Past Announcements

January 2021

  • January 7, 2011 - Congress recently passed an end-of-year legislative package that provides federal funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 and includes numerous provisions that will directly impact patients with cancer and their entire cancer care team. Find out more

December 2020

  • December 10, 2020 - Community Oncology Alliance Applauds Supreme Court Ruling Supporting State Regulations of PBMs, Find out more

October 2020

  • October 13, 2020 - The Latest Circuit Court Ruling on 340B Program Effect on Practices, Find out more
  • October 8, 2020 - On October 2, after consultation with public health officials, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar, pursuant to the authority vested in him under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, renewed the public health emergency effective October 23, 2020.
  • October 6, 2020 - Supreme Court scrutinizes Arkansas law that regulates PBM payments to pharmacies, Find out more

September 2020

  • September 29, 2020 - Insurers Move to Stop Waiving Telehealth Copays - Find out more
  • September 18, 2020 - CMS Finalizes Radiation Oncology Model - Find out more
  • September 16, 2020 - AACR Releases Its Inaugural Cancer Disparities Report - Find out more
  • September 1, 2020 - CMS Quietly Resumes Practice Audits, Find out more
 August 2020
  • August 14, 2020 - One of the nation’s leading cancer organizations today called for new actions to reduce disparities in cancer outcomes affecting racial and ethnic minorities, rural populations, sexual and gender minorities, people without insurance, and other disadvantaged populations. In a policy statement published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO), the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) argues that while progress has been made in raising awareness of disparities and driving research, the cancer community needs to take bolder, more aggressive steps to achieve equity for all patients. More information.

June 2020

  • June 3, 2020 - Roundtable Discussion: "Oncology Operational Excellence During COVID-19," featuring oncology leaders, Find out more

April/May 2020

  • May 29, 2020 - Patient Transportation Program and Practice Referral System Tools to Assist Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Click on each link for more information.
  • May 5, 2020 - National Comprehensive Cancer Network Releases Recommendations for Standardizing Quality Measurements in Oncology, Find out more
  • April 27, 2020 - Telehealth Will Be Free, They Said, But Angry Patients are Getting Billed, Find out more

March 2020

  • March 20, 2020 - Federal Probe Into China Ties at U.S. Institutions May Affect Blameless Researchers, Find out more
  • March 20, 2020 - Trump’s Plan to Import Canadian Drugs Faces Continuing Opposition, Find out more
  • March 9, 2020 - Juul Labs Sought to Court AGs as Teen Vaping Surged, Find out more
  • March 3, 2020 - Community Oncology Files Amicus Brief with Supreme Court Supporting State Regulation of PBMs, Find out more
  • March 2, 2020 - The Association Between Drug Rebates and List Prices, Find out more

February 2020

  • Feb 25, 2020 - COA Letter on Continued Issues Faced by Veterans, Service Members, and Families With TRICARE, Find out more
  • Feb 23, 2020 - Physicians, Hospitals Meet Their New Competitor - Insurer-Owned Clinics, Find out more
  • Feb 18, 2020 - Insurance Companies Have No Place Practicing Medicine, Find out more
  • Feb 12, 2020 - Vapers Show Cancer-Associated Biological Changes Similar to Smokers, Find out more
  • Feb 11, 2020 - One in Four Cancer Survivors Can't Afford Their Medical Care - and Why, Find out more
  • Feb 4, 2020 - Oncologists Press Congress to Set 72-Hour Limit for Payers to Fill Cancer Drug Prescriptions, Find out more
  • Feb 4, 2020 - Are Commercial Payers in Denial About Denials? Find out more

January 2020

  • Jan 30, 2020 - Nutrition Tips for Chemo-Brain, Find out more
  • Jan 27, 2020 - GAO Recommends CMS, HRSA Improve 340B Duplicate Discount Oversight, Find out more
  • Jan  27, 2020 - CMS: Medicare Will Cover Genetic Diagnostics for Certain Cancers, Find out more
  • Jan. 23, 2020 - Blue Cross Insurers to Create Their Own Drug Company Amid Price Fight, Find out more
  • Jan. 15, 2020 - American Cancer Survivors Face Substantial Financial Hardship and Sacrifices, Find out more
  • Jan. 8, 2020 - US Cancer Death Rate Drops by Most on Record, Find out more

November/December 2019

  • Dec. 10, 2019 - FDA can regulate e-cigarettes just like conventional cigarettes, appeals court says, Find out more
  • Nov. 26, 2019 - Mandatory CMS Radiation Oncology Model Goes on the Back Burner, Find out more
  • Nov. 21, 2019 - Blue Cross Association Launching National Provider Network, Find out more
  • Nov. 18, 2019 - ASCO Policy Brief on CAR-T Therapy, Find out more
  • Nov. 5, 2019 - Community Needs More Time to Assess and Comment on CMMI’s Proposed Oncology Care First Model, Find out more
  • Nov. 4, 2019 - For Some Cancer Patients, Monitoring Symptoms Can Extend Their Lives, Find out more
  • Nov. 1, 2019 - American Cancer Society Announces New Video Series Created to Deliver Clinical and Emotional Support to Cancer Caregivers.  Click here for more.

 October 2019

  • Could Biosimilars Be Integrated into Alternative Payment Models?  Find out more
  • Nearly 60% of Blood Cancer Patients Covered by Medicare Delay or Forgo Treatment, Find out more
  • Report: Progress in Global Cancer Fight is Not Only Possible, but Achievable, Find out more
  • Walmart to Measure Doctor Quality in Local Markets, Find out more
  • Denial Rates and Days to Pay for Cancer Drugs: Commercial Health Plan Report Card, Click here for more.

September 2019

  • CMS to Collect 340B Drug Cost Information, Click here for more
  • Cancer Drugs Account for 27% of All New Drug Approvals in the US, Click here for more
  • Sharing Hospital Outpatient Payment Proposal Maintains 340B Cuts, Addresses Price Transparency and Prior Authorization, Click here for more.
  • CMS Proposes New Electronic Prior Authorization Process to Speed Access to Care, Find out more
  • Economic Cost of Cancer in U.S. Tops $94B Annually According to a Study, Click here for more.

 July 2019

  • Community Needs More Time to Assess and Comment on CMMI’s Proposed Oncology Care First Model, Find out more
  • Patients Need Protection From Surprise Medical Bills, Organizations Tell Congress, Find out more
  • Cancer Pain Predicted by Lower Anxiety and Depression, Higher Social Support, Find out more
  • United Health and Optum 'Uniting Care and Coverage' in New Model, Find out more
  • New Survey Seeks Provider Input on Clinical Trial Enrollment, Click here for the survey
  • Educate and Support Your Patients with ASCO Answers Materials, Order printed copies online at the ASCO Store.
  • New Technology Add-on Payment: Impact on CAR T-cell Therapy Reimbursement, Click here for more.
  • CMS Expands CAR T-cell Therapy Coverage for Medicare Beneficiaries, Read more here
  • AMA House of Delegates Adopts ASCO Resolutions on Step Therapy, Medicare Part B, Read more on ASCO in Action.
  • Two Cancer Research Organizations Submit Recommendations to FDA Aimed at Reducing Barriers to Clinical Trial Participation, Click here for more.

When a patient’s health insurance plan denies your request for prior authorization (PA) or coverage for a medication, you may submit an appeal. When submitting an appeal to a patient’s health insurance plan, including an Appeal Letter can help explain the rationale and clinical decision-making behind the choice of a specific therapy.

This guide will assist you in composing an Appeal Letter for your patients who have been prescribed a Genentech medicine. You can also access this guide, as well as any enclosures necessary for completing an Appeal Letter, in the Forms and Documents section of Genentech-Access.com.

Read More

Apply for ASCO’s Health Policy Leadership Development Program

Applications are now open for the 2019-2020 ASCO Health Policy Leadership Development Program (HP-LDP). Formerly the Health Policy Fellowship Program, the HP-LDP is a one-year program that provides an opportunity for ASCO members to develop expertise in health policy, advocacy, and grassroots activity.

The HP-LDP is open to all ASCO members in the United States who completed their final subspecialty training between 2009 and 2014.

Click here for more information.