The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health will hold a hearing today on several bills aimed at addressing the ongoing U.S. drug shortage crisis. Many of the bills contain provisions the Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) supports as effective means to mitigate and prevent drug shortages and promote a more resilient supply chain in the future.
ASCO in Action provides the latest news and analysis related to critical policy issues affecting the cancer community, updates on the Association for Clinical Oncology’s ongoing advocacy efforts, and opportunities for members and others in the cancer care community to take action.
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September 14, 2023
September 12, 2023
The Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is continuing to work advocating for solutions to the cancer drug shortage crisis. ASCO responded to a Request for Information from House Energy & Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo, and subsequently provided feedback on a discussion draft of potential legislation addressing drug shortages. The Association’s comments noted the meaningful progress toward addressing the root causes of drug shortages and offered specific feedback on proposals.
September 12, 2023
In letters to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Association for Clinical Oncology commented on provisions that impact cancer care for Medicare beneficiaries in the 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Quality Payment Program proposed rule, as well as in the 2024 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System proposal.
September 12, 2023
After a fast-paced first half of the year, most state legislatures across the 50 states and Washington, D.C. have adjourned for the year. The Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and State Affiliates successfully collaborated to advance many shared 2023 state advocacy priorities, including those highlighted here.
September 11, 2023
Now that Congress is back in session, the Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is urging lawmakers to continue their bipartisan support for federal cancer research in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024. This funding is vital for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI) and other agencies in their work to advance science.
August 1, 2023
Prior to leaving Washington, D.C., to spend the August recess in their states and districts, members of Congress engaged in a flurry of July activity on issues the Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is tracking closely.
July 28, 2023
The Senate Appropriations Committee on July 27 passed the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies FY 2024 spending bill, which includes $47.8 billion in funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), $7.38 billion for the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and $1.5 billion for the Advanced Research Projects Agency on Health (ARPA-H).
A statement from Everett E. Vokes, MD, FASCO, Chair of the Board, Association for Clinical Oncology, follows:
July 18, 2023
The Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) responded to a bicameral Request for Information (RFI) on the underlying factors driving drug shortages. The Association’s comments highlighted the impact of the shortages on patient care and pointed to economic failures and supply chain vulnerabilities that have led to shortages of critical oncology drugs for more than a decade.
July 7, 2023
On July 7, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its proposed rule to reimburse hospitals that were underpaid under the 340B drug pricing program since 2018.
July 7, 2023
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Labor and the Treasury Department issued a proposed rule regulating the availability of short-term limited duration insurance (STLDI) plans. The rule would restrict the availability of these plans to no more than four months.
July 5, 2023
ASCO is continuing to collaborate with State Affiliates and outside stakeholders to raise awareness and facilitate implementation of the CLINICAL TREATMENT Act, which requires all states and territories to cover and reimburse routine costs of care for treating a Medicaid enrollee who is participating in a qualifying clinical trial.
July 5, 2023
The Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) continues to advocate for increased access to cancer care and improved health equity for Medicaid beneficiaries and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients. In three recent comment letters, ASCO applauded proposals to improve access to high-quality, equitable cancer care and made important recommendations regarding the agency’s plans to expand health care coverage to more people.
June 15, 2023
Delegates from the Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) gathered in Chicago to participate in the 2023 Annual Meeting of the American Medical Association’s (AMA) House of Delegates (HOD) from June 9-14, 2023.
June 13, 2023
The Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) continues to urge Congress to help prevent and mitigate cancer drug shortages by reauthorizing the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) with provisions to improve the function and composition of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) to strengthen the drug and medical supply chain. On June 13, 2023, ASCO’s Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President Julie R. Gralow, MD, FACP, FASCO, testified in a House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing on solutions for preparedness and response to public health security threats and hazards, including PAHPA reauthorization and its programs aimed at strengthening the SNS.
June 4, 2023
The Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) presented the inaugural Jeffery C. Ward Affiliate Advocacy Award to the Pennsylvania Society of Oncology and Hematology at the State Affiliates’ Reception during ASCO’s Annual Meeting in Chicago.
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