ASCO's Cancer Policy Alert Published

The American Society of Clinical Oncology's (ASCO) Cancer Policy Alert was published today and is available at http://view.exacttarget.com/?j=fe561576766c0d757314&m=ff311d707460&ls=fe0112707160057f72157377&l=fea516737564057975&s=fe1f15797d620479731d75&ju=fe241579706005797d1679.

This afternoon, the Senate passed H.R. 6331, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, which would avert the 10.6% cut to Medicare physician payments, by a veto-proof majority. The House of Representatives passed H.R. 6331 before the July fourth recess, also by a veto-proof majority. The President has threatened to veto the bill and still might in order to force the House and Senate to override the veto.

The legislation would maintain the current 0.5% increase to physician payments from 2007for the remainder of 2008 (retroactive to July 1). The legislation also provides a 1.1% increase for 2009.

This bill had failed by one vote in the Senate on June 26, but Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), while under active treatment for cancer, returned today to Washington D.C. to make this important vote to ensure that this bill passed.

Thank you to all of you who were in contact with your Representative and Senators during this difficult series of votes. Your outreach made a difference. ASCO will keep you updated as this legislation advances to the President.