ANCO FAX News. Vol. 12, No. 10 May 17 th, 2013

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1 ANCO FAX News Association of Northern California Oncologists Post Office Box , San Rafael, California Voice: (415) FAX: (415) Vol. 12, No. 10 May 17 th, 2013 The ANCO FAX News focuses on ANCO s core activities advocacy, clinical and professional education, and Association and membership news. While membership mailings and e- mail/fax broadcasts continue, the ANCO FAX News summarizes this information in a regular forum of important news to members. Contact the ANCO office for additional information regarding any item published in the ANCO FAX News. Find the ANCO FAX News online at In this issue: Sequestration updates National legislative update Noridian/JEMAC news ANCO 2Q2013 webcast ANCO 2013 Staff Salary Survey The ANCO FAX News is FAXed to Individual Member practices, and ed to Group, Institutional, and Corporate (contacts) Members. The next regular ANCO FAX News will be published on June 14 th (due to travel and vacation). Send your comments or contributions to ANCO, P.O. Box , San Rafael, CA ; Voice: (415) ; FAX: (415) ; execdir@anco-online.org. ANCO thanks TEVA Oncology for its generous support of the ANCO FAX News and ANCO website. Watch for changes to the ANCO FAX News and ANCO website throughout 2013! The ANCO FAX News has information for every member of your practice or organization. Pass it along! Physician Members Nurses & Office Managers Office Staff Colleagues & Representatives The Association of Northern California Oncologists (ANCO) is an association of hematologists/oncologists dedicated to promoting high professional standards of cancer care by providing a forum for the exchange of ideas, data, and knowledge. The material contained in the ANCO FAX News is intended as general information for ANCO members. Because diagnostic, treatment, contracting, coding, and billing decisions should be made on a case-by-case basis, any such information contained in the ANCO FAX News may not apply in any given situation. Members are encouraged to contact their own consultants or advisors to obtain specific advice on matters relating to contracting, coding, and billing. The information contained in the ANCO FAX News should not be used as a substitute for such advice. Page 1 of 10

2 Page 2 of 10 ANCO FAX News ( May 17 th, 2013 ADVOCACY [Editor s Note: ANCO is a member of the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) and a state/regional affiliate of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). ANCO and the Medical Oncology Association of Southern California (MOASC) are members of the California Medical Association s (CMA) Council on Legislation, House of Delegates, and specialty delegation. ANCO meets regularly with these and other organizations to discuss issues of importance to hematology/oncology practices and people living with cancer. We continually seek input from members on agenda items for these meetings. Send your issues to the ANCO office.] ACCC, ASCO, ASH, and National Legislative & Regulatory Issues Sequestration has been in effect since April 1 st and claims are starting to show its effect. An ASCO survey of oncology practices shows the automatic 2% budget cut to Medicare chemotherapy drug reimbursement under sequestration is already having a significant impact on care for people with cancer just one month after the Federal funding reduction went into effect. The results reveal that, while practices are working hard to continue providing care for Medicare patients, many are being forced to send patients to hospitals for chemotherapy and a smaller number are no longer able to see Medicare patients at all. Over time, these changes may radically alter the cancer care delivery system in the United States. More than 500 ASCO members responded to the survey. While most reported that they are still assessing the full impact of sequestration, many anticipate the need to make even more significant changes in the future. These changes range from reducing patient services and decreasing staff to turning away new Medicare patients and shuttering oncology practices. Eighty (80) percent of survey respondents said that the sequestration cuts have affected their practices with nearly 50% not being able to continue caring for Medicare patients unless they have supplemental insurance. Fifty (50) percent report sending their Medicare patients elsewhere for chemotherapy, primarily to more expensive hospital outpatient infusion centers. Seventy-four (74) percent report having difficulty paying for chemotherapy drugs. ASCO plans on resurveying its members in the coming months to monitor the effect of funding cuts over time. ACCC has compiled an Oncology Drug Reference Guide showing how sequestration is impacting drug payment rates under Medicare Part B at DrugReference.asp. Oncology continues to advocate against sequestration cuts to cancer drug reimbursement. ASCO endorses HR1416 that exempts physician-administered drugs from the across-the-board budget cuts and directs Medicare to reimburse physicians for any reduced reimbursements since the sequester took effect on April 1 st. ASCO and ANCO encourage cancer care teams and patients to reach out to their Congressional Representatives to support and/or cosponsor HR1416. In addition, S806, the Preserve Community Cancer Care Act, has been introduced that would exempt prompt pay discounts from the ASP calculation of Medicare drug reimbursement. ASCO and ANCO support this legislation and ask that you contact your Senators to support S806 as well. ASCO applauds legislation to repeal the sustainable growth rate (SGR) and reform the Medicare reimbursement system. HR574, the Medicare Physician Payment Innovation Act, averts scheduled reimbursement cuts for 2014, expands testing of new payment models, and provides options for physicians to transition to new payment models. HR1661, the Improving Cancer Treatment Education Act, would authorize reimbursement for a one-hour chemotherapy teaching session by nurses in the physician-office setting. This legislation has been introduced in previous Congresses with the primary support of the Oncology Nursing Society. ASCO is committed to finding real solutions to the current flawed Medicare payment system; however, the Independent Payment Advisory Board s (IPAB; created by the Affordable Care Act) goal of finding savings on an annual basis has the potential to undo much of the payment and delivery innovation currently taking place in health care. ASCO believes that the IPAB unfairly targets physicians for savings, the selection and appointment of candidates to the IPAB does not ensure adequate physician representation, and the Act makes it difficult for Congress to make changes to the IPAB s recommendations. For these reasons, ASCO is

3 Page 3 of 10 ANCO FAX News ( May 17 th, 2013 advocating for the repeal of the IPAB. The Sunshine Act will be the subject of a CMS National Provider Call on May 22 nd at 7AM PT. The National Physician Payment Transparency Program (Open Payments) requires manufacturers of pharmaceuticals or medical devices to publicly report payments made to physicians. Go to > Outreach and Education > MLN FFS National Provider Calls > National Provider Calls and Events ( ) for more information. It is very important for practices to start participating in PQRS, erx, and EHR activities in 2013 to avoid payment adjustments (i.e., penalties) in later years. ASCO has posted materials from its webcast entitled CMS Reporting Requirements for the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS), erx, and EHR Incentive Programs at CMSReporting. In addition, ASCO has released a 12-month overview of the 2013 CMS deadlines for Medicare reporting requirements. The requirements shift from offering incentives to providers for participating in certain reporting programs the former system to reducing reimbursements to those providers who do not participate. The greatest impact of these changes will be felt in 2015, but will be based on 2013 participation in CMS reporting programs. ASCO urges practices to pay particular attention to 2013 deadlines to avoid subsequent reimbursement reductions. Go to for more information. Also, download CMS s EHR Tip Sheet at cmsehrtipsheet.pdf. CMS s updated EHR Incentive Program FAQs are at questions.cms.gov/ faq.php?id=5005&rtopic=1979. CalHIPSO, one of the state s three Regional Extension Centers, and the Health Services Advisory Group (HSAG) have services available to specialist providers to help them with the meaningful use of EHR technology. CalHIPSO and HSAG are now offering low-cost consulting services for providers to achieve and attest to Stage 1 and Stage 2 meaningful use. Go to calhipso.org/calhipsoservices/health-services/ for more information. CMA, MOASC, and State Legislative & Regulatory Issues The California Oncology Political Action Committee (or CalCancerPAC), formed by ANCO and MOASC, supports candidates sensitive to the needs of hematologists/oncologists and people living with cancer in California. ANCO membership dues include a contribution to CalCancerPAC. CMA is fighting DHCS/MediCal provider rate reductions and recoupments by sponsoring SB640 (and its companion legislation AB900). This legislation would eliminate retroactive provider rate cuts. ANCO and MOASC are working with CMA to include amendments in this legislation that would prohibit retroactive physician administered drug reimbursement cuts as well. CMA has developed a new toolkit entitled CMA s Got You Covered: A Physician s Guide to Covered California, the State s New Health Benefit Exchange to educate physicians on the exchange and ensure that they are aware of important issues related to exchange plan contracting. The toolkit is available at Covered California, the State s health benefit exchange, has received conditional approval from the Department of Health & Human Services. The approval is contingent upon the exchange being able to meet additional deadlines by October 2013 when preenrollment begins. CMA Practice Resources (CPR) is a monthly e- mail bulletin from CMA s Center for Economic Services that is full of tips and tools to help physicians and their office staff improve practice efficiency and viability. Subscribing to CPR is free and open to anyone, but CMA membership is necessary to access the resources, toolkits, forms, and tools that are located on the membersonly CMA website. Please visit cpr to subscribe. The May edition includes: TRICARE authorizations and transitions New RAC audits Cigna s appeal process

4 Page 4 of 10 ANCO FAX News ( May 17 th, 2013 CMA s Reform Essentials provides subscribers with information on how California is working to meet various deadlines and milestones staggered throughout the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), or health reform. Visit and search for Reform Essentials. Noridian/JEMAC, Palmetto/J1MAC, DHCS/MediCal, & Private Payers Noridian Administrative Services is the Jurisdiction E (JE) Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC). Jurisdiction E includes California. Noridian is starting the transition in May with complete transition from Palmetto/J1MAC expected by September 16 th. Noridian/JEMAC has launched its website at Join Noridian for one its many JEMAC Implementation 101 workshops where important information on the JEMAC implementation will be provided and questions will be answered. Go to jurisdiction_e_workshops_are_now_ available.html for more information. Finally, Noridian s Electronic Data Interchange Support Services (EDISS) invites you to subscribe to its e- mail distribution list to receive current educational information regarding JEMAC implementation at news/index.html. Denials for add-on code in claims prior to July 1 st will have the opportunity to be appealed or resubmitted after July 1 st due to revisions by CMS to the National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) edits for add-on codes. CMS had decided to revise the primary codes for 96361, and will include codes 96360, 96365, 96374, 96409, and effective July 1 st and retroactive to April 1 st. If any claims are denied due to the current edit, providers can either appeal the claim or resubmit the claim after July 1 st. For questions, contact practice@asco.org; for more information, got to ascoaction.asco.org (May-09). Due to technical issues, implementation of the Phase 2 ordering/referring denial edits is being delayed. Information edits will continue to be sent for those claims that would have been denied had the edits been in place. In the future, Medicare will deny claims for all covered Medicare Part B, durable medical equipment, orthotics, and supplies and Part A home health agency (HHA) services when the ordering or referring provider is not enrolled in Medicare or the claim does not list the National Provider Identification (NPI) number for the ordering or referring provider. Palmetto/J1MAC s May Medicare Advisory is available at > Publications > Medicare Advisory. For the latest CMS e-news (published weekly on Wednesday) visit > Browse by Topic > General > CMS e-news. Under the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid providers who are Board certified in Family Medicine, Pediatrics, or Internal Medicine (including hematology/oncology) and whose services are at least 60% E/M are eligible to receive Medicare rates (versus Medicaid rates) for services to Medicaid beneficiaries. For more information, please visit State-Resource-Center/Frequently-Asked- Questions/Downloads/Q-and-A-on-Increased- Medicaid-Payments-for-PCPs.pdf. DHCS/MediCal has announced that it will not be able to implement the increased E/M reimbursement rates until the Summer of 2013 but that regardless of when it is implemented, the increases will be retroactive to January 1 st, DHCS/MediCal has informed ANCO that physician administered drugs (PADs) will be reimbursed as follows: 1. If CMS publishes a Medicare rate for a drug, then DHCS/MediCal will implement that rate for that quarter (at 100% of the Medicare allowable). 2. If CMS does not publish a Medicare rate for a drug, then DHCS/MediCal will default to the pharmacy rate (i.e., AWP - 17%). 3. For MediCal-only beneficiaries, DHCS/MediCal will reimburse for PADs at the full Medicare allowable. 4. For dual eligibles (i.e., Medi-Medi beneficiaries), Medicare will pay 80% of

5 Page 5 of 10 ANCO FAX News ( May 17 th, 2013 the allowable and DHCS/MediCal will pay the difference between what Medicare paid (i.e., 80% of the allowable) and the maximum DHCS/MediCal rate. ANCO and CMA continue to attempt to clarify DHCS/MediCal s intention to retroactively implement Medicare-based pricing to September 1 st, DHCS/MediCal has informed stakeholders that it intends to implement retroactive Medicare-based drug reimbursement to September 1 st, 2011 and recoup all overpayments. They did not announce a start date for these recoupments nor the time frame over which the recoupments would be made. ANCO, MOASC, and other stakeholders participated in a meeting with DHCS/MediCal to discuss proposed recoupment of reimbursements for physician-administered rugs. All stakeholders protested the proposed recoupment as unfair given that providers were not notified of the effective date of the change in physician administered drug reimbursement methodology until June DHCS/MediCal officials said they had no flexibility on the matter but that they could extend the recoupment period over multiple years. ANCO DHCS/MediCal providers should contact their State representatives to make them aware of DHCS/MediCal s plans to recoup physician administered drug reimbursements retroactively to September 1 st, In the meantime, ANCO, MOASC, and other stakeholders continue to explore legislative and legal options to stop these unfair recoupments. ANCO has written to DHCS/MediCal to demand an explanation as to why their current drug pricing does not reflect current Medicare drug reimbursement allowables as specified in the State Plan Amendment effective September 1 st, 2011 and implemented October 1 st, Current DHCS/MediCal drug pricing reflects 4Q2012 Medicare drug reimbursement allowables, effectively two quarters behind current Medicare drug reimbursement. DHCS/MediCal replied that it will update their drug reimbursement rates after due diligence and, if behind, would issue erroneous payment corrections in due course. With regard to physician services, State budgets have included a 10% fee schedule reduction for several years and these have been successfully challenged in court by the CMA. (Governor Brown s proposed FY budget includes an additional 10% MediCal provider rate reduction.) However, a recent 9 th Circuit Court decision lifted lower court injunctions stopping these cuts and authorizing recoupment of overpayments retroactive to June 1 st, Several state-wide organizations have appealed the Circuit Court decision and the injunction will remain in place until the outcome of that appeal. In addition, several organizations and state hospital associations have filed amicus briefs opposing the cut arguing that the cut could reduce access to care and that court decisions on the issue could have implications for other states. The Obama administration also filed an amicus brief to support a state s discretion to reduce Medicaid reimbursement rates and urging the Court to uphold California s 10% cuts. The Court s decision is expected sometime this Spring. EDUCATION [Editor s Note: ANCO organizes clinical and professional education meetings throughout the year and throughout Northern California.] 2Q2013 Professional Education Webcast ANCO will host a professional education webcast on Tuesday, May 21 st at 12:30PM. This webcast will introduce Noridian Administrative Services (the new Medicare JEMAC) and review CMS Incentive Program timelines and reporting requirements. ANCO appreciates the support of Celgene and TEVA Oncology for this webcast. The webcast announcement was mailed the week of the week of April 22 nd and is available online at ASCO Annual Meeting Registration and housing is open for the 2013 ASCO Annual Meeting, May 31 st -June 4 th at McCormick Place in Chicago. Reserve your room and register at chicago2013.asco.org. ASCO will host a payment reform town hall meeting on June 2 nd at 11:30AM in Room S404. And, be sure to visit ANCO at the State Oncology Society booth in the exhibit hall.

6 Page 6 of 10 ANCO FAX News ( May 17 th, 2013 ASCO s Best of ASCO ASCO s Best of ASCO takes place in Los Angeles on August th. Visit boa.asco.org for more information. ANCO s ASCO Highlights 2013 ANCO s ASCO Highlights 2013 will take place on August 24 th at The Claremont Resort in Oakland. Watch for an announcement in June. Additional Education Meetings Other meetings of possible interest to ANCO member practices are: May 22 nd I Can t Remember to Take My Pills on Time: Help! A Practical Guide to Follow (Part III of Going the Distance: Thriving and Surviving with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia) May 23 rd Update on Glioblastoma May 24 th Advances in the Treatment of Metastatic Prostate Cancer (Part II of Living with Prostate Cancer) May th Joint International Oncology Congress (5 th Symposium on Cancer Metastasis & the Lymphovascular System and the 8 th International Sentinel Node Society Congress) San Francisco ( May 28 th Progress in the Treatment of Follicular Lymphoma May 29 th Medical Update on Pancreatic Cancer May 30 th Progress in the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma May 31 st Managing Cancer Pain: What You Need to Know May 31 st -June 2 nd 16 th Annual California Health Care Leadership Academy California Medical Association Las Vegas ( June 3 rd Progress in the Treatment of Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) June 10 th Advances in the Treatment of Ovarian Cancer June 10 th Understanding Clinical Trials: What s New June 11 th For Caregivers: Coping with a Loved One s Metastatic Prostate Cancer (Part III of Living with Prostate Cancer) June 12 th Gastric Cancer: Current Perspectives and Treatment Options June 13 th Highlights of the 2013 ASCO Annual Meeting (Part I of Your Guide to the Latest Cancer Research and Treatments) June 14 th Emerging Treatments for Metastatic Melanoma (Part II of Living with Metastatic Skin Cancer)

7 Page 7 of 10 ANCO FAX News ( May 17 th, 2013 June 17 th Cancer and the Workplace June 18 th Highlights of the 2013 ASCO Annual Meeting (Part II of Your Guide to the Latest Cancer Research and Treatments) June 19 th When Your Loved One Has CML: How Caregivers Can Help Improve Adherence (Part IV of Going the Distance: Thriving and Surviving with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia) June 19 th Updates in the Treatment of HER2 Positive Breast Cancer (Part I of Living with Breast Cancer: Treatment Updates) Please contact the ANCO office for more information about these meetings. through resource management and cost reductions. Currently, the MPN drug distribution partner is Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions, and through the negotiated contract, members receive the following benefits: 8% upfront discount on generics Flexible payment terms Price matching Quarterly rebates To participate in MPN, MOASC membership is required. Both MOASC and ANCO recognized the opportunity for significant savings and have negotiated a discounted membership rate for ANCO practices to join MOASC. The ANCO member rate to participate and receive all these benefits is $200 per practice. MPN is interested in discussing these contract benefits with you. Contact MPN Membership Services Manager Nikki Kaminski at nkaminski@moascpurchasing.com or (248) or to obtain more information, schedule an appointment, or arrange an analysis of pharmaceutical costs for your individual practice and eventually transition your purchasing power to MPN and Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions. ASSOCIATION & MEMBERSHIP NEWS, RESOURCES,& BENEFITS Benefits As a member of ANCO you have access to participate in the MOASC Purchasing Network (MPN). MPN is a California nonprofit mutual benefit corporation, formed by the Medical Oncology Association of Southern California (MOASC) that functions as a group purchasing organization to help MOASC members manage the largest expense (drugs) in their oncology practices. The MPN mission is to negotiate prices and arrange for the purchases of oncology drugs, as well as supplies and equipment directly from manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and wholesalers for the benefit of the member practices of MOASC. Members share fully in the group purchasing organization s bottom line performance and receive significant discounts Board of Directors The ANCO Board of Directors meets by teleconference and occasionally in person to discuss issues affecting the Association, clinical and professional education, and ways to better serve the membership. Board teleconferences/meetings are open to individual physician members. The next regularly scheduled ANCO Board of Directors teleconference will take place on June 19 th. Please call José Luis González, ANCO Executive Director, at (415) if you wish to participate in a future teleconference/meeting. Individual Member News The ASCO Nominating Committee would like to make ANCO members aware of the nomination process for the 2014 ASCO Election. Nominations for ASCO offices (President-Elect, Board, Nominating Committee) will be accepted from May 7 th until June 6 th.

8 Page 8 of 10 ANCO FAX News ( May 17 th, 2013 Please direct questions to ascoelection@asco.org or call (571) An updated Directory of Members is available online at as a.pdf document. We urge all ANCO members to download their own edition of The ANCO Directory of Members. The online edition is regularly updated. Please verify your Directory entry and contact the ANCO office at execdir@anco-online.org with any corrections, additions, and/or deletions. Group Member News ANCO initiated a Group Membership in 2008 based on a mutual set of perceived values and benefits and a mutual set of interests. The ANCO Board believes that the Association and The Permanente Medical Group (TPMG) will each receive value from Group Membership. ANCO thanks The Permanente Medical Group for joining ANCO. ANCO initiated a Multi Site Group Membership in 2010 to encourage all physicians (medical and radiation oncologists) from multisite and multidisciplinary practices to join. ANCO thanks California Cancer Care, Diablo Valley Oncology & Hematology Medical Group, EastBay Partners in Cancer Care, Pacific Cancer Care, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Redwood Regional Oncology Center, and Valley Medical Oncology Consultants for their multi site group memberships. Institutional Member News ANCO initiated an Institutional Membership in Department(s) of Hematology and/or Oncology of accredited, degree granting teaching universities or research institutions are eligible for institutional membership. ANCO thanks the following Institutional Members for their support: Stanford Cancer Center University of California, Davis, Cancer Center University of California, San Francisco Corporate Member News ANCO thanks the following Corporate Members for their generous support that enables ANCO to provide services to the hematology/oncology community in Northern California, and to provide its members and their patients with substantial benefits in the areas of advocacy, education, and information dissemination: Agendia AMGEN AMAG Pharmaceuticals ARIAD Pharmaceuticals Astellas Oncology AstraZeneca Baxter BioScience Bayer Healthcare/Onyx Pharmaceuticals Biodesix Bristol-Myers Squibb Oncology Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions Celgene Daiichi Sankyo Dendreon Eisai eviti Genentech BioOncology Genomic Health GlaxoSmithKline Oncology Incyte Innovatix Janssen Biotech Lash Group Healthcare Consultants Lilly Oncology McKesson Specialty Health Medivation Merck Millennium Novartis Oncology Oncology Supply/ION Onyx Pharmaceuticals Pfizer Oncology ProStrakan Sanofi Oncology Seattle Genetics Spectrum Pharmaceuticals TEVA Oncology We especially wish to thank and welcome Daiichi Sankyo and eviti as new Corporate Members for Please visit assistance.html for Corporate Member drug reimbursement and patient assistance program information. Astellas Oncology informs ANCO that the United States Food and Drug Administration has approved Tarceva for the first-line treatment of metastatic non-small lung cancer (NSCLC) patients whose tumors have epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 19 deletions or exon 21 (L858R) substitution mutations. This indication for Tarceva is being approved concurrently with the cobas EGFR Mutation Test, a companion diagnostic test for patient selection. Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals informs ANCO that the United States Food and Drug Administration has approved Xofigo for the treatment of patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer, symptomatic bone metastases

9 Page 9 of 10 ANCO FAX News ( May 17 th, 2013 and no known visceral metastatic disease. Xofigo is an alpha-particle emitting radiotherapeutic drug which mimics calcium and forms complexes with hydroxyapatite at areas of increased bone turnover, such as bone metastases. eviti Advisor is a complimentary, real-time source for all evidence-based cancer treatment options and clinical trials to help physicians make the most informed treatment decisions for their patients. You can compare treatment options side-by-side based on efficacy, toxicity, and cost. The web-based system includes 1,500+ evidence-based treatment regimens; all modalities for 120+ cancer types; 10,000+ clinical trials; and, expected survival rates, treatment costs, and toxicities for all regimens. The regimen knowledge base is comprised of medical and radiation treatment options from all major published peer-reviewed literature; oncology associations such as ASCO, ASH, ASTRO, and NCCN; and, government agencies such as FDA, NCI, and others; and is maintained by a full-time team of oncology and clinical informatics professionals and a medical advisory board of nationally recognized oncology experts. For assistance with eviti Advisor, contact eviti support at (888) or evitisupport@eviti.com. Learn more at Genomic Health informs ANCO that effective May 8 th Palmetto/J1MAC, the designated national contractor for OncotypeDX, has expanded its coverage policy for all qualified Medicare patients to include patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Read more at investor.genomichealth.com/releasedetail.cfm? releaseid= Onyx Pharmaceuticals wants to ensure that all ANCO members are aware of the narrative requirements for claims of Kyprolis. The appropriate ICD-9-CM codes for Kyprolis (J9999) are and and narrative fields in electronic and paper claims must state the name of the drug, its NDC number, and dose administered, and the names of the two drugs given prior to using Kyprolis and state Patient shows disease progression. For more information, go to > Browse by Topic > Drugs & Biologicals (01/23/2013). Clinical Trial News One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC), a coalition of public interest groups representing millions of cancer researchers, physicians, patients, and survivors, sent a letter to the House and Senate Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittees advocating for NIH funding. OVAC argued that the current cuts to existing cancer research and prevention programs risk losing the progress made during the past few years and could cause lasting harm to cancer patients and their families. For more information, visit ascoaction.asco.org (May-07). Stanford brings the following clinical trials to the attention of the ANCO membership: A Phase I Pharmacokinetic and Randomized Phase II Trial of Neoadjuvant Treatment with Anastrozole plus AZD0530 in Postmenopausal patients with Hormone Receptor Positive Breast Cancer [NCT ]. Contact: Naheed Mangi, (650) ; mangi@stanford.edu A Phase III Open-Label, Randomized, Multicenter Study of NKTR-102 versus Treatment of Physician s Choice in Patients with Locally Recurrent or Metastatic Breast Cancer Previously Treated with an Anthracycline, a Taxane, and Capecitabine [NCT ]. Contact: Naheed Mangi, (650) ; mangi@stanford.edu VELVET Study: A Two-cohort, Open-label, Multicenter Phase II Trial Assessing the Efficiency and Safety of Pertuzumab Given in Combination with Trastuzumab and Vinorelbine in First Line Patients with HER2-positive Advanced (Metatstatic or Locally Advanced) Breast Cancer [NCT ]. Contact: Naheed Mangi, (650) ; mangi@stanford.edu Further information is available at cancer.stanford.edu/trials/. UC San Francisco brings the following GI oncology clinical trials to the attention of the ANCO membership: A Phase 1/1b Dose-Escalation Trial of the Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor Dinacicib in Combination with Weekly Paclitaxel in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumor Malignancies and Assessment of MYC Oncogene Overexpression; Paclitaxel MUST be indicated for tumor type (CC#12951). Contact: Saloni Mathur, (415) , mathurs@cc.ucsf.edu A Phase 1 Study of LY in Patients with Advanced Cancer: Open to patients with HCC,

10 Page 10 of 10 ANCO FAX News ( May 17 th, 2013 requires high c-met expression (CC#109910). Contact: Alex Peck, (415) , Prospective Randomized Phase II Trial of Pazopanib (NSC#737754, IND#75648) Versus Placebo in Patients with Progressive Carcinoid Tumors (Alliance#A021202). Contact: Ryan Courtin, (415) , A Randomized Three Arm Phase II Study of (1) Everolimus, (2) Estrogen Deprivation Therapy (EDT) with Leuprolide + Letrozole, and (3) Everolimus + EDT in Patients with Unresectable Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma (FLL- HCC) (CC#12454). Contact: Regina Linetskaya, (415) , rlinetskaya@medicine.ucsf.edu Further information is available at cancer.ucsf.edu. To subscribe to a monthly listing of all UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center open for accrual clinical trials, please your name and address to UCSFClinicalTrialsList@ucsfmedctr.org. Publications, Resources, Services, & Surveys ANCO s 2013 staff salary survey was mailed to all ANCO community-based practices during the week of April 29 th. Completed surveys (one per practice) should be returned to the ANCO office no later than August 31 st. Visit to download, complete, and return the survey instrument today! ASCO s Curricula for Advanced Practice Providers offers specially selected educational courses from ASCO University to help orient physician assistants and nurse practitioners into oncology practice. For more information, visit university.asco.org/app. ACCC s 2013 Patient Assistance and Reimbursement Guide helps community cancer centers meet the ongoing challenge of ensuring access to care for all patients with cancer. Expanded and updated, the Guide features a quick reference guide by drug name with links directly to the drug manufacturers, a list of pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical patient assistance programs, a patient assistance program flow chart, directions on how to apply and links to enrollment forms, and an in-depth look at the value of financial counselors. Visit PatientAssistanceGuide.asp to access this resource. In addition, NCCN s Reimbursement Resource Room, where you can select a cancer diagnosis or supportive care indication and learn about reimbursement help and services available to you, is available at default.asp The Community Oncology Alliance s (COA) Administrators Network (CAN) website is available at can.communityoncology.org/#. Bobbi Buell is the CAN Web Mistress. The site includes a variety of presentations, tools, resources, and copies of her newsletter. NCCN has updated their Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology and/or Drugs & Biologics Compendium for testicular cancer. Want NCCN Compendium and NCCN Guidelines updates as they happen? Subscribe to NCCN Flash Updates to have changes delivered straight to your inbox. NCCN Flash Updates provide immediate notification of changes and updates to published NCCN Drugs & Biologics Compendium chapters and NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. Subscribers receive an as soon as updates or changes occur. Visit business_insights/flash_updates/default.asp to learn more about NCCN Flash Updates. The NCCN Biomarkers Compendium is now available at biomarkers/default.asp. This Compendium contains information designed to support decision-making about the appropriate use of biomarker testing in patients with cancer. Individual Membership Dues for 2013 Final notices of membership renewal were mailed in early May. If you have not yet done so, then please return your 2013 membership dues to ANCO now to ensure your inclusion in The ANCO Directory of Members. Be sure to provide ANCO with your address and the name(s) and address(es) of office and/or nurse manager contact(s). Those not renewing their membership by July 1 st will be deleted from the Directory of Members, and will no longer be eligible for any ANCO benefits. Contact the ANCO office if you did not receive or misplaced your membership dues renewal notice.