About Alliance Oncology
COA is a non-profit organization dedicated solely to community oncology. COA was founded by community oncology to advocate for community oncology. In only five years of existence, COA has successfully fought back substantial reimbursement cuts, secured increases in reimbursement, mobilized community oncology to become more politically active, and increased – more... awareness on Capitol Hill about the community cancer care delivery system. Currently, COA is working with the Congress on comprehensive legislation that addresses key problems with Medicare drug and services reimbursement. COA is increasingly focused on proving proactive solutions designed to protect the viability of the community cancer delivery system and patients' access to quality, affordable cancer care. COA also administers a political action committee, COA PAC.
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 treatment in the community setting, ensuring the vitality of the community cancer care delivery system is imperative for patient well-being.
The major guiding principles of COA are as follows:
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 for community oncology. COA is focused solely on community cancer care in the United States. COA is governed by community oncologists who are committed to COA adhering to the highest standards of integrity and patient well-being.
COA has a very specific two-part agenda for 2008:
Advocate for the solutions in H.R. 1190 and S.1750, which are existing, companion bills in the House of Representatives and the Senate that provide legislative answers to the major problems associated with Medicare drug and services reimbursement. Community oncology needs relief in 2008 from the continued cuts to Medicare reimbursement for cancer care, which in turn facilitate cuts by private payers. More proactively bring the story of community oncology, backed by operating data, to the Congress, Administration, and private payers in proposing solutions that provide more appropriate, realistic reimbursement for essential components of cancer care. Community oncology needs to be more proactive in advocating for solutions rather than just reactive to the continuous Medicare cuts.
COA is working closely with Congressman Artur Davis (D-AL) and his colleague, Congressman Jim Ramstad (R-MN), who have introduced and sponsored the Community Cancer Care Preservation Act of 2007 (H.R.1190). This legislation addresses key problems with ASP (updating the lag and inclusion of prompt pay discounts), creates new payment codes for treatment planning and pharmacy facilities, and increases payment to 2004 levels for chemotherapy administration. COA is also working closely with Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) and his colleague, Senator Robert Casey (D-PA), on companion legislation in the Senate, S.1750. COA is actively meeting with the House and Senate leadership to get key provisions of these bills incorporated into legislation that will likely be passed by the Congress in the first half of 2008.
During the latter half of 2002, several community oncology practices became aware of draft legislation in the House of Representatives that was intending to drastically and substantially change Medicare reimbursement for cancer care. During several trips to meet with Members of Congress, it became apparent that few in the Congress understood anything about community oncology, much less the fact that 84% of Americans with cancer are treated in community oncology practices. There was a real knowledge void about the value of community oncology, the quality of cancer care delivered, and the billions of dollars saved by moving cancer care from the inpatient to ambulatory setting. So, there was an immediate need to stop legislation that would have reduced Medicare reimbursement to ASP + 0% with no increase in services payments. Next, it was very clear that there was an ongoing need for an organization dedicated 100% to advocating public policy for community oncology. In five short years of existence, COA has become a recognized voice for community cancer care on Capitol Hill. – less – More from ZoomInfo »
Alliance Oncology Employer Reviews
Working at Alliance Oncology
