CMS has issued its 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and the House of Representatives has passed its version of health care reform and coverage expansion legislation, with the Senate expected to join the action in the coming weeks. With many changes in legislation that will directly impact cancer care physicians and patients across the country, it is imperative to understand these new developments and their implications to oncology.

Clinical trials contribute to the overall knowledge and progress made in developing new oncology therapies. As more cancer patients are treated in the community setting, the research conducted by community oncology physicians becomes even more valuable in bringing new therapies to patients. Some cancer care patients hope to assist in finding a cure, to seek a longer life, or a way to feel better; others find that the current standard therapies are not optimal for their cancer and wish to be among the first to participate in a research study and receive an investigational drug. Whatever the reason, community practice participation in clinical trials could make a difference in a patient's future, as well as in the lives of future cancer patients.

In regards to the ongoing changes to reimbursement, has your oncology practice been effective with keeping up with the many changes seen in 2009?

With current and proposed reimbursement changes, it is more important than ever to stay abreast of these changes impacting the financial viability of your oncology practice. Join Karen Pilley for an informational presentation on effective reimbursement management, as she reviews:

• Year to date CMS updates impacting the oncology community
• RAC Audits
• Low-Income Subsidy changes
• False Claim Act Revisions
• Implementation of ICD-10

Is your oncology practice thriving? Is it stagnant? Is it in trouble? How can you tell?

Physicians and Practice Administrators are buried with data. One of the most challenging aspects of managing a practice in today’s environment is understanding which numbers matter and which ones are just clutter.

Join Randy Farber for an exclusive webinar that will focus on what to measure, what to look for as early warning signs that action is needed, and what resources are available to help you navigate the increasingly complex task of managing an oncology practice. Participants will gain practical knowledge and discuss useful tools for monitoring their practice performance.

With the signing of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA, aka the stimulus package), allocating approximately $20 billion towards Electronic Health Record (EHR) adoption, physicians who demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHRs could be eligible for up to $44,000 in incentives over five years. Oncologists need to prepare for these changes in health care, specifically how the stimulus can affect their health care IT plans in the community-based oncology practice.

Join Matt Brow and Cindy Chavez for an informative webinar discussing the Medicare Health Information Technology (HIT) incentives included in the stimulus package and their application to the community oncology practice. Defining the standards for qualified EHRs, as well as the “meaningful use” requirements for physicians using qualified EHRs, will be key to the way these incentives are earned; Matt and Cindy will also review a status report that addresses the efforts of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONCHIT) to define these criteria. Additionally, they will discuss how these standards should be set and applied based on perspectives from leadership at iKnowMed, an oncology-specific EHR, other oncology-specific EHRvendors, and the oncology community.

Every oncology practice today faces the challenge of managing and negotiating contracts with insurance companies in order to gain the greatest access to the patient population in their communities. The success of these negotiations can make a substantial difference in the performance of a practice. Having the ability to thoroughly evaluate payer contracts is important for practices and helps them understand possible financial and operational issues, assess payers in the local market, and predict future payer strategies. This valuable insight helps the oncologist better communicate and work with their payer partners in
the long term.

Join Ron Howrigon for an educational presentation on how to successfully manage and negotiate your insurance contracts. During this presentation, Ron will go through the negotiation process from beginning to conclusion. He will review effective and proven negotiation strategies and tactics relevant to oncology practices. As a former managed care negotiator, Ron will provide insight into strategies that managed care companies use and explore tactics you can use to counter these techniques.

Managing treatment therapies for cancer patients is becoming more complex due to the vast variations in treatments and the amount of emerging new therapies. Some therapies can prolong survival while others offer only small benefits, therefore choosing the right treatment for a patient based on clinical effectiveness and least possible toxicity is critical.

Additionally, payers continue to focus on the cost of oncology care by establishing measures to manage this area of healthcare. This trend urges cancer care providers to adopt programs that help address these challenges by shifting the payer emphasis on quality care for the patient.

Join Susan Hoang, PharmD, BCPS, Director of Level I Pathways at US Oncology, for an insightful presentation on evidence-based medicine in oncology. During this webinar, she will review:

• Applying the best scientific evidence in cancer practice and decisions
• The quality imperative-linking positive outcomes and responsible spending
• The financial realities of cancer care

With the new year comes changes to reimbursement, insurance plans, and treatment costs, so now is the time to ask – is your practice providing your patients with the best financial care? Today’s reimbursement challenges affect both the practice and the patient, making it more important than ever for insurance plans to be verified, liability disclosed and financial assistance identified before treatment begins.

Join Carolyn Hutt for an informational presentation on best practices in patient financial care, as she reviews:

• Meeting the patient’s financial care needs
• The intake and insurance verification process
• Drug assistance and indigent care reminders
• Steps to improve physician and practice financial care

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