2012-06-14

News from Washington

Advocacy Alert! Congress Sets July Fourth Deadline for Passing Drug Shortage Legislation; Inclusion of Biologics and Human Plasma Protein Products Uncertain
Legislation to address drug shortages is being finalized by Congress. In late May, the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate passed their respective versions of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), including provisions to mitigate drug shortages. The House and Senate are now reconciling differences in their respective legislation and plan to deliver a final bill to President Obama by July 4. ASH is concerned that the Senate bill exempts biologics from all drug shortage provisions, and both House and Senate bills specifically exempt products derived from human plasma proteins and recombinant products replacing human tissue. The Society is urging Congress to include biologics in the drug shortages provisions and remove the plasma protein therapies and recombinant exemptions from the final legislation.

It is critical that Members of Congress hear from physician constituents. Please take action NOW by visiting the ASH Advocacy Center and sending the prepared email to Congress.  

News from Medicare

CMS Innovation Center Announces Additional Round of Advance Payment ACOs; Applications Accepted Beginning August 1, 2012
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center has announced that beginning August 1, 2012, it will be accepting applications for an additional round of Advance Payment Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) that would begin on January 1, 2013. Read more.

CMS to Host National Provider Call on PQRS and eRx Incentive Program on June 19
CMS will host a national provider call on the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) and the Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program on Tuesday, June 19, from 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. ET. Subject matter experts will provide an overview of the 2010 PQRS and eRx incentive program reporting experience including trends. A question and answer session will follow the presentation. Registration is required to participate.

July 2012 ASP and NOC Pricing Files Now Available
CMS has posted the July 2012 Average Sales Price (ASP) and Not Otherwise Classified (NOC) pricing files and crosswalks. All are available for download on the CMS website.

News from ASH

Register for ASH's June Webinar on the Evaluation and Management of Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP)
Register today for the webinar on the Evaluation and Management of Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP), scheduled for June 20 at 8:00 p.m., ET. Aimed at practicing hematologists, hospitalists, and general practitioners, the objective of this webinar is to review the evidence supporting the 2011 ITP guideline recommendations and highlight the important changes in the updated guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with ITP. For more information about this and other ASH webinars, visit www.hematology.org/webinars.

Nominations are Now Being Accepted for the 2012 ASH Advocacy Leadership Institute
The second annual ASH Advocacy Leadership Institute will take place September 12-13, 2012, in Washington, DC. This two-day leadership workshop is a unique opportunity for ASH members gain better understanding of the Society and its activities, as well as legislation and health policy affecting hematology research and practice. The first day of the Institute will focus on learning about the legislative process and health policy, and will include intense training in advocacy. Sessions will feature guest speakers from the Congress, the Administration, the National Institutes of Health, and other health agency officials. The second day will consist of visits with the participants' Congressional delegation on Capitol Hill to apply what was learned on the first day. Learn more.

Carfilzomib Demonstrates Efficacy As New Frontline Treatment Regimen for Multiple Myeloma
Results from a study published online in Blood, the Journal of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), demonstrate that inclusion of carfilzomib, a novel targeted therapy for multiple myeloma, in combination with lenalidomide and low-dose dexamethasone, resulted in complete or near complete remission in a majority of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Read more.

back to top