ASCO, CMA, & COA 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=fe6815797565057f751d&m=ff2d16787160&ls=fde613717d6c057b7d1d7975&l=fe58157570660c7b7013&s=fdf2157972640d79751d7073&jb=ffcf14&ju=fe3e16727461067f751473. ANCO is a state/regional affiliate of ASCO. This edition features:

Apply Now for ASCO's Leadership Development Program

Apply for the 2009 ASCO/AACR Workshop: Methods in Clinical Cancer Research

Deadline Approaching to Purchase Discounted Virtual Meeting, Podcast Access for the 2009 GU Cancers Symposium

Read the JCO Original Report, "Fluorouracil, Leucovorin, and Oxaliplatin with and without Cetuximab in the First-line Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer"

Register and Reserve Housing for the 2009 ASCO Annual Meeting

Visit ASCO's EHR Social Network Site

Cancer Policy Alert: ASCO Urges Lawmakers to Exclude Prompt Pay Discounts from ASP; Oncology Added to Draft CCHIT Roadmap; Chemotherapy Administration Safety Standards Are Available for Public Comment

Cancer.Net Guide, "Managing the Cost of Cancer Care," Offers Patients New Information, Tools, and Resources

Cancer.Net Four-Part Series, "Cancer Terms to Know," is Now Available in Spanish

ASCO Expert Corner: The Role of an Oncology Nurse

Don't Miss the Feb. 26-28, 2009 GU Cancers Symposium

Apply for the ASCO Medical Student Rotation, funded by Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, Before Feb. 20

Apply for the ASCO Resident Travel Award, funded by Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, Before Feb. 20


The American Society of Clinical Oncology's (ASCO) Cancer Policy Today was published and is available at http://view.exacttarget.com/?j=fe6615797564057c701c&m=ff311d707460&ls=fdec12777c65017975127971&l=fe601575776601757d14&s=fe1f15797d620479731d75&jb=ffcf14&ju=fe2b167274670d7c711c76. ANCO is a state/regional affiliate of ASCO. This edition features:

Update on Economic Stimulus Package

New ASCO Guide Helps Patients and Doctors Communicate about the Cost of Cancer Care

ASCO Comments on PET National Coverage Decision

ASCO Comments to the OHRP on Discontinuation of Participants in Clinical Trials

ASCO Leads Effort in Developing Oncology-specific EHR Criteria

ASCO Opposes Local Oral vs. IV Coverage Policy

Register for Spring 2009 QOPI Data Collection

FDA Requests Comments on Enrolling Special Populations in Clinical Trials

IOM Releases Report on the Impact of HIPAA Privacy Rule on Health Research

NCI Lays Out Strategies for Accelerating the War on Cancer

President Obama Signs Law to Expand SCHIP and Increase Tobacco Tax

CMS Resumes Recovery Audit Contractor Program

ASCO and ONS Seek Comments on Chemotherapy Administration Safety Standards

National Audiocall on Adapting to Changes in Medicare for 2009

Join ASCO's Advocacy Network

ASCO Extends Resources to Practice Administrators


****CMA NEWS****
The California Medical Association's (CMA) CMA Alert was published and is available online at http://www.calphys.org/html/news.asp. This edition features:

DMHC to Hold Hearing on “Timely Access” Reg on February 23

Pfizer to Disclose Payments to Physicians

Obama Signs Children’s Health Insurance Bill

Both Houses of Congress Pass Economic Stimulus Bills

CMA Webinar: What the Balance Billing Ban Means for Physicians

2009 Leadership Academy Offers Most Comprehensive Slate of Practice Management and Leadership Skills Workshops to Date

Order Your 2009 California Physician’s Legal Handbook Today

We Need Your Help: Please Take 10 Minutes to Complete CMA’s Physician Survey

IMQ Recruiting Physicians to Serve on Correctional Health Judicial Review Committees

Tentative Agenda Available for CMA's 35th Annual Legislative Leadership Day

Member Benefit of the Week: 6% off athenaCollector


****COA NEWS****
Check out the new COA Administrators Network (CAN) website by accessing it through the main COA site at http://www.communityoncology.org

The CAN website, designed by and for community oncology practice administrators, features a wealth of interactive information, resources, and tools.

Bobbi Buell leads the CAN website by posting news and other information. Bobbi will hold a webinar on how to use the CAN website next Thursday, 2/19.

The CAN website will grow over time with your involvement and contributions!

Bo Gamble, a community oncology practice administrator from North Carolina, and Kent Butcher, an administrator from Oklahoma, unveiled the COA Administrators’ Network (CAN) website at the Community Oncology Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona. The website was designed by a team of practice administrators and experts, including the CAN co-chairs (Gamble and Butcher), the CAN leadership team of administrators representing the 15 MAC regions, coding expert Bobbi Buell, and administrator/consultant Ricky Newton.

The CAN website can be accessed through the COA website at http://www.communityoncology.org and clicking on one of the entry points, including the alert banner announcing the site or the orange action bar. You’ll notice in the process that the COA website has been redesigned and contains important news and other information.

The CAN website was created in response to requests from administrators to create more opportunities for information exchange and sharing. The CAN leadership team worked hard to create a site that allowed for interaction, as well as provided a resource area to download forms and useful tools.

Bobbi Buell adds CAN Webmistress to her title of Codemistress. Bobbi will be posting information on a regular basis in the Administrators’ Exchange, an interactive blog/forum area that allows for readers to post questions or answers. Additionally, other administrators from the CAN team join Bobbi in posting information on a variety of topics of importance to community oncology practices in the Administrators’ Exchange.

Also, on the CAN home page is a variety of other information, including the following:

Recruiting Room — Post a job needing to be filled in your practice or a job you are looking for.
CAN breaking News — Read hot news relevant to community oncology.
Webography — Access a list of important websites.
Email Suggestion Box — Drop Bobbi an email on any suggestions for the website.
How Do You Compare — Participate in a poll that changes periodically and view instant results.
Regulatory News — Read the latest news from CMS and other regulatory agencies.
Upcoming Events — Access links to the latest meetings relevant to administrators.
Additionally, coming soon will be more information about the COA National Benchmarking Initiative already well underway with the CAN team. Practices represented by the team have been providing data in an effort led by Ricky Newton, which has already provided data that COA has used on Capitol Hill. This initiative will be expanded nationally.

By clicking the blue tabs on the CAN home page, you will find forms, presentations, newsletters, and other resources that can be downloaded. Check out the depth of information hiding under each blue tab!

There is so much on the site that those who have beta tested it say it is mind boggling to discover every nook and cranny. Next Thursday, 2/19, Bobbi will be holding a Webinar on how to use the site, and she will be joined by members of the CAN team. Mark down next Thursday and time/details will be forthcoming.

Finally, this is your site. Like any other social network, it will grow on your contributions. Once again, this was designed by and for community oncology practice administrators.

Check out the CAN website today. It’s open to all community oncology practice administrators and staff. If you are a COA member and not an administrator but want to view the site, email Dee Shook by clicking here with your request, which will be reviewed by representatives from the CAN team.

Have any questions? Simply go to the Email Suggestion Box on the Can website to send Bobbi an email!