Patient Advocacy Support
Advocacy
As cancer care professionals who experience the challenges of providing quality cancer care first-hand, MSCO members are well positioned to educate decision-makers on how coverage and reimbursement issues affect community oncology. State and federal legislation can have a significant impact on the financial viability of local cancer programs, which is why it's so important that our members make their voices heard.
In an effort to provide resources needed to effectively advocate on the issues that are important to them, our redesigned advocacy webpage features activity from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), national healthcare coverage through the Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC), local news articles and webinars, and more.
We want to hear from you! If there is a specific piece of legislation you want to know more about, an important resource we're missing, or if you want to get more involved, please contact us!
STATE ADVOCACY
MSCO and ASCO Together Support Efforts to Control PBMs Influence Over Patient’s Pharmacy Services
MSCO and ASCO jointly support a pair of bills (HF 544 and SF 482) that target anti-competitive pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) business practices. The bills would prohibit PBMs and payers from requiring oncologists to administer chemotherapy agents that have been prepared outside the physician’s office by an entity under contract with the payer. Both bills have passed their first committee hearings and are now in their second committees.
MSCO and ASCO Submit Letter of Concern Over Upper Payment Language in SF 168
The Minnesota Society Clinical Oncology Society (MSCO) and the Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) have issued a letter to Minnesota legislature showing concerns that Section 9 of SF 168 – Prescription Drug Affordability Board, if passed, would jeopardize access to necessary care for Minnesota patients with cancer.
Read LetterMSCO Joins in Support Letter for HF 3717 and Its Provisions to Address Out-of-Pocket Costs for Patients
The Minnesota Society of Clinical Oncology (MSCO) joined national organizations in a support letter for copy-only bill language in HF 3717 inspired by HF 633 (Bierman) and SF 365 (Nelson). This language would give consumers who purchase coverage on the individual and small-group markets the option of buying a plan that restructures the out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs.
Read LetterFEDERAL ADVOCACY
MSCO Joins Coalition Letter Urging Addition of the Cures 2.0 Concept Paper Title IV Provisions in the Next COVID-19 Relief Package
The Minnesota Society of Clinical Oncology (MSCO) joined in a coalition letter to congressional leadership urging that Congress include the 21st Century Cures 2.0 concept paper, recently released by Representatives Diana DeGette and Fred Upton in upcoming legislation to further address the COVID-19 public health crisis. Specifically the letter urges leadership to include policy to provide Medicaid coverage of the routine care costs of clinical trials participation for patients with life-threatening conditions in every state. This critical protection is championed by Representatives Ben Ray Luján and Gus Bilirakis in the Clinical Treatment Act (H.R. 913).
FROM THE ACCC BLOG
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