Illinois Medical Oncology Society (IMOS)

Our Mission

We strive to promote the highest professional standards of oncology in the State of Illinois.  We create educational experiences for our members to exchange information to increase the quality of care for our patients. We act as a patient advocate to assure that patients have access to the best available care; and support and encourage clinical research against cancer.

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HHS and FDA Release Drug Importation Plan to Lower Prices
HHS and the Food and Drug Administration released a plan on Wednesday to lay the foundation for safe importation of certain drugs intended for foreign markets. HHS Secretary Alex Azar said that the plan represents a shift in agency thinking regarding importation from foreign countries. HHS has long been resistant to importation due to concerns about drug safety, however President Trump has been pushing for importation.

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COA Statement on Senate Finance Committee "Drug Pricing Reduction Act" (Chairman's Mark)
(Yahoo! Finance) July 23, 2019 - Statement from Ted Okon, Executive Director, Community Oncology Alliance (COA): The Community Oncology Alliance (COA) appreciates the work of the Senate Finance Committee in developing the proposed Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act (drug package)....

"However, COA is vehemently opposed to the proposal to include support from patient assistance programs (coupons and related financial support) in the calculation of Average Sales Price (ASP), the basis for Medicare Part B drug reimbursement. Physicians, nurses, practice administrators, and other community oncology professionals see this proposal as having a severe adverse impact for patients with cancer who depend on financial assistance." ....

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New Technology Add-on Payment: Impact on CAR T-cell Therapy Reimbursement
On August 2, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) final rule for fiscal year (FY) 2020.

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CMS Expands CAR T-cell Therapy Coverage for Medicare Beneficiaries
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that Medicare will now cover all Food and Drug Administration-approved Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR T-cell) therapy delivered in inpatient facilities.  This nationwide Medicare coverage increase for CAR T-cell therapy also opens the door for patients to receive treatment in outpatient health care facilities that are enrolled in FDS risk evaluation and mitigation strategies with expertise in delivering cellular therapies, and covers CAR T-cell therapy for off-label uses that are recommended by CMS-approved compendia.

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Medicare OPPS and ASC Payment System CY 2020 Proposed Rule - Public Comments Due by September 27, 2019
On July 29, CMS proposed policies that follow directives in President Trump’s Executive Order, entitled “Improving Price and Quality Transparency in American Health Care to Put Patients First,” that lay the foundation for a patient-driven health care system by making prices for items and services provided by all hospitals in the United States more transparent for patients so that they can be more informed about what they might pay for hospital items and services. The proposed changes also encourage site-neutral payment between certain Medicare sites of services.  Finally, the proposed rule proposes updates and policy changes under the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System.

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CMS Proposes New Electronic Prior Authorization Process to Speed Access to Care
CMS recently issued a proposed rule to update and streamline the prior authorization process under Medicare Part D.

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CMS' "Fail First" Step Therapy Policy Means Medicare Patients with Cancer Will Face More Dangerous Delays and Denials
Earlier this month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) codified its decision to allow MA plans to use “fail first” step therapy for new starts of Part B drugs for cancer and other serious diseases. The Trump administration’s decision to finalize step therapy in MA plans means that Medicare patients with cancer will face nightmares of delays and denials while trying to access their physician-prescribed treatments.

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CDC Issues Key Clarification on Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain
Agency Clarifies CDC Guideline Not Meant to Limit Access to Appropriate Pain Management for Individuals with Cancer, Sickle Cell Disease

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News

2019 Spring Meeting Presentations are now available in the members area.  Please log in to view.

September 13 - 14, 2019
Lincolnshire Marriott Resort
Ten Marriott Drive · Lincolnshire, Illinois 60069 USA
1-847-634-0100

Click here to make your hotel reservations online*
*Make sure to mention the IMOS Fall meeting to get your conference rate.

We are happy to announce that we will cover a two-night hotel stay for a maximum of two rooms per practice. One of the rooms must include a physician registrant (maximum of 50 rooms). IMOS will confirm your free rooming information once your reservation is received. Once the limit of two rooms per practice has been met, rooming costs of $131 (single) and $141 (double) will be the responsibility of the registrant. Once confirmed, rooms cannot be cancelled. Unused rooms will be invoiced to the practice at the prevailing rate plus 11% local and state tax.

You may book your room now by clicking here: Book your group rate for IMOS Fall Meeting. 

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Register Now for the Fall Illinois Research Breakfast - September 18, 2019
The ACS CAN Illinois Research Breakfast will focus on advances in precision medicine and biomarkers that are revolutionizing cancer care and include key stakeholders throughout the oncology community, including leaders in business, academia, public policy, patient advocacy, provider groups, as well as other key stakeholders. 

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August 2019 Advocacy Update

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Sharing Hospital Outpatient Payment Proposal Maintains 340B Cuts, Addresses Price Transparency and Prior Authorization
On July 29, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its proposed rule for reimbursement under the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS) in 2020. ASCO is still analyzing the proposal and will provide more information to members as soon as possible.

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PFS: Proposed Policy, Payment, and Quality Provisions Changes for CY2020 - Public Comments Due by September 27, 2019

On July 29, CMS issued a proposed rule that includes proposals to update payment policies, payment rates, and quality provisions for services furnished under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) on or after January 1, 2020. This proposed rule is one of several proposed rules that reflect a broader Administration-wide strategy to create a health care system that results in better accessibility, quality, affordability, empowerment, and innovation. It also includes proposals to streamline the Quality Payment Program with the goal of reducing clinician burden. This includes a new, simple way for clinicians to participate in our pay-for-performance program, the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), called the MIPS Value Pathways.

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ESRD and DMEPOS CY 2020 Proposed Rule - Public Comments Due by September 27, 2019
On July 29, 2019, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that proposes to update payment policies and rates under the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System (PPS) for renal dialysis services furnished to beneficiaries on or after January 1, 2020.  This rule also proposes updates to the acute kidney injury (AKI) dialysis payment rate for renal dialysis services furnished by ESRD facilities to individuals with AKI and proposes changes to the ESRD Quality Incentive Program (QIP). In addition, this rule proposes a methodology for calculating fee schedule payment amounts for new Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) items and services and making adjustments to the fee schedule amounts established using supplier or commercial prices if such prices decrease within five years of establishing the initial fee schedule amounts.

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