About COA About the Community Oncology Alliance: • COA focuses on community cancer care in the United States. The Community Oncology Alliance (COA), a non-profit organization, is the only organization dedicated solely to community cancer care, where almost 65% of Americans with cancer are treated. Since its formation more than 10 years ago, COA has led community cancer clinics in navigating the increasingly challenging environment to provide efficiencies, patient advocacy, and proactive solutions to Congress and policy makers. COA members have testified before both chambers of Congress, authored cancer care demonstration projects, and have been instrumental in the passage of oral cancer drug parity legislation, among many other initiatives. • Community oncologists, who are committed to COA principles, adhering to the highest standards of integrity and patient well-being, govern COA. Form of COA: COA is a non-profit, 501(c) (6) organization governed by the executive committee that reports to a board of directors comprised of representatives from community oncology. The executive director oversees implementation of the COA strategic plan. COA Resources for Community Oncology Advocacy COA is leading a multi-stakeholder group that is developing and implementing an oncology medical home cancer care model and is advancing payment reform for cancer care. Individuals from the cancer care delivery team— oncologists, hematologists, pharmacists, mid-level providers, oncology nurses and survivors— volunteer their time on a regular basis to govern COA and serve on its committees. COA retains full-time and consultative staff to manage COA and provide services to both community and corporate members, as well as to lobby Congress and the current administration. The COA Patient Advocacy Network (CPAN) was created in 2010 to advocate for access to local affordable care for all cancer patients. COA Mission Statement: The mission of COA is to protect and foster the community oncology delivery system in the United States through public policy, advocacy, and education. Because 84% of Americans battling cancer receive their treatment in the community setting, ensuring the vitality of the community cancer care delivery system is imperative. COA empowers community oncology practices nationwide to advocate on behalf of their patients. This grassroots approach empowers an ongoing lobbying campaign in Washington, DC. It also provides an avenue to educate community oncologists to advocate on behalf of themselves with private payers and to engage in beneficial communications with fellow community oncologists. The major guiding principles of COA are: • COA is committed to patients and protecting their access to quality, affordable cancer care. • COA is a non-profit, grassroots organization created by community oncology. continued 1 3/2014 About COA (cont.) An Overview of COA Accomplishments • Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) “doc fix” COA was instrumental in fighting for significant reimbursement increases as part of the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA 2003). Some involved in crafting MMA 2003 were intent on reducing Medicare drug reimbursement to Average Sales Price (ASP) + 2-3% and only increasing services reimbursement by $150 million. COA provided data and successfully fought to get this increased to ASP + 6% and increasing services reimbursement by more than $550 million. • Removal of sequestration cuts to cancer drug reimbursement COA secured additional Medicare funding for services in 2005 and 2006 in the form of a $300 million demonstration project. COA has awakened the consciousness of community oncologists about the importance of reaching out and interacting with members of Congress. Community practices nationwide are now forming relationships with their legislators and have hosted members in their practices to see cancer care through the eyes of a cancer patient. • Elimination of the “prompt pay” discount from the calculation of ASP • Supporting bills that will secure oral drug parity and site parity • The development of an Oncology Medical Home (OMH) model to improve the quality of care and control costs COA is currently working on permanent legislative solutions to key problems associated with Medicare drug and services reimbursement including: COA Executive Committee: Contact: President: Mark Thompson, MD Ohio President-Elect: Bruce Gould, MD Georgia Vice President: Jeff Vacirca, MD New York Secretary: Michael Diaz, MD Florida Treasurer: Ricky Newton, CPA Virginia Immediate Past President: David Eagle, MD North Carolina Past President: Patrick Cobb, MD Montana Past President: Harry “Mac” Barnes, MD Alabama Executive Director: Ted Okon Connecticut Community Oncology Alliance 1101 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 700 Washington, DC 20004 (202) 756-2258 www.communityoncology.org Media Contacts: Chase Communications Julie Chase (202) 997-8677 [email protected] Anita Weissman (312) 850-0558 [email protected] 2 3/2014
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