ASCO Requests CMS to Recognize NCCN Compendium; Recommends NCCN's Drugs and Biologics Compendium to CMS as Resource for Off-Label Anti-Cancer Therapy.JENKINTOWN, Pa. -- The American Society of Clinical Oncology American Society of Clinical Oncology, or ASCO, is an organization that represents all clinical oncologists. Every year, ASCO holds a large symposium where physicians and researchers meet to convey and discuss research and ideas. (ASCO), the world's leading professional organization representing physicians of all oncology subspecialties who care for people with cancer, has asked the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), previously known as the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), is a federal agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) that administers the Medicare program and (CMS) to recognize the NCCN Drugs and Biologics Compendium(TM) as one of the publications used for Medicare coverage of drugs used off-label in anti-cancer therapy. The letter of request written by ASCO is consistent with similar support from six other major national medical organizations. CMS is required to cover off-label drug uses that have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as long as those are included in specified compendia. CMS is also empowered to select compendia through the Department of Health and Human Services Noun 1. Department of Health and Human Services - the United States federal department that administers all federal programs dealing with health and welfare; created in 1979 Health and Human Services, HHS . In their formal request, ASCO asked CMS to add the NCCN Compendium to the existing list of mandated compendium publications. By doing so, CMS would have a reference that reflects the standard of care for oncology in both office-based and hospital-based practice. The NCCN Compendium is based entirely upon recommendations from the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines clinical practice guidelines Clinical policies, practice guidelines, practice parameters, practice policies Medtalk Systematically developed statements to assist practitioner and Pt decisions about appropriate health care for specific clinical circumstances. See Psychology. in Oncology(TM)--treatment algorithms created and updated continuously. ASCO cited several supporting reasons for their request, including the Compendium's close association with the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology, the Compendium's clear and specific recommendations, and the Compendium's structure enabling timely recommendations based on expert review. For more information, please contact Thomas Mitchell or visit www.nccn.org. About the National Comprehensive Cancer Network The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), a not-for-profit alliance of 20 of the world's leading cancer centers, is dedicated to improving the quality and effectiveness of care provided to patients with cancer. Through the leadership and expertise of clinical professionals at NCCN member institutions, NCCN develops resources that present valuable information to the numerous stakeholders in the health care delivery system. As the arbiter of high-quality cancer care, NCCN promotes the importance of continuous quality improvement and recognizes the significance of creating clinical practice guidelines appropriate for use by patients, clinicians, and other health care decision-makers. The primary goal of all NCCN initiatives is to improve the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of oncology practice so patients can live better lives. The NCCN member institutions are: City of Hope Cancer Center, Los Angeles, CA; Dana-Farber/Partners CancerCare, Boston, MA; Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center, Durham, NC; Fox Chase Cancer Center The Fox Chase Cancer Center is a medical research facility and hospital located in the northeast section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The Center is an independent, non-profit institution which specializes in the treatment and prevention of cancer. , Philadelphia, PA; Huntsman Cancer Institute The Huntsman Cancer Institute is a research center in the University of Utah designed to research, learn about, treat, and prevent cancer. It was founded with a pledge, including $100 million of personal wealth, from Jon Huntsman, Sr., a philanthropist and businessman. at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center/Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, WA; Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital & Richard J. Solove Research Institute at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH; The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL; Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York City is a cancer treatment and research institution founded in 1884 as the New York Cancer Hospital. The main campus is located at 1275 York Avenue, between 67th and 68th Streets, with other locations in New , New York, NY; H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute at the University of South Florida • • [ , Tampa, FL; Roswell Park Cancer Institute The Roswell Park Cancer Institute is a cancer research and treatment center located in Buffalo, New York. Founded in 1898 by Dr. Roswell Park, it was the first dedicated medical facility for cancer treatment and research in the United States. , Buffalo, NY; Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine Washington University School of Medicine, located in St. Louis, Missouri, is one of the most competitive and highly regarded medical schools and biomedical research institutes in the United States. , St. Louis, MO; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital/University of Tennessee Cancer Institute, Memphis, TN; Stanford Comprehensive Cancer Center, Stanford, CA; University of Alabama at Birmingham UAB began in 1936 as the Birmingham Extension Center of the University of Alabama. Because of the rapid growth of the Birmingham area, it was decided that an extension program for students who had difficulties which prevented them from studying in Tuscaloosa was needed. Comprehensive Cancer Center, Birmingham, AL; UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA; University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI; UNMC Eppley Cancer Center at The Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE; and The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX. For more information, visit www.nccn.org. |
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