Health Policy

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has broadened access to Medicare telehealth services so that beneficiaries can receive a wider range of services from their physicians without having to travel to a healthcare facility. Clinicians can bill immediately for services starting March 6, 2020. Read Article ›

Great progress has been made in the fight against cancer, but not all patients have benefited equally. Disparities exist among specific populations in terms of survival and cancer-related mortality, incidence and prevalence, as well as adverse health conditions, according to Karen M. Winkfield, MD, PhD, Director, Office of Cancer Health Equity, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston-Salem, NC. Dr Winkfield discussed the topic at the 2019 ASCO Quality Care Symposium. Read Article ›

In a time when the country feels more politically divided than ever, there is broad consensus that Medicare should be allowed to negotiate prescription drug prices directly with drug makers, and that the FDA should expedite approvals of generic cancer drugs to lower patients’ out-of-pocket costs. Read Article ›

FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, has been outspoken about the critical need to reign in drug prices. Biosimilars are crucial for improving patient access to biologic drugs at an affordable cost. Biologics are now key in the treatment of cancer and autoimmune conditions. But cost remains an obstacle to access to drug therapy. Read Article ›

In a January 3, 2018, statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, the FDA announced new steps to promote generic drug competition as a way to expand potential access to inexpensive medicines, which would be especially helpful for patients with cancer. These new steps are a part of the FDA’s ongoing implementation of the Drug Competition Action Plan. Read Article ›

Since President Donald J. Trump was sworn into office, there has been much concern over the impact that his administration may have on the FDA. In fact, many predicted that President Trump’s victory would be a “game changer” for the FDA. Read Article ›

Movement on the American Health Care Act may continue, and the evolution of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is not known, said Elizabeth Carpenter, Senior Vice President, Avalere Health, at the 2017 Association of Community Cancer Centers meeting. Read Article ›

A change in leadership brings with it healthcare reform and potential changes in drug pricing in the United States, said Jessica Turgon, MBA, Principal, ECG Management Consultants, Washington, DC, at the 2017 Association of Community Cancer Centers meeting. Ms Turgon discussed what this transition of power means for cancer centers, and what oncology providers can realistically expect under the Trump administration. Read Article ›

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was created by the government to provide patients access to affordable medicines and services they need, “especially for the sickest among us,”¹ but from what I have uncovered, at least in cancer care, this may not be the case. Read Article ›

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Office of Minority Health has released a 19-page plan to address health equity gaps for underserved Medicare beneficiaries, improve their access to care, and measure the success of this undertaking. Read Article ›