

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Mandatory sequestration cuts just started kicking in. About $85 billion will eventually be excised from the national budget. And about $10 billion of these cuts will fall on Medicare and the many seniors who depend on it.

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Among 
President Obama’s broken promises, there is this gem of June 15, 2009: “no matter how we reform health care, we will keep this promise: if you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor. Period.”

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No single reason led to the recent decision by Internal Medicine Associates to stop following their patients in the hospital beginning in July, said Dr. A. Austin Pearre Jr.

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This week, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, as the top Democrat on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, introduced legislation to address “gray market” drug companies that are taking advantage of the national drug shortage crisis to charge exorbitant prices for drugs used to treat cancer and other life-threatening conditions.

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The epic inside story of long-term criminal fraud at Ranbaxy, the Indian drug company that makes generic Lipitor for millions of Americans.

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A majority of cancer patients receive their treatment at community clinics. Today, that care is being threatened by a payment calculation in Medicare that has made it increasingly difficult for local clinics to absorb the additional cuts imposed by sequestration.

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The Physicians Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that seeks to advance the work of practicing physicians and help facilitate the delivery of healthcare to patients.

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A Medicare patient would be considered an inpatient after spending at least two midnights in the hospital if the CMS rule change is finalized.

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By almost any measure, Roseann Valletti’s reconstructive breast surgery was a success. Although it was a protracted process, involving some pain and a nightmarish nipple replacement, she is pleased with how she looks.

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The Obama administration is moving forward with a pair of major Affordable Care Act (ACA) regulations, as Republicans move

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On April 1, 2013, CMS applied the Medicare sequester cut to cancer care. All the guidance and materials you requested can be found in the Resource Center on the COA website.

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According to a recent survey, the sequestration cut to cancer care will have a devastating impact on seniors and their providers, as well as costing Medicare money.

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COA is providing a tool that will allow you to estimate the impact of the 2% Medicare sequester payment cut to drugs and services.

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All cancer drug reimbursement from Medicare and private payers based on Average Sales Price (ASP) is artificially reduced by the inclusion of manufacturer-to-distributor prompt payment discounts in the calculation of ASP. If you want to correct this problem straining the cancer delivery system, reach out to your Representatives to ask them to cosponsor House bill H.R. 800.

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The Community Oncology Alliance (COA), a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and fostering community cancer care, today announced details of their national conference that brings together all members of the cancer community: cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, nurses, oncologists, cancer center practice administrators and industry partners. The conference will be held March 22 and 23, 2013 at the Swan & Dolphin Hotels, Disney World, Orlando, Florida.

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Attachments

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Based on changes to the 2013 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, including the one-year SGR patch, COA is providing a tool to help you evaulate the impact on your practice.

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Register TODAY for the one, must-attend event for community oncology in 2013. You won't want to miss this jam-packed event, with great presentations and opportunity to network.

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Representatives Allyson Schwartz (D-PA) and Joe Heck, DO (R-NV) introduced a bill that would permanently repeal the flawed SGR formula, the basis for Medicare reimbursement. This bipartisan Medicare Physician Payment Innovation Actwould avert the 32% SGR payment cut for 2013. Click h...

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During a recent national call of the COA Administrators' Network (CAN), the issue of Medicare payment problems associated with CPT code 96367 was raised. Many practice administrators expressed concern over the rejection of submitted claims that contained more than three (3) sequentially infus...

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We have pulled together contact information for House and Senate health legislative staff to use in outreach Click here to access contact information for House health staff and click here for Senate contacts. The lists are presented by state by Representative and Senator. Please remember to...

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Alabama Arizona (House letter) (Senate letter) California (Southern; sample) Colorado(Coalition of Hematology and Oncology Practices) Colorado State Society (House letter) (Senate letter) Florida (sample; letters sent to individual Representatives and Senators) Georgia Hawaii Iowa ...

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House Ways & Means Congressmen Wally Herger (R-CA) and Dave Reichert (R-WA) release their investigative report on AARP. Click here to access.

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COA has updated its Community Oncology Practice Impact Report documenting the adverse impact due to Medicare public policy. Click here to access the report.

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Here is the COA “Must Read” list for all oncology professionals. Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer On-line articles: The Cost Conundrum(The New Yorker, 6/1/09) What You Don't Know Might Kill You; The right doctors can make all the differenc...

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Rose Gerber has been promoted to role of Director of Communications and Patient Advocacy.

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Dr. David Eagle discusses the impact of cancer care on the patient. Part 1 of a series. (Read More)

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Nancy Davenport-Ennis, CEO of the National Patient Advocacy Foundation, writes that the true targets of the Medicare sequestration cut are cancer patients. In the article she quotes statistics from the COA Practice Impact Report.

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The COA President speaks out on the consolidation of cancer care in this article from OncLive.

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COA Past President Patrick Cobb and COA Executive Director Ted Okon have been on Capitol Hill with Dr. Mark Thompson talking about how to fix the drug shortages. In this article they talk about specific solutions to the crisis.

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Cancer drug shortages are adversely impacting patient care. Dr. Frame comments on his experience and calls on Congress to fix the crisis.

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Recommended reading of an article penned by COA Board member and practicing oncologist from Utah.

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COA President David Eagle, MD discusses the future of community oncology at recent conference.

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COA Past President Dr. Patrick Cobb and Executive Director Ted Okon discuss the changing face of cancer care. ...

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We are ticking down on what may be historic elections. Although we are in the middle of a presidential term. ...

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“The problem with this high-stakes game of chicken is physicians and patients are the ones getting run over, not members of Congress,” says Dr. Cobb about the Medicare SGR debacle.

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COA President Dr. Patrick Cobb relates experiences with PQRI in oncology.

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COA President Dr. Patrick Cobb and Executive Director Ted Okon review the new law and its impact on cancer care.

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COA President Dr. Patrick Cobb quoted on major oral cancer drug study sponsored by COA. ...

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Dr. Barbara McAneny fears that she and other doctors in private practice might soon be out of business.

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The Community Oncology Alliance (COA) today criticized the newest round of cuts in cancer care as a move in the wrong direction of health care reform. Although not as devastating as expected, the cuts by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) ...

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Listen to the radio broadcast with Dr. Robert Warner on “House Calls.”

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Watch this TV interview on the problems facing community oncology practices. ...

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As disaster personnel and volunteers comb through the havoc left by the tornadoes that tore through Oklahoma on Sunday and Monday, they are going to rely on critical federal funding that was severely cut by the massive cuts known as sequestration.

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U.S. prioritizes funding for China, North Korea threats despite growing dangers from Venezuela, Iran.

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Congress’ recent action to allow the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to avoid furloughs of air traffic controllers is an indication that the fiscal sequester is starting to bite.

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While many public schools will be able to stave off some of the harshest impacts of sequestration with other sources of revenue, those that serve military families and Native American communities are in a much more difficult situation. That’s because they rely heavily on federal Impact Aid.

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The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is taking an all-or-nothing approach to handling sequestration and furloughs.

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A new poll shows a majority approving of President Obama's job performance after a week where his administration faced a tough trio of controversies.

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Democrats aiming to retake the House next year against all odds tried to reassure themselves after President Barack Obama’s week from hell: The election is still 18 months away, plenty of time for Republicans to turn today’s gift into tomorrow’s albatross.

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President Obama flatly declared Thursday he was unaware of the Internal Revenue Service's targeting of politically conservative groups.

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Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) on Wednesday pleaded with House Republicans to unify around a debt-ceiling plan, telling his conference that he did not want to have to rely on Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to help pass legislation.

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Three congressional committees are now investigating the fundraising pitches Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has made on behalf of an outside group promoting ObamaCare.

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The White House was besieged Tuesday by three controversies that threatened President Obama’s second-term agenda and his administration’s credibility.

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These are strange days in healthcare. Even the Boston Globe is starting to push back on and question the one-size fits all approach of the ACA. See the editorial from Sunday’s paper below.

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President Barack Obama genuinely believed he could buck the second-term curse of fecklessness and scandal that afflicted the last three two-term presidents, even if history — and his adversaries — suggested otherwise.

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One of the Democrats’ most veteran strategists warns that the party is “in decline” and “at considerable risk” when President Barack Obama is no longer on the scene.

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The two companies that make vaccines against cervical cancer announced Thursday that they would cut their prices to the world’s poorest countries below $5 per dose, eventually making it possible for millions of girls to be protected against a major deadly cancer.

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House Speaker John Boehner said Thursday that next week’s vote to repeal the health reform law is being held to provide new lawmakers a chance to vote on it.

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The White House would likely veto a Republican attempt to defuse the debt limit, arguing the bill is just a "default by another name."

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The 2013 debt-limit fight has begun. Powerful policymakers on both sides of the aisle are jockeying for position in what will be a defining moment for the 113th Congress.

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The sequester will take a bigger bite from the economy in the coming months as workers collect more unpaid leave and additional spending cuts are triggered, several economic experts predicted Monday.

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Dr. Emil Frei III, an oncologist whose trailblazing use of combination chemotherapy — in which anticancer drugs are administered simultaneously rather than singly — helped make certain cancers curable for the first time, died on Tuesday at his home in Oak Park, Ill. He was 89.

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