Welcome to the Illinois Medical Oncology Society

IMOS is dedicated to ensuring you stay informed during the COVID-19 crisis. Click above to find all of the latest resources from ASCO, ASH, COA, HOSS, and important Industry News related to the crisis.

Illinois Department of Public Health COVID-19 Resources, Click here for more.

BREAKING NEWS: National healthcare organizations urge Governors and Insurance Commissioners throughout the country to support broad coverage and payment of telemedicine services even after the COVID-19 pandemic ends. Read the letters to the Governors and the Insurance Commissioners here.

Formed on July 29, 1989, the Illinois Medical Oncology Society (IMOS) represents the common interests of a majority of the oncologists treating cancer in Illinois. As the oncology society in Illinois, we strive to provide our members with innovative resources to help them stay ahead of the shifting healthcare landscape and challenges that directly impact the high-quality care their patients deserve.

The Illinois Medical Oncology Society now offers FREE memberships to oncologists and allied oncology professionals.

Find out more about membership

The IMOS board would also like to hear from you (all levels and types of members and potential members) about things you’d like to see for 2019 - 2020 and how we can best serve your needs.

We are a State Affiliate of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

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.

Find out more

IMOS MEMBERS ENCOURAGED TO REGISTER FOR ACS CAN ILLINOIS POLICY FORUM, SEPTEMBER 23
The ACS Cancer Facts and Figures reports shows since 1991 there has been a 30% drop in cancer mortality and a major factor in that has been the rise of immunotherapies. Immunotherapies are revolutionizing cancer care and the patient experience. The conversation will center around the intersection of healthcare, policy, and the patient experience. IMOS Board Member Sunandana Chandra, MD, will be participating in the panel discussion. The forum will be held Wednesday, September 23rd, 2020, from 12 to 1pm.

Find out more

IMOS SUPPORTS SENATE BILL 2499
IMOS joined with ASCO recently in support of Senate Bill 2499, which would guarantee coverage of the routine care costs for clinical trials participation for Medicaid enrollees in Illinois. Read the joint letter sent to the bill sponsor, Senator Andy Lamar, here.

CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION FROM THE CDC

CDC is working across the Department of Health and Human Services and across the U.S. government in the public health response to COVID-19.
Please see links below for additional information:

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL PROVIDERS
FROM THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

As of January 1, 2021, there will be significant changes to the office and outpatient Evaluation and Management (E&M) services (CPT ® codes 99202-99215) for both new and established patients.

Find out more

ONLINE RESOURCES

Academy Managed Care Pharmacists Webinar on the use of BeiGene’s FDA-Approved BTK Inhibitor for the treatment of Mantle Cell Lymphoma, sponsored by BeiGene. Click HERE for more information and to view the webinar.

RxVantage recently shared a panel discussion of oncology experts from around the country who have exhibited impressive leadership amid COVID-19. These executives met via video conference to share experiences, discuss strategies that have worked (as well as those that have not), and their plans for moving forward. Click below to view each presentation:

News

CMS has released the OPPS and PFS proposed rules for 2021.
Comments are due by October 5th at 5:00 pm ET. Key takeaways are available for the OPPS and PFS from our corporate partner J&J

IMOS congratulates the four Illinois practices receiving QOPI certification in the fourth quarter of 2019:

    Advocate Infusion Center – Darien – Darien, IL
    Advocate Medical Group – Chicago, IL
    Creticos Cancer Center – Chicago, IL
    Illinois Cancer Specialists – Schaumburg, IL

Find out more

Current news

October 13, 2020 - The Latest Circuit Court Ruling on 340B Program Effect on Practices, Find out more
October 8, 2020 - On October 2, after consultation with public health officials, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar, pursuant to the authority vested in him under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, renewed the public health emergency effective October 23, 2020.
October 6, 2020 - Supreme Court scrutinizes Arkansas law that regulates PBM payments to pharmacies, Find out more
September 29, 2020 - Insurers Move to Stop Waiving Telehealth Copays - Find out more
September 18, 2020 - CMS Finalizes Radiation Oncology Model - Find out more
September 16, 2020 - AACR Releases Its Inaugural Cancer Disparities Report - Find out more
September 1, 2020 - CMS Quietly Resumes Practice Audits, Find out more

IMOS is happy to have partnered with NCODA to present their most recent webinars. You can watch all five parts of the COVID-19 series and a special ASCO/NCODA webinar on Patient-Centered Standards for Medically Integrated Dispensing by clicking HERE.

Quick Links

Upcoming Events

Thu Nov 5, 2020WEBCAST: LYNPARZA as Maintenance Monotherapy or Combination Therapy in Advanced Ovarian Cancer

Category: Events

Wed Nov 11, 2020The New Normal Workplace: How COVID-19 Changed the Clinic and How You Can Change With It

Category: Events

Thu Nov 19, 2020WEBCAST: LYNPARZA as Maintenance Monotherapy or Combination Therapy in Advanced Ovarian Cancer

Category: Events

Thu Dec 3, 2020WEBCAST: LYNPARZA as Maintenance Monotherapy or Combination Therapy in Advanced Ovarian Cancer

Category: Events

Fri Dec 4, 2020New Rules: An overview of changes to IPPS and the Physician Fee Schedule Rules for 2021

Category: Events

View Full Calendar

Announcements

New Strategies magazine - Cancer Care in Rural America

Click here for past issues of Strategies

On October 21, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced plans to delay the start date of the Radiation Oncology (RO) model until July 1, 2021. The change comes following stakeholder concerns—the Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) among them—about the challenges of implementing the model by the initial start date, January 1, 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Learn more

CMS Finalizes FY 2021 Inpatient Rule
On September 2, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the FY 2021 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Final Rule. ASH submitted comments in July on the proposed rule. The Society is pleased that many of the provisions ASH supported have been finalized, including the creation of a new Medicare Severity Diagnosis Related Group (MS-DRG) for Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell Immunotherapy, now the highest weighted MS-DRG with an unadjusted national base payment of around $240,000. CMS also finalized its proposal to exclude clinical trial cases from the calculation of the weight of the new MS-DRG in order to account for the cost differentiation between clinical trial and non-clinical trial cases. CMS’s final ruling on CAR-T reimbursement is a major advocacy win for ASH!

ASH Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts
Help ASH eliminate inequities in hematology by getting involved with our diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. ASH has created an online library related to its programs in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, which includes a growing archive of stories from diverse voices in hematology.

Learn more

NEW ASH Virtual Listening Sessions on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Coming soon: The ASH Virtual Listening Sessions on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will explore issues facing those from backgrounds traditionally disadvantaged in medicine, as well as DEI opportunities in the hematology community. ASH is currently seeking participants willing to share their thoughts and experiences on DEI issues related to race, ethnicity, gender, ability, and/or sexual orientation for the first set of listening sessions.