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"The Voice of Oncology in Massachusetts"


MSCO continuously contacts legislators, provides comments to policy makers and collaborates with payers on issues of concern to those delivering care to cancer patients.  The Society's affiliation with national advocacy groups allows us to bring our local issues to a wider forum and benefit from the resources of these organizations.

The Society monitors state legislation and regulation that impact cancer care. The Society also closely monitors and provides comments and resources to the following state organizations:

  • Center for Medicare Services and Medicaid Services
  • Massachusetts Congressional Delegation
  • Massachusetts State Legislators
  • Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS)
  • Massachusetts Department of Public Health
  • BlueCross BlueShield of Massachusetts
  • Massachusetts Medical Society
  • Massachusetts Hospital Association

Below we are providing alerts to relevant legislation and policy, provide resources and detail ways members can action. It is critical that providers support these efforts for their patients ant their practices. 

Track Current State Legislation

Updates in real time. Allows you to view action in the state and across the country.


ACT Network State Bill Tracker >

Calls to action

  • February 01, 2024 10:48 AM | Katy Monaco (Administrator)

    The most recent shortages have been so severe and prolonged that Congress--for the first time in over a decade--is actively looking to pass legislation addressing the issue.

    ASCO is engaging with congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle and in the House and Senate on proposals to mitigate drug shortages. Both Congress and the Administration need to intervene to secure the pharmaceutical pipeline and address drug shortages.

    Take Action on Drug Shortages. Add you voice to the effort to drive change and sign the letter today.

    Learn more about what ASCO is doing to address drug shortages.
  • January 22, 2024 11:20 AM | Katy Monaco (Administrator)

    Contact your lawmakers and urge them to support permanent extension of Medicare telehealth flexibilities by supporting the CONNECT for Health Act.

    The Background: 

    The flexibilities granted by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) during the Public Health Emergency (PHE) allowed expanded use of telehealth for Medicare beneficiaries and providers. This expanded telehealth utilization has helped ensure patients with cancer have uninterrupted access to high-quality care. The increased use of telehealth, when appropriate, has also helped providers reach historically underserved populations, including rural populations and those that might find it prohibitive to take off work, find childcare, and arrange transportation for an in-person visit.

    Why it Matters: 

    While these flexibilities were extended through the end of 2024, without additional Congressional action the restrictions will return in 2025. Congress must take action to make telehealth flexibilities permanent to ensure continued access for Medicare patients regardless of where they live.

    The Ask: 

    ASCO supports the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act of 2023 (S. 2016/H.R. 4189), bipartisan legislation that seeks to permanently extend telehealth flexibilities for Medicare services. The Senate bill is led by Sens. Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) and the House bill by Reps. Mike Thompson (D-CA-5), Doris Matsui (D-CA-7), and David Schweikert (R-AZ-6).

    Contact your lawmakers and urge them to support permanent extension of Medicare telehealth flexibilities by supporting the CONNECT for Health Act.

  • January 12, 2024 11:14 AM | Katy Monaco (Administrator)

    Send Letters to Your Lawmakers

    The Background: 

    A 3.37% Medicare physician payment cut took effect on January 1. Congress must take action immediately to address the cuts and reform the flawed Medicare physician payment system.

    • Physicians are the only providers who do not automatically receive an annual inflationary update from Medicare. Year after year, reimbursement for physicians falls drastically below inflationary rates, resulting in cuts to reimbursement for services.
    • The lack of annual adjustments in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) due to budget neutrality requirements limit the allocation of funds for essential cancer care services.
    • The increased Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Performance Threshold would lead to half of MIPS eligible clinicians receiving a negative payment adjustment for the 2024 performance period and would further disadvantage smaller practices.
    • The lack of incentives and financial stability hinder the broader transition to value-based care models.

    Why it Matters: 

    The Medicare reimbursement system makes it difficult for physicians to maintain a viable business, impacting patients’ access to care. Physician reimbursement has fallen behind inflationary rates by 26% since 2001. Along with increased performance thresholds, the limitations on resources allocated for necessary care, and the lack of incentives to transition to value-based care models, only amplify the unsustainable Medicare physician payment system.

    The Ask:

    Join ASCO in asking Congress to address the 3.37% Medicare physician payment cut that took effect January 1 and take the following steps to improve the flawed Medicare physician payment system and improve financial stability for practices. Specifically, we ask Congress to:

    • Provide automatic inflationary updates to reimbursement.
    • Eliminate budget neutrality requirements.
    • Make meaningful changes to the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS).
    • Incentivize the transition to value-based care.

    Send Letters to Your Lawmakers

  • January 05, 2024 11:22 AM | Katy Monaco (Administrator)

    Please take a moment to contact your lawmakers.

    The Background: 

    Each year Congress must develop and pass appropriations bills to fund the government for the new fiscal year (FY) beginning October 1. Congress was unable to pass its FY 2024 funding bills prior to the deadline. To avoid a government shutdown, Congress passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) that keeps the government funded at FY 2023 levels. The current CR for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), and the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) goes until February 2, 2024.

    Congress must now continue to negotiate funding levels for FY 2024, including the NIH, NCI, and ARPA-H. The Senate Appropriations Committee passed an FY 2024 bill that slightly increases funding for these key programs, while the House Subcommittee’s version of the bill contains cuts.

    Lawmakers need to hear from you on the importance of robust funding for the NIH, NCI, and ARPA-H.

    The Ask: 

    For FY 2024, ASCO, along with the broader medical and cancer research communities, is asking Congress to support the goals of the NCI’s new National Cancer Plan by providing sustainable, long-term funding for biomedical and cancer research. ASCO urges Congress to pass a FY 2024 spending bill that includes at least:

    • $51 billion for the NIH
    • $9.988 billion for the NCI
    • $1.5 billion dedicated for ARPA-H

    Why it Matters:

    ASCO stands ready and eager to work with the NIH, NCI and the entire cancer community to end cancer as we know it, and our funding request for the NIH and NCI is the first step. Discussions around cuts to discretionary funding this year have added pressure on the appropriations process. It’s vital that we continue to highlight the need for robust federal funding for cancer research.

    Please take a moment to contact your lawmakers.


  • January 01, 2024 11:28 AM | Katy Monaco (Administrator)

    Sign Petition - Expand Access to Biomarker Testing in Massachusetts.

    Biomarker testing helps connect patients with the right treatment at the right time. ACS CAN and partners, such as MSCO, are working together to make sure more Massachusetts residents can benefit from this important testing.

    Policy action needed to ensure more Massachusetts residents benefit.

    • Not all communities are benefiting from the latest advancements in biomarker testing and precision medicine.
    • Communities that have been excluded, including communities of color, individuals with lower socioeconomic status, rural communities, and those receiving care in non-academic medical centers are less likely to receive biomarker testing.
    • Improving coverage for and access to biomarker testing across insurance types is key to reducing health disparities.
    • Without action to expand coverage and access to biomarker testing, advances in precision medicine could increase existing disparities in cancer outcomes by race, ethnicity, income, and geography.
    • Insurance coverage for biomarker testing is failing to keep pace with innovations and advancements in treatment.

    Have a cancer patient story? Share your story here.

    Sign Our Petition - Expand Access to Biomarker Testing in Massachusetts

  • December 15, 2023 11:36 AM | Katy Monaco (Administrator)

    Urge your lawmakers to enact legislation that will streamline prior authorization requirements in the Medicare Advantage program.

    The Background:  

    A recent survey of ASCO members found that nearly all participants report their patients have experienced harm due to prior authorization caused by:

    • Delays in treatment (96%)
    • Patients being forced onto a second-choice therapy (93%)
    • Denied therapy (87%)
    • Increased out-of-pocket costs (88%)

    ASCO members and State Affiliates continue to rate prior authorization as a top concern.

    The Ask: 

    ASCO and the broader medical community are asking Congress to take steps that will streamline the prior authorization process within the Medicare Advantage program, including:

    • Creating an electronic prior authorization process.
    • Holding plans accountable for the timeliness of determinations.
    • Improving transparency by requiring plans to report to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the extent of their prior authorization use.
    • Prohibiting additional prior authorization for added medically necessary services performed during an invasive procedure that already received prior authorization.

    Why it Matters: 

    Prior authorization requirements, which often take weeks to secure approval, can lead to potentially irreversible disease progression. These requirements also place a significant administrative burden on clinicians and their staff, who spend hours each week securing approvals which, consequently, hinders their ability to spend that time with patients.

    Urge your lawmakers to enact legislation that will streamline prior authorization requirements in the Medicare Advantage program.


ASCO in Action

It is always vital that you engage with your lawmakers to ask them to help advance priority issues for the cancer care community.

RESOURCES

  • ASCO’s Advocacy Toolkit - Learn more about efforts to improve cancer care and research and how to get involved
  • Health Equity - Resurces to help the cancer community better understand and address health equity issues in oncology research and care
  • ASCO Association PAC - Learn more about the PAC


ADDRESS

860 Winter Street, Waltham, MA, 02451

CONTACT US

tel: 781.434.7329

msco@mms.org

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