ASCO & CMS News

The following information has been received by ANCO.


****ASCO NEWS****
The American Society of Clinical Oncology's (ASCO) e-News was published and is available at http://view.exacttarget.com/?j=fe511578726d02787011&m=ff2d16787160&ls=fdf61370756104747710767d&l=fe6515757164057f7212&s=fdf2157972640d79751d7073&jb=ffcf14&ju=fe2416717c650375751279. ANCO is a state/regional affiliate of ASCO. This edition features:

ASCO Releases its First Provisional Clinical Opinion (PCO)

ASCO Launches New Leadership Development Program

Read the Newest JOP Current Clinical Issue Article, "Global Tobacco Problem Getting Worse, Not Better"

Check Out the Newest JCO Original Report," Insulin,the Insulin-Like Growth Factor Axis, and Mortality in Patients With Nonmetastatic Colorectal Cancer"

The 2008 Best of ASCO DVD Available for Purchase

GU Symposium Virtual Meeting and Podcast Access Available for Purchase

Presentations from the 2008 Breast Cancer Symposium Now Available for Free

Register and Reserve Housing for the 2009 ASCO Annual Meeting

2009 ASCO Election Results Now Available Online

Cancer Policy Alert: Urge Congress to Include NIH Funding in the Economic Stimulus Package

For Your Patients
In the News: Cancer.Net and ASCO President Richard Schilsky, MD, Featured in The New York Times

Special Cancer.Net Podcast: 2009 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium Highlights, with Jennifer Obel, MD

Cancer.Net Podcast: How to Know When Medical News is Accurate

Cancer.Net Features: Having a Child After Cancer Treatment

ASCO Expert Corner: Research Highlights From the 2009 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium

ASCO Expert Corner: Questions and Myths About Quitting Smoking


****CMS NEWS****
Beginning January 1, 2009, eligible professionals can participate in the E-Prescribing Incentive Program by reporting on their adoption and use of an e-prescribing system by submitting information on one e-prescribing measure on their Medicare Part B claims. For the 2009 e-prescribing reporting year, to be a successful e-prescriber and to qualify to receive an incentive payment, an eligible professional must report one e-prescribing measure in at least 50% of the cases in which the measure is reportable by the eligible professional during 2009. There is no sign-up or pre-registration to participate in the E-Prescribing Incentive Program. For more information, visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PQRI and select “E-Prescribing Incentive Program” in the left-hand column.

In October 2008, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and 34 partner organizations hosted a meeting about the mechanics of implementing an e-prescribing program in a practice. Audiotapes and slides are now archived online for continuing education credit. The Massachusetts Medical Society and the American Pharmacist Association are pleased to provide Continuing Medical Education (a maximum of 22.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, (risk management study for MA Physicians) and Continuing Education for pharmacists (up to 13.25 hours of continuing education credit (1.325 CEUs)). Simply go to www.massmed.org/cme/CMS_eprescribing to view the presentations and hear the audiotapes of the program. There are no registration or certificate fees.