| West Virginia Oncology Society |
What's New. . . . .
| ASCO Medicare Update |
ASCO provided a wonderful update on, "Adapting to Changes in Medicare for 2010". Their updated included information
on:
•Highlights from the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System Rule
(HOPPS)
•PQRI and e-Prescribing incentive programs
•Billing, coding and coverage issues
•Recovery Audit Contractors
They also provided wonderful handouts and a PQRI tool specific for oncology. You can listen to a replay of the update by
dialing 888-203-1112, conference code #9048327.
The conference materials can be downloaded from the links below:
Adapting to Changes in 2010.pdf
CMS Consultations MM6740.pdf
PQRI Measures 2010.pdf
on:
•Highlights from the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System Rule
(HOPPS)
•PQRI and e-Prescribing incentive programs
•Billing, coding and coverage issues
•Recovery Audit Contractors
They also provided wonderful handouts and a PQRI tool specific for oncology. You can listen to a replay of the update by
dialing 888-203-1112, conference code #9048327.
The conference materials can be downloaded from the links below:
Adapting to Changes in 2010.pdf
CMS Consultations MM6740.pdf
PQRI Measures 2010.pdf
On December 29, ASCO submitted comments to CMS regarding changes to the Hospital Outpatient Prospective
Payment System (HOPPS) and calendar year (CY) 2010 payment rates.
ASCO expressed concern by the CMS finalized payment for separately payable drugs in the hospital outpatient setting at
ASP + 4 percent. ASCO believes CMS is only allocating enough overhead to maintain an inadequate payment rate that
does not cover the costs incurred by hospital to acquire and handle drugs. ASCO also is concerned about the decision to
package all the 5-HT3 antiemetic drugs. ASCO believe that patients who undergo chemotherapy should have full access
to antiemetic therapies their oncologists believe are most appropriate.
ASCO continues to support CMS's interest in establishing new quality reporting measure related to cancer and
encourages CMS to work with ASCO on developing appropriate specifications and reporting measures.
Payment System (HOPPS) and calendar year (CY) 2010 payment rates.
ASCO expressed concern by the CMS finalized payment for separately payable drugs in the hospital outpatient setting at
ASP + 4 percent. ASCO believes CMS is only allocating enough overhead to maintain an inadequate payment rate that
does not cover the costs incurred by hospital to acquire and handle drugs. ASCO also is concerned about the decision to
package all the 5-HT3 antiemetic drugs. ASCO believe that patients who undergo chemotherapy should have full access
to antiemetic therapies their oncologists believe are most appropriate.
ASCO continues to support CMS's interest in establishing new quality reporting measure related to cancer and
encourages CMS to work with ASCO on developing appropriate specifications and reporting measures.
| ASCO - QOPI Certification Opens Soon |
| ASCO Comments on HOPPS and CY 2010 Payment Rates |
The QOPI Certification application process launched on January 5, 2010. Practices that met QOPI Certification scoring
requirements in the fall of 2009 have become the first eligible to apply for certification. QOPI Certification is based on
select QOPI performance measures, and the new QOPI Certification Site Assessment which includes measures for
practice safety and quality.
Practices interested in applying must have completed all of the applicable modules and met sample size requirements.
Practices are encouraged to review the structural standards that will be assessed for the QOPI Certification Site
Assessment and implement the quality improvements necessary to meet certification requirements before applying. In
order to achieve certification, practices must demonstrate compliance with all standards.
The application process will be open until March, 24 2010. Practices will have the opportunity to apply for QOPI
Certification following each round of QOPI. The next scheduled rounds are March/April 2010 and October/November
2010.
requirements in the fall of 2009 have become the first eligible to apply for certification. QOPI Certification is based on
select QOPI performance measures, and the new QOPI Certification Site Assessment which includes measures for
practice safety and quality.
Practices interested in applying must have completed all of the applicable modules and met sample size requirements.
Practices are encouraged to review the structural standards that will be assessed for the QOPI Certification Site
Assessment and implement the quality improvements necessary to meet certification requirements before applying. In
order to achieve certification, practices must demonstrate compliance with all standards.
The application process will be open until March, 24 2010. Practices will have the opportunity to apply for QOPI
Certification following each round of QOPI. The next scheduled rounds are March/April 2010 and October/November
2010.