Proposed $3 Billion Medicare Cut to Cancer-Fighting Drugs Before Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction Expected to Threaten Community Care, the Most Cost-Effective Care Setting; Experts to Explain Effects on Patient Care Experiences and Costs of Care
TELECONFERENCE TODAY
WASHINGTON – On Thursday, October 27, cancer care advocates and providers will discuss the results and implications of a new study performed by Milliman and commissioned by McKesson Specialty Health, a division of McKesson Corporation, on behalf of The US Oncology Network. The study finds that per-patient-per-month (PPPM) chemotherapy service costs and patient copay amounts for Medicare beneficiaries are significantly lower in community-based care settings. Representatives of The US Oncology Network will explain the importance of this cost difference as it relates to a proposed $3 billion Medicare reimbursement cut to cancer care offered to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (Select Committee) as a potential payment offset within federal debt reduction efforts.
"In their memo outlining deficit-cutting actions the Select Committee may consider, Democratic House Ways and Means staffers noted that if Congress implements this drastic funding cut for all cancer drugs administered in physician offices, some smaller physician practices may not be able to afford to administer these drugs in their offices," said Roy Beveridge, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, The US Oncology Network. "We want the Select Committee and Congress to realize that ensuring high-quality, cost-effective care, and lower costs for Medicare and its beneficiaries fighting cancer, requires a viable community cancer care delivery system."
WHO:
Bruce Pyenson, F.S.A., M.A.A.A., Principal and Consulting Actuary, Milliman
Roy Beveridge, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, The US Oncology Network
Ted Okon, Executive Director, Community Oncology Alliance
Nancy Davenport-Ennis, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, National Patient Advocate Foundation
WHAT: The study showcases the cost and utilization differences for Medicare patients receiving their chemotherapy in physician offices versus other settings. Data indicate that total PPPM allowed costs for physician office care were approximately $600 per patient per month less. Taking into account the average number of member months that chemotherapy patients experience in a year, this amounts to a difference in cost of just under $6,500 per cancer patient annually. In addition, patient copay amounts were found to be approximately 10 percent lower for physician office-based care, which totals more than $650 per patient per year.
WHEN: Thursday, October 27
3:00 p.m. Eastern
Dial (800) 288-8976 and reference "the Milliman research".
To register for the webinar, please send your name, phone and email address to Megan Taylor at [email protected].
MEDIA CONTACT: Rebecca Reid: (410) 212-3843, [email protected]
/PRNewswire-USNewswire -- Oct. 27, 2011/
SOURCE The US Oncology Network