June 2024
ASH Submits Comments on the Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Proposed Rule for Fiscal Year 2025
ASH recently submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) responding to several provisions in the IPPS proposed rule. The Society’s comments cover topics related to the new codes for Duffy Null status, proposed changes to codes capturing housing status, various payment provisions for the newly approved cell and gene therapies in general and for sickle cell disease (SCD), and payment for graduate medical education (GME). The comments continue to build on ASH’s advocacy efforts for improving the accessibility of hematology care through appropriate coverage and reimbursement, investment in accurate and comprehensive codes, and investment in hematology practitioners.
ASH Submits Comments to Senate Finance Committee Request for Feedback on Physician Payment Reform
Physician payment reform is the hot topic on Capitol Hill, and with that comes opportunities for ASH to provide input that supports the goals of the Society and our physician members. To end the cycle of uncertainty and lack of updates to physician payment under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS), Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Mike Crapo (R-ID) released a white paper discussing the issue. Included in the white paper are a series of questions meant to illicit feedback from stakeholders as to how the MPFS should be reformed. ASH submitted comments to Senators Wyden and Crapo that focused on a number of issues, including the need to provide annual inflation-based updates to payments.
ASH Letter to Energy and Commerce Committee Urging Markup of the Sickle Cell Disease Comprehensive Care Act 2024
ASH and 85 organizations signed a letter to the House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, urging them to markup the Sickle Cell Disease Comprehensive Care Act () as soon as possible. ASH sent emails to staffers in the House of Representatives and Senate to encourage support for this legislation ahead of World Sickle Cell Day. The Sickle Cell Disease Comprehensive Care Act would improve care for individuals with sickle cell disease through implementation of Medicaid Health Homes for sickle cell disease. Read the letter here and visit the ASH Advocacy Center to send a message to your Representative and Senators urging their support for this important legislation.
ASH Submits Comments on the Hospice Proposed Rule’s Request for Information on High Intensity Palliative Care Services
The Society recently submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) related to the Hospice for FY 2025. The proposed rule contained a request for information on payment mechanisms for high intensity palliative care services which includes blood transfusions. In this comment letter, the Society reiterated its commitment to making blood transfusions available to patients suffering from hematologic conditions who are at the end stage of life. The Society made several recommendations to CMS including creating a payment mechanism that appropriately covers the cost of administering blood transfusions, noting that the per diem rate for hospice care is not enough to cover the costs of blood transfusions and associated care. Additionally, ASH stated in comments that the lack of appropriate reimbursement for blood transfusions has created a barrier in access. The final rule is expected to be released in the fall.
In the meantime, ASH will continue to advocate for this important issue through other means, including sharing support for S. 2186, the Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act. ASH is also calling on members to continue elevating this issue with their representatives and legislators. Click here to take action.
ASH Submits Comments to FDA on Real-World Evidence Considerations re: Non-Interventional Studies for Products
ASH sent a letter earlier this week to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in response to the Agency’s draft guidance on the Real-World Evidence (RWE): Considerations Regarding Non-Interventional Studies for Drug and Products Guidance for Industry (). ASH’s comments expressed the Society’s support for the Agency’s overall guidance, and particularly the specific considerations provided around study design and analysis and the Agency’s interest in collaborative dialogue to ensure that these issues are handled appropriately. ASH also provided the Agency with a number of recommendations to help strengthen the final version of the guidance and ensure its successful implementation.