ANCO FAX News. Vol. 17, No. 14 August 10 th, The ANCO FAX News has information for every member of your practice or organization. Pass it along!

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1 ANCO FAX News Association of Northern California Oncologists Post Office Box , San Rafael, California Voice: (415) FAX: (415) Vol. 17, No. 14 August 10 th, 2018 The ANCO FAX News focuses on ANCO s core activities advocacy, clinical and professional education, and Association and membership news. While membership mailings and /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: Draft Revised USP797 Released ANCO s ASCO Highlights 2018 ANCO s 3Q2018 Heme Malig Update 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 August 24 th. Send your comments or contributions to ANCO, P.O. Box , San Rafael, CA ; Voice: (415) ; FAX: (415) ; execdir@ancoonline.org. 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 9

2 Page 2 of 9 ANCO FAX News ( August 10 th, 2018 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, COA, and National Legislative & Regulatory Issues ASCO strongly opposes CMS s decision to allow Medicare Advantage plans to employ step therapy across physician-administered and selfadministered drugs under Medicare Part B and Part D. ASCO s opposition comes in response to CMS s announcement that it will allow Medicare Advantage plans to employ step therapy policies that would require patients to try and fail lower cost medications before they could access more expensive medications originally prescribed by their health care provider. In a new ASCO in Action Podcast, ASCO discusses CMS s proposed changes to the CY2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. ASCO outlines the significant Part B reimbursement cuts proposed by CMS that could harm Medicare beneficiaries who have cancer. Listen to the full discussion at in-action/asco-ceo-addresses-concerns medicare-physician-fee-schedule-and. Included in CMS s proposed changes are a single payment rate for Level 2-5 office visits. Also included in the changes is a proposal to reimburse new drugs and drugs that do not have a reported ASP at WAC+3%. Read ASCO s focused summary at ASCOSummary2019MPFS.pdf; read ACCC s initial take at read Bobbi Buell s analysis at BBMPFS2019.pdf; read the CMA/AMA summaries of the proposed rule at ArticleId/27802/CMA-AMA-responding-toproposed-Medicare-payment-rule; and, read the CMS fact sheet at MediaReleaseDatabase/Fact-sheets/2018-Factsheets-items/ html. CMS has announced that participants in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) for 2017 can review their MIPS final score and performance feedback on the Quality Payment Program website (qpp.cms.gov). The payment adjustment received in 2019 is based on this final score. A positive, negative, or neutral payment adjustment will be applied to the Medicare paid amount for covered professional services furnished under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule in MIPS eligible clinicians or groups, including those who are subject to the APM scoring standard, may request for CMS to review their performance feedback and final score through a process called targeted review. If you believe an error has been made in your MIPS payment adjustment calculation, you can request a targeted review until September 30 th. ASCO and the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) have a joint platform for quality reporting, making it easier for oncologists to comply with Federal government reporting requirements for The QOPI Reporting Registry, a Qualified Clinical Data Registry (QCDR), makes it possible for any practice with at least one active ASCO or ASTRO member to report their quality performance data either electronically or manually, based on their preference. Sign up for electronic reporting by October 1 st. Learn more at practice.asco.org/ quality-improvement/quality-programs/qopireporting-registry. Revisions to USP797 were recently released and are open for public comment through November 30 th. USP is aligning the timing and content of USP797 and USP800 to provide a unified approach to quality compounding. ASCO will

3 Page 3 of 9 ANCO FAX News ( August 10 th, 2018 review and comment on the new draft of USP797. Read the revised USP797 at comment at usp.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/ form/sv_3ddhnn2zvcyh5yj. CMA, MOASC, and State Legislative & Regulatory Issues The Cancer Prevention Institute of California (CPIC) disbanded at the end of July. CPIC was a public health organization focused on informing the public about the risk factors of cancer, reporting on the rates of cancer incidence and mortality, and examining disparities in cancer. The organization was primarily funded through public grants. Over the past several years, CPIC had been confronted with a dwindling Federal funding environment that presented an insurmountable hurdle in fulfilling its mission. Several of CPIC s research programs will continue at UC San Francisco through the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics that will also assume management of the Greater Bay Area Cancer Registry (GBACR). In addition, UC San Francisco will continue to host the Annual CPIC Breast Cancer Conference for cancer patients and survivors. The California Department of Justice (DOJ) has certified that as of April 2 nd, the Controlled Substance Review Utilization and Evaluation System (CURES), California s prescription drug monitoring database, is ready for statewide use. The certification starts a six-month implementation period for the duty to consult requirements enacted by the Legislature in SB482. Physicians will need to consult CURES prior to writing specified prescriptions as of October 2 nd. Learn more and access CMA s CURES resources at CMA will host a webinar entitled CURES-Preparing for the New Duty to Consult Requirements on August 22 nd at 12:15PM. Learn more and register at 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 members-only CMA website. Please visit to subscribe. The July 2018 edition includes: Noridian/JEMAC, DHCS/MediCal, & Private Payers Noridian Administrative Services is the Jurisdiction E (JE) Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC). Jurisdiction E includes California. Regularly review postings at the Noridian/JEMAC website at med.noridianmedicare.com/web/jeb. Recent updates include: MLN Connects Provider enews Announcements CMS Empowers Patients and Ensures Site-Neutral Payment in Proposed Rule; New Medicare Card: Using Your MAC s MBI Look-Up Tool; E/M Coding Reform: Recording of Panel Discussion; Hospice Quality Reporting Program Quick Reference Guide; Changes to Empower Patients and Reduce Administrative Burden; SNF FY2019 Payment and Policy Changes; Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Program Billing Requirements FAQs; Help Your Medicare Patients Avoid and Report Scams; Quality Payment Program Exception Applications Due By December 31; Quality Payment Program: 2017 MIPS Performance Feedback and Payment Adjustment; Quality Payment Program Performance Feedback and Targeted Review Videos; Reporting Changes in Ownership

4 Page 4 of 9 ANCO FAX News ( August 10 th, 2018 Events Sharing Federal Strategies to Address the Opioid Epidemic Open Door Forum-August 15; Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule: Understanding 3 Key Topics Listening Session-August 22 Publications New Waived Tests MLN Matters Article-New; HCPCS Codes Used for SNF CB Enforcement: Annual Update MLN Matters Article-New; Changes to the Laboratory NCD Edit Software: October 2018 MLN Matters Article-New; Provider Minute Video: Physician Orders/Intent to Order Laboratory Services and Other Diagnostic Services-New; PECOS Technical Assistance Contact Information Fact Sheet-Reminder; Medicare Enrollment Resources Educational Tool-Reminder; Implementing Epoetin Alfa Biosimilar, Retacrit for ESRD/AKI Claims MLN Matters Article-New; ASP Medicare Part B Drug Pricing Files and Revisions: October 2018 MLN Matters Article- New; Quality Payment Program Year 2 Overview Web-Based Training Course- Revised; Quality Payment Program: MIPS Promoting Interoperability Performance Category Year 2 Web-Based Training Course-Revised; Safeguard Your Identity and Privacy Using PECOS Booklet-Reminder; PECOS FAQs Booklet-Reminder EDISS to End Support of Modem Technology-October 1, 2018 MolDX Molecular Test Registration and Claims Submission-R5 Molecular Diagnostic Program (MolDX) Manual-Revised August Educational Events-Register Now Send Us A Message on the Noridian Medicare Portal Noridian Medicare Portal (NMP) Offers Expanded Denial Details Medicare B News JE July 2018 Bulletin-Now Available Provider Enrollment Requirements for Writing Prescriptions for Medicare Part D Drugs-Rescinded SE1434 ASP Medicare Part B Drug Pricing Files and Revisions to Prior Quarterly Pricing Files-October 2018 CR10899 Forthcoming Noridian/JEMAC meetings/webinars/workshops include: Recovery Auditor (RAC) Program Webinar (September 19) Visit med.noridianmedicare.com/web/ jeb/education/training-events for more information and to register. EDUCATION [Editor s Note: ANCO organizes clinical and professional education meetings throughout the year and throughout Northern California.] ANCO s ASCO Highlights 2018 ANCO s ASCO Highlights will take place on August 25 th at The Claremont Resort in Oakland. Download the meeting announcement and registration form at ASCOHL2018.pdf. ANCO s 2018 Hematologic Malignancies Updates ANCO is organizing a series of Hematologic Malignancies Updates in These updates are supported by AMGEN, Janssen Oncology, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Novartis Oncology, and Seattle Genetics. The next Update is scheduled for September 15 th in Palo Alto. Download the meeting announcement/registration form at 3Q2018HemeMaligUpdate.pdf.

5 Page 5 of 9 ANCO FAX News ( August 10 th, 2018 SAVE THE DATE ANCO s 2018 Professional Education Meeting ANCO will host its 2018 professional education meeting on September 19 th at The Claremont Resort. The agenda included will focus on the oncology care model. Watch for a meeting announcement in early August. SAVE THE DATE 19 th Multidisciplinary Management of Cancers: A Case-based Approach The 18 th Multidisciplinary Management of Cancers: A Case-based Approach returns to the Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa on March th. The meeting is sponsored by the Association of Northern California Oncologists, Stanford Cancer Institute, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. Watch for the meeting announcement and registration form in November. Additional Education Meetings August 23 rd Highlights from the 2018 ASCO Annual Meeting: (Part I of Your Guide to the Latest Cancer Research and Treatment) CancerCare Connect Education Workshop ( August 28 th Highlights from the 2018 ASCO Annual Meeting: (Part II of Your Guide to the Latest Cancer Research and Treatment) CancerCare Connect Education Workshop ( September 7-8 th ASH Meeting on Hematologic Malignancies ASH Chicago ( September 13 th The Emerging Role of Immunotherapy in the Treatment of Lymphoma CancerCare Connect Education Workshop ( September th Advocacy Summit ASCO Washington, D.C. ( September 26 th The Benefits of Clinical Trials for Triple Negative Breast Cancer CancerCare Connect Education Workshop ( September 27 th Oncology Practice Conference: The Business of Cancer Care ASCO Phoenix ( September th Quality Care Symposium ASCO Phoenix ( November 17 th Best of World Conference on Lung Cancer International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer San Francisco ( complimentary registration for ANCO members when you register for an Early Bird ANCO Member ticket) Please contact the ANCO office for more information about these meetings. ASSOCIATION & MEMBERSHIP NEWS, RESOURCES, & BENEFITS [Editor s Note: All ANCO members are also eligible for several tangible benefits.] Board of Directors The ANCO Board of Directors meets by teleconference and occasionally in person to

6 Page 6 of 9 ANCO FAX News ( August 10 th, 2018 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 meeting is scheduled for August 25 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 Conquer Cancer Foundation (CCF) of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is now accepting applications for the 2019 Young Investigator Award (YIA). The Association of Northern California Oncologists (ANCO) is funding one 2019 YIA for a qualified northern California applicant, and urges all eligible northern California physicians to apply. The YIA is a one-year, $50,000 grant that provides research funding to promising physicians to support their transition from final years of training to faculty appointment and to encourage and promote quality research in clinical oncology. YIA applications are now being accepted and are due by 11:50PM ET on September 25 th. Eligibility criteria, award details, and the request for proposals are available on the CCF website ( For questions about the YIA or assistance with your application, please grants@conquer.org. And, read Applying for a Conquer Cancer Research Grant: Tips From Past YIA and CDA Recipients at connection.asco.org/tec/grants-awards/researchgrant-tips-past-yia-and-cda-recipients. In addition, ASCO is accepting applications for Career Development Aswards (CDAs) that provide research funding to clinical investigators who have received their initial faculty appointment as they work to establish an independent clincal cancer research program. Applications for CDAs are also due by September 25 th at ASCO is looking for tomorrow s leaders today and ANCO encourages members to apply for the year-long ASCO Leadership Development Program. Participants will gain extensive exposure to the roles and mission of ASCO, its leadership, and the Society s powerful place in developing the future of cancer care. Applicants must be ASCO members who have completed their final subspecialty training between 2000 and Learn more and apply at A current 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. 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 initiated a Multi Site Group Membership in 2010 to encourage all physicians (medical and radiation oncologists) from multi-site and multidisciplinary practices to join. ANCO thanks Annadel Medical Group/St Joseph s Heritage Healthcare, Diablo Valley Oncology & Hematology Medical Group, EPIC Care, Marin Cancer Care, Pacific Cancer Care, and Palo Alto Medical Foundation 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

7 Page 7 of 9 ANCO FAX News ( August 10 th, 2018 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: AbbVie Agios Pharmaceuticals Alexion Pharmaceuticals AMGEN AMAG Pharmaceuticals Array BioPharma Astellas Oncology AstraZeneca Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Bristol-Myers Squibb Oncology Celgene Clovis Oncology Daiichi Sankyo Eisai EMD Serono Exelixis Foundation Medicine Genentech BioOncology Genomic Health Gilead Sciences Guardant Health Helsinn Oncology Heron Therapeutics Incyte Janssen Oncology Jazz Pharmaceuticals Kite Pharmaceuticals Lexicon Pharmaceuticals Lilly Oncology Merck Novartis Oncology Pfizer Oncology Pfizer US Biosimilars Pharmacyclics Puma Biotechnology Sandoz Biopharmaceuticals Sanofi Genzyme Seattle Genetics Taiho Oncology Takeda Oncology TerSera Therapeutics Tesaro Teva Oncology We especially wish to thank and welcome AMAG Pharmaceuticals and Lexicon Pharmaceuticals as new Corporate Members for Agendia, Ariad Pharmaceuticals, Biotheranostics, Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions, nanosstring, and Oncology Suypply/International Oncology Network did not renew their memberships for Please visit assistance.html for Corporate Member drug reimbursement and patient assistance program information. ANCO encourages all member practices to use this resource and enroll all patients at the start of treatment in all available and appropriate patient assistance programs. AMAG Pharmaceuticals informs ANCO that they are hosting a presentation entitled Emerging Perspecitves in Management of Adult IDA: Including results from a large head-to-head trial with IV irons with Amit R. Mehta, M.D., on Tuesday, August 21 st at 7PM. The presentation will take place at Ruth s Chris in Sacramento. RSVP to Dane Gibson at dgibson@amagpharma.com or (916) Genentech BioOncology informs ANCO that they are hosting an expert-led educational presentation entitled Tecentriq for Previously Treated Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer with Robert Weber, M.D., on Saturday, August 25 th at 1PM. The presentation will take place at the Claremont Club & Spa in the Temescal Room. RSVP to Lee Urabe at (559) or urabe.lee@gene.com. Sanofi Genzyme informs ANCO that they are hosting an evening discussion entitled What s Behind Your Patient s Hematological Abnormalities with Bradley Lewis, M.D., on Wednesday, August 29 th at 6PM. The discussion will take place at The Cavalier, 360 Jesse Street, San Francisco. RSVP to Lorin Sylvia at lorin.sylvia@sanofi.com; (415) Takeda Oncology informs ANCO that the United States Food and Drug Administration has informed that the REMS (Risk Evaulation and Mitigation Strategy) communication plan for Iclusig has met its goal and is no longer required. The risks with Iclusig can be adequately conveyed through product labeling. Clinical Trial News ASCO and Friends of Cancer Research have submitted to the United States Food and Drug Administration recommended language for five guidance documents on ways to broaden

8 Page 8 of 9 ANCO FAX News ( August 10 th, 2018 eligibility criteria for cancer clinical trials by addressing five specific areas: minimum age requirements for trial enrollment, HIV/AIDS status, brain metastases, organ dysfunction, and prior and concurrent malignancies. Read the full guidance document submission at content-files/research-and-progress/documents/ 2018-asco-friends-fda-submission-august.pdf. Publications, Resources, Services, & Surveys ANCO and MOASC are jointly conducting a 2018 staff salary survey. The survey was USPS mailed and ed/faxed to all members in mid-may and is available online at A $50 Visa gift card for respondents is included in this year s survey. Return your completed survey no later than September 30 th ; results will be analyzed and reported in 4Q2018. ASCO invites you to participate in the 2018 ASCO Practice Census. This annual survey of the entire U.S. oncology practice community aims to capture key information on what is happening in oncology practice today and is chronicled as part of ASCO s State of Cancer Care in America initiative. Complete the Census at apps.asco.org/oncology-practicecentral/survey/#/. The Census closes on August 31 st. The ASCO Guidelines App is your go-to tool for implementing guideline recommendations into practice. This user-friendly app provides health care providers, patients, and caregivers with the recommended cancer care options for a variety of cancer types. It also includes interactive tools to inform treatment decisions at the point of care, thus increasing the quality of care provided to patients. The app is free to members and nonmembers, kept up to date, and will continue to grow as more guidelines and tools are added. Download the app at or ASCO s Clinical Affairs Department provides services, education, and resources to support oncology practices. It offers hands-on assistance in areas such as practice management, quality care assessment and improvement, and efficiency and business intelligence to meet the needs and demands of the current oncology landscape. Resources on the business of oncology, practice management (staffing, technology), practice transformation, and market analysis are available from the Department. For more information, visit ASCO recently launched myconnection, a new online community platform that provides ASCO members with the opportunity to connect, collaborate, participate in in-depth discussions, and receive feedback and resources with the nearly 45,000 members in ASCO s global network. Get started today at myconnection.asco.org/home. ASCO Practice Consulting Services & Support offers personalized services to help practices achieve operational goals. Their team of nationally recognized consultants in oncology practice management is dedicated to assisting practices succeed in today s constantly evolving practice environment. Services include readiness assessment, practice operational assessment, practice transformation implementation support, analytical services, triage pathways. For more information, read the article (featuring Peter Paul Yu, M.D., former ANCO and ASCO President) at connection.asco.org/magazine/features/ascopractice-consulting-services-and-support or visit practice.asco.org. ASCO s Practice Engagement Program helps administrators, physicians, and other members of the care team navigate ASCO tools, programs, and resources available to help oncology practices respond to the changes occurring in the cancer care delivery system. ASCO is launching ASCO Practice Central, a new website that serves as an online information hub to help oncology professionals navigate a

9 Page 9 of 9 ANCO FAX News ( August 10 th, 2018 complicated and ever-changing practice environment while providing high-quality patient care. ASCO Practice Central offers oncology practices easy-to-access information, tools, and resources that are designed to foster effective business practices and support highquality patient care. Bookmark ASCO Practice Central at practice.asco.org. ASCO s PracticeNET is a collaborative network in which practices share and receive insights to enhance their business operations and quality of care. A new video overview of PracticeNET explains how the network gives practices a unique opportunity to see how they compare to others and learn from their peers. Watch the video at Qc3BgEsyxfo&feature=youtu.be&list= PLwVG_3RvChvHZn6e86LNy_Ie9eSbZvNff. ASCO s Journal of Oncology Practice has launched a new blog to facilitate discussions on care delivery topics. The new care delivery blog, JOP DAIS (Discussion & Analysis in Short), will serve as a forum for commentary and analysis on issues affecting the mechanisms of oncology care deliver. Learn more at ASCO s Education Scholars Program is now accepting applications. Participants in this yearlong selective program will undergo learning science training, undertake training by ASCO s Leadership Development Program executive coach, and design an ASCO education activity based on learning theory and learning science. All applications must be received by September 25 th. Learn more at ASCO s Education Essentials for Oncology Fellows (EEOF) has been developed specifically for Fellows as they pursue training in the field of oncology and offers access to educational content from ASCO University at a significantly reduced price. Fellows receive unlimited access to over 100 ASCO University elearning courses. Learn more at ASCO-SEP, 6 th Edition, the most comprehensive, must-have self-evaluation resource for general oncology education, is now available for purchase at ASCO University (university.asco.org/ascosep -6th-edition). Data abstraction for ASCO s QOPI Round 2 will close on December 4 th. Round 2 final reports will be available on December 18 th. Learn more at advocacy-policy/asco-in-action/data-abstractionqopi-round now-open. NCCN has published and/or updated their Chemotherapy Order Templates, Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology, Drugs & Biologics Compendium, Evidence Blocks, Guidelines for Patients, Imaging Appropriate Use Criteria, and/or Radiation Therapy Compendium for: acute lymphoblastic leukemia (V1.2018), acute myeloid leukemia (V2.2018), bone cancer (V1.2019), cancer- and chemotherapy-induced anemia (V3.2018), chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL; V5.2018), chronic myeloid leukemia (V1.2019), colon cancer and rectal cancer (V3.2018), genetic/familial high-risk assessment: breast and ovarian (V2.2019), head and neck cancer (V2.2018), myeloid growth factors (V2.2018), occult primary (cancer of unknown primary; V1.2019), survivorship (V1.2018). Go to for more information.