Cancer Care Associates, Oklahoma City, OK

 FIX CANCER CARE-DON’T BREAK IT ANY FURTHER 

The Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 was a step in the direction of Medicare reform; however, this law passed flawed payment systems for medical services and drugs.   Medicare payment for most cancer drugs is less than the physician’s cost.  Many essential components of cancer care, like treatment planning and facility costs are not paid for at all.  Other services, like chemotherapy administration services have been cut by 25% since 2004.   Now legislation due to take effect in 2010 is proposing over a 20% cut to chemotherapy administration services and an overall 21.5% cut to physician service payments.   We cannot absorb any more cuts by Medicare and need your help and support to fix the flaws in the Medicare payment system now!    Call your congressman today and ask them to:       Cosponsor HR 1392, the Prompt Pay Solution, which has a Senate companion bill S 1221.  HR 1392 corrects a flaw in the calculation of Medicare drug reimbursement that causes many drugs to be underpaid by Medicare.   Ø      Cosponsor HR 2872, the National Oncology Demonstration Project.  HR 2872 will create a national project to improve the quality of cancer care while controlling costs.   Ø      Support preventing the planned cuts to chemotherapy administration (mixing and nursing time) and physician services due to occur in 2010. Ø      Make CMS acknowledge and pay for chemotherapy treatment planning and facility fees as well as increase reimbursement for chemotherapy administration services.   84% of all cancer patients in the U.S. are treated in physician offices like Cancer Care Associates.  It is critical that Medicare reform sustain patient’s access to quality cancer care.  Fix Cancer Care-don’t break it any further!   

Contact your congressional leaders at www.house.gov and www.senate.gov Thank you, The Physicians and Staff of Cancer Care Associates