Cancer physicians criticize drug plans.

While the U.S. House and Senate debate their respective Medicare prescription drug plans, many oncologists and cancer patients are concerned that the plans will make matters worse, rather than better. The American Society of Clinical Ontology estimates that the bills will cut funding available for cancer patients by some $500 million annually. According to Deborah Kamin, ASCO's senior director for cancer policy and clinical affairs, "That kind of cut cannot be sustained without substantial turbulence and disruption of care."

The measures that passed the House and Senate in June offer differing approaches for chemotherapy reimbursement by Medicare. A compromise must be reached and approved by Congress before the president can sign it into law.

Currently, Medicare pays physicians who administer chemotherapy in their offices 95 percent of a drug's average wholesale price. However, the government contends that there are significant differences between what is reported to the government and what physicians actually pay.

As a result, Congress' General Accounting Office contends that Medicare is significantly overpaying for some medications. The bills that have been approved by the House and Senate would change and lower the reimbursement formula for prescription drugs.

A survey by ASCO of more than 900 of its physician members found that 19 percent would plan on not treating Medicare patients if the current proposals become law. Another 53 percent said that they would limit the number of Medicare patients they see.

James A. Hawkins is a health care writer based in Aiken, S.C. He can be reached by phone at [phone] or by e-mail at [e-mail].