Representative Hall Calls on CMS to Extend Cancer Care Demonstration Project

May 4, 2005 - Representative Ralph Hall (R-TX) introduced a congressional resolution to extend the CMS cancer care demonstration project beyond 2005. While grateful to CMS for establishing this program, ASH remains concerned about CMS’s decision to make Medicare beneficiaries responsible for a 20% copayment. As expressed in a letter to CMS last December, the Society believes that repeatedly subjecting cancer patients to the coinsurance during the course of their treatment will pose financial hardship to beneficiaries, especially those without supplemental coverage.

ASH continues to work with Congress to support adequate physician reimbursement for administering Part B drugs. The Society also is engaged through its Quality of Care Subcommittee and its Task Force on Pay-for-Performance in initiatives to enhance quality of care to the patients hematologists treat.

More information about the CMS cancer care demonstration project is available on the ASH Web site.