Health Policy Reports

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• Ben Jones: Oncologists Still Face Challenges When Trying to Extract Data From EHRs
• House GOP Doctors Caucus Sends Letter to HHS Secretary Over Step Therapy Concerns
• President Trump Issues Executive Order on Pricing Transparency
• CAP Study Confirms High Price of Hospital Care
• Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Prescription Drug Pricing Legislation
• Lower Health Care Costs Act Passes Committee

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• The Network’s Ben Jones Discusses the Impact of Step Therapy in Medicare Advantage
• Bipartisan Bill to Improve Prior Authorization Transparency Introduced in House
• Drug Pricing Legislation Update: Cassidy Introduces Bill Package, Promotes Value-Based Payments
• CMS Seeks Fresh Ideas On How To Reduce Provider Administrative Burdens
• Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Healthcare Consolidation
• House Ways & Means Committee Holds Hearing on Universal Healthcare
• Pharmaceutical Companies Invest Heavily in Cancer Treatments
• Merck, Lilly and Amgen Sue HHS Over Drug Prices in Ads

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• The Network Hosts Congressman Kevin Brady for Employee Town Hall
• CMS Releases 2020 Medicare Advantage and Part D Drug Pricing Final Rule
• Senate HELP Committee Unveils Bipartisan Healthcare Legislation
• House Energy &Commerce Committee Holds Hearing on Drug Pricing Bills
• House Committees on Energy & Commerce and Ways & Means Release Draft Legislation to Reform Medicare Part D
• CMS Delays CAR-T Coverage Policy

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• The Network’s Dr. Patt Featured in the Austin American-Statesman
• New Court Ruling Orders CMS to Quickly Rectify 340B Pay Cuts
• FDA Issues Final Rule on Biosimilars
• CMS Finalizes Rule Requiring Drug Prices in Direct-to-Consumer Ads
• House Lawmakers Launch Effort to Block Site Neutral Payments
• Forty-Four States Sue Generic Drug Makers, Allege Price-Fixing
• Senate Judiciary Committee Examines Drug Patents
• Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health Holds Hearing on Drug Supply Chain

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• Congressman Mike Waltz Visits Southeast Regional Prostate Cancer Treatment Center
• The Network Joins Physician Groups in Opposing Repeal of the Stark Law’s In-Office Ancillary Services Exception
• ASTRO Survey of Radiation Oncologists Finds Prior Authorization Unnecessarily Delays Patient Access to Care
• CMMI Unveils New Primary Care Pilot Programs to Reform Payment to Providers
• House Rules Committee Holds Hearing, CBO Releases Report on Medicare for All
• House Energy and Commerce Holds Hearing on Prescription Drug Pricing in the Medicare Program
• House Judiciary Committee Marks-Up Drug Pricing Bills

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• IPI Model Continues to Pose Threat to Delivery of Community Based Cancer Care
• Members of Congress Tour Local Oncology Practices
• Bipartisan Bill to Limit Step Therapy Introduced
• Site Neutral Payments Lawsuit: Hospitals Argue CMS Can’t Ignore Statue
• Senators Question PBM Executives at Finance Committee Hearing
• Drug Price Transparency Bill Passes House Ways and Means Committee
• Medicare Expected to Announce CAR-T Coverage Decision Soon
• CMS Announces ACO Application Timeline to Begin in 2020
• Sanders Reintroduces Medicare for All Bill in the Senate

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• Members of Congress Urge Azar to Reconsider IPI Drug Pricing Model
• Alliance for Site Neutral Payment Reform Hosts Capitol Hill Briefing
• McKesson’s Ben Jones Discusses Cancer Care Policies with AJMC
• Department of Justice Argues Court Should Strike Down Entire ACA
• Federal Court Strikes Down Association Health Plan Rule
• House Energy & Commerce Committee Holds Mark-up Hearing on Drug Pricing Bills
• Energy & Commerce Subcommittee Chair: No Plans for 340B Oversight Hearings

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• The Network Submits Comments on Proposed IPI Drug Pricing Model
• MedPAC Releases Comments on Proposed IPI Model
• Federal Court Strikes Down CMS 340B Drug Cuts
• Pelosi Sworn in as Speaker of the House
• House Ways & Means Committee Leadership Urges Greater Transparency in CMMI Reform
• Senators Urge CMS to Establish Guardrails for Step Therapy Policy
• Government Shutdown Impacts & Updates
• Texas ACA Case Under Appeal
• Senate Confirms New Science Advisor and Drug Czar

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• Conservative Lawmakers, Groups Oppose the International Pricing Index
  (IPI) Model
• Alliance for Site Neutral Payment Reform Submits Comments on Final
  OPPS Rule
• Hospital Groups File Lawsuit to Stop Site Neutral Payments for E/M
  Services
• New HHS Report on Health Care Competition Urges Congress to Expand
  Site Neutral Payments
• HRSA to Implement 340B Ceiling Price Rule in January 2019
• Supreme Court to Hear Case On CMS’ Rulemaking Authority on January 15
• Democrats Nominate Nancy Pelosi as Candidate for House Speaker

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• House E&C Republican Pushes Back on International Price Index, Opposes Price Fixing
• CMS Administrator Seema Verma Discusses International Price Index
• AMA Resolutions Support Site Neutral Payments, Call for More 340B Program Transparency
• Oncologists Concerned by HHS Plans to Launch Mandatory Radiation Demo
• Senator Chuck Grassley to Chair Senate Finance Committee

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• 2018 Midterm Election Results
• The Network Responds to International Pricing Index Model for Medicare Part B Drugs
• Site Neutral Provisions Included in Final OPPS Rule
• CMS Releases Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule; Delays Payment Changes to E/M Visits
• HHS Announces New Radiation Oncology Alternative Payment Model
• In Letter to CMS, Congressman Holding Expresses Concern about Step Therapy in MA Plans

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• CMS Announces International Pricing Index (IPI) Model for Medicare Part B Drugs
• Lawmakers, Stakeholders Call on Administration to Rescind Step Therapy Proposal
• The US Oncology Network Announces Highly Positive MIPS Results for 2017
• President Trump Signs Package of Legislation to Combat Opioid Crisis
• Trump Administration Issues New Requirements for Drug Advertising
• Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers Urges CMS to Issue Guidance on Prior Authorization
• Mississippi and Colorado Medicaid Programs Require Hospitals to Provide More Information on 340B Drugs
• Senate, House Party Control Up for Grabs in Looming Midterm Election

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• Senate Passes Historic Opioid Legislation Sending Final Bill to President
  Trump
• House Passes $854B Spending Bill to Avert Shutdown
• CMS Announces Participants in New Value-Based Bundled Payment Model
• CMS to Strengthen Oversight of Medicare’s Accreditation Organizations
• CMMI Chief Adam Boehler Comments on ACO Participation
• CMS Updates Local Coverage Determination Process

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• US Oncology Network PAC Board Visits Capitol Hill
• Members of Congress Tour Local Oncology Practices
• The Network, Alliance for Site Neutral Payment Reform Submit Comments on OPPS Rule
• ASP Coalition Hosts Hill Briefing on Step Therapy Challenges
• Congress Reaches Deal on Opioids Package
• American Hospital Associate Unveils 340B Good Stewardship Principles
• Rep. Delbene Circulates Letter Urging CMS to Expand MIPS Low-Volume Threshold
• Bills Banning PBM “Gag Clauses” Headed for President’s Signature

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• The Network Submits Physician Fee Schedule Comments, Expresses
  Concern with Proposed E/M Service Cuts
• 240 Stakeholder Groups Call on Congress to Ask CMS to Reverse Step
  Therapy Proposal
• CMS to Allow Indication-Based Formulary Design for Part D Plans
• Hospital Groups Refile Lawsuit to Challenge 340B Cuts, Force
  Implementation of Ceiling Pricing Rule
• PhRMA Report Finds Hospitals Mark-up Prescription Drugs by up to 500
  Percent
• E&C Leaders Seek More Information on Role of PBMs in Impacting Drug
  Prices
• House E&C Committee Advances PBM Gag Clause Ban

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• The Network Responds to Health Care Innovation Caucus RFI on Value- Based Provider Payment Reform
• Congressman Erik Paulsen Visits Minnesota Oncology
• House Energy & Commerce and Senate HELP Committee Leaders Urge Effective Administration of 340B Drug Pricing Program
• HHS Issues Report on Administration’s Drug Pricing Actions to Date
• Senate Passes HHS Spending Bill
• HHS OIG issues Request for Information on Changes to Anti-Kickback Statute Safe Harbors
• Senate Plans to Act on Opioid Legislation Post-Labor Day

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• Brookings Institution Calls for Expansion of Medicare Site Neutral Payment Policies
• CMS to Require ACOs to Take on More Risk
• CMS Releases New Step Therapy Guidance for Medicare Advantage Plans
• Bipartisan House Lawmakers Urge HHS to Address Retroactive DIR Fees
• Senator Hatch, Rep. Walden Urge OMB to Fully Consider Safe Harbor Proposed Rule
• E&C Leaders Request Additional Info From 340B Contract Pharmacies
• Bipartisan House Committee Leaders Send Letters to Opioid Manufacturers

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• Site Neutral Payments, Further Cuts to 340B Included in OPPS Proposed Rule
• HHS Calls for Input on a Competitive Acquisition Program for Medicare Drug Procurement
• House Committees Hold Hearings on MACRA, Stark Law Reform
• HELP Committee Passes Bill to Ban PBM ‘Gag Clauses’
• House E&C Committee Requests FTC Review of PBM Mergers
• FDA Proposes Changes to Clinical Trial Review

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• CMS Releases Proposed Medicare Payment Rules for 2019
• Dr. Debra Patt Testifies Before House Panel on 340B Reform
• The Network Offers Comments to CMS on CAR-T Therapies MSDRG Assignment
• Groups Submit Comments to Trump Administration Drug Pricing Plan
• President Trump Nominates Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court
• Alex Azar Delivers Remarks at 340B Conference
• Appeals Court Denies Hospital Groups’ Challenge to 340B Cuts
• CMS Announces Demonstration Program that Would Exempt Doctors in At-Risk Medicare Advantage Programs from MIPS Participation
• FDA Administrator Gottlieb Delivers Remarks at National Comprehensive Cancer Network Policy Summit

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• Secretary Azar Discusses Administration’s Drug Pricing Blueprint Before Senate HELP Committee
• Congresswoman Matsui Introduces Bill to Reverse 340B Cuts
• Senate HELP Committee Holds Hearing on 340B Drug Discount Program
• Administration Declines to Defend ACA’s Pre-existing Condition Ban in Federal Court
• Administration Issues Association Health Plan Final Rule
• House Passes Dozens of Bills to Address Opioid Crisis
• SNIH Leaders Outline Plan to Fight Opioid Epidemic

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• A Message from The Network About “Right to Try”
• COA Sues HHS For Applying Sequestration to Part B Drugs
• HRSA Officially Delays 340B Penalties Rule
• Senate HELP Committee to Hold Hearing on 340B Drug Discount Program
• Bipartisan Bill to Lower Part D Drug Prices Introduced in the House
• CBO Report Finds President’s FY 2019 Budget Would Reduce Federal Health Care Spending by $1.3 Trillion
• Senator Bill Cassidy Presents Health Care Reform Ideas in White Paper
• Report Finds Drug Spending Doubled in the Past Five Years, Expected to Double Again in the Next Five Years

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• Administration Releases Drug Pricing Proposal
• CMS Releases Updated Drug Spending Dashboard
• CMS Urges Medicare Part D Plans to Stop Using Pharmacy Gag Orders
• COA Survey Highlights Physician Concerns with Part B Reform Proposals
• House Passes Right to Try Bill, Sending it to President Trump’s Desk
• House Energy & Commerce, Ways & Means Committees Advance Additional Bills to Combat Opioid Abuse
• Senate HELP Committee Hearing Examines Oversight of the 340B Drug Discount Program

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• Representative Scott Taylor Visits Virginia Oncology Associates
• President Trump to Deliver Speech on Drug Pricing This Friday
• HHS Secretary Azar, CMS Administrator Verma Deliver Remarks Before the American Hospital Association
• Alliance for Site Neutral Payment Reform Applauds Republican Study Committee Budget
• HRSA Delays 340B Rule for a Second Time
• Federal Appeals Court Hears Oral Arguments in 340B Cuts Lawsuit
• Survey Reveals ACOs Have Significant Concerns About Risk, Would Prefer to Stay in Track 1
• McKesson Chairman Testifies at House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee Hearing

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• Congressman Peter Roskam Visits Illinois Cancer Specialists
• The US Oncology Network Attends 2018 Community Oncology Alliance Annual Conference
• ASCO Analysis Demonstrates How Payment Bundles that Include Drug Costs May Destabilize Cancer Care Delivery
• CMS Releases FY2019 Inpatient Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule
• House Ways and Means Committee Holds Hearing on Innovation in Healthcare
• FDA Finalizes Guidance on Genetic Sequencing Development
• Poll Finds More Than Half of Americans Support Single Payer Healthcare

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• House Speaker Paul Ryan Announces Retirement at End of Term
• HHS Announces Adam Boehler as Director of CMMI
• MedPAC Recommends Update to Physician Fee-for-Service
  Payment Rates
• 340B Update: CMS to Allow Medicare Advantage Plans That Contract with Hospitals to Negotiate 340B Rates, Delays Rule to Set New Drug Ceiling Prices
• Key Congressional Committees Hold Hearings on Opioid Legislation
• Nearly 12 Million People Signed up for Health Insurance on the Federal Exchange

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• President Trump Signs $1.3 Trillion Omnibus Spending Bill
• CMS Finalizes Medicare Coverage for Gene Sequencing for Patients with Advanced Cancer
• Alliance for Site Neutral Payment Reform Issues Letter to Transparency Working Group
• Dr. Randolph Broun: The Biggest Threat to Local Cancer Care
• ASP Coalition Sends Letter to HHS Secretary Azar
• House Passes Right to Try Legislation, Senate Action Remains Unclear

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• House Fails to Pass Right to Try Legislation
• Senate HELP Committee Hearing Examines 340B Program
• House, Senate Committees to Hold Hearings on Opioid Crisis
• FDA Administrator Criticizes PBMs in Recent Remarks
• HHS Secretary Azar Discusses Value-Based Care, Drug Pricing Transparency
• CMS Rejects Idaho’s Plan to Sell Non-ACA Compliant Insurance Plans

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• HHS Releases Short-Term, Limited Duration Health Plans Proposed Rule
• CMS to Study Impact of MIPS on Clinicians
• Bipartisan Group of Governors Unveil Health Reform Blueprint
• Congress Holds Hearings on the Opioid Crisis, Bipartisan Treatment Bill Introduced in the Senate
• New Study Examines Hospital Impact on Chemotherapy Spending

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• Congress Passes, President Signs Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018; Key Provisions Support Community Oncology
• Administration Unveils FY 2019 Budget Request, Drug Price Proposals
• Azar Testifies on HHS’ FY 2019 Budget Request
• Hospital Group 340B Suit Granted Expedited Appeal

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• Senate Finance Committee Advances Alex Azar’s Nomination
• The Network Urges Congress to Exclude Part B Drugs from MIPS Payment Adjustments
• Hospitals Groups to Appeal 340B Lawsuit Dismissal
• House Energy & Commerce Committee Releases Recommendations to Reform 340B Drug Discount Program
• CMS Introduces New Bundled Payment Model

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• Federal Court Rejects Hospital Groups’ 340B Lawsuit
• Bipartisan Bill to Increase 340B Program Transparency Introduced in the House
• HHS Seeks Input from Stakeholders on How to Increase
  Competition, Expand Patient Choice in the Healthcare Marketplace
• President Trump Signs Tax Reform Legislation
• Congress Passes Short-Term Funding Package to Avert an End-of-Year Government Shutdown
• Senate Finance Committee Schedules Alex Azar’s Confirmation
  Hearing
• Senate Finance Committee Chair Orrin Hatch Announces Retirement

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• Study Shows 340B Program Drives Patients into Hospital Settings, Increases Costs/li>
• MedPAC Recommends Replacing MIPS with Alternative Program
• CMS Cancels Mandatory Bundled Payments for Cardiac Care While Rolling Back the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Program
• Fourteen Medical Societies Urge Congress to Protect Part B Therapy Access
• Senate HELP Committee Hearing Reviews Report on Drug Prices, House Energy & Commerce Committee Examines Drug Supply
  Chain
• CMS Releases 2016 National Health Expenditures Report

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• The US Oncology Network, Alliance for Site Neutral Payment Reform Submit Comments on CMMI Reform
• HHS Secretary Nominee Alex Azar Testifies Before Senate HELP Committee
• CBO Analysis Says Tax Bill Will Trigger $25 Billion in Medicare Cuts
• Bipartisan Bill Introduced to Block 340B Cuts

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• Alex Azar Nominated to be Next HHS Secretary
• House Energy & Commerce Committee Holds Hearing on
  Alternative Payment Methods
• New CBO Analysis Finds Repealing the ACA Individual Mandate Would Save $338 Billion
• Physicians Advocacy Institute Study Examines Hospital
  Employment of Physicians
• CMMI Report Outlines Episode-Based Payment Model for
  Radiation Therapy
• Hospital Groups File Lawsuit over 340B Program Cuts
• 113 Healthcare Stakeholders Send Letter Urging Seema Verma to Implement CMMI Guardrails

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• The US Oncology Network PAC Board Meets with Healthcare Policymakers in DC
• House Energy & Commerce Oversight Subcommittee Examines 340B Drug Discount Program
• President Trump Issues Healthcare Executive Order
• Trump Administration Terminates CSR Payments
• Trump Names Hargan as Acting HHS Secretary
• NIH Partners with Pharmaceutical Companies on $215M Cancer Moonshot Initiative

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• HHS Secretary Tom Price Resigns
• CMS Officially Withdraws Part B Drug Payment Demonstration
• Lawmakers Push for Delay of 340B Drug Cuts
• Graham-Cassidy Amendment Halts in the Senate, Repeals Future Now Uncertain
• House, Senate Unveil Competing Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Resolutions

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• Alliance for Site Neutral Payment Reform Submits Comments to CMS Payment Rules
• Lawmakers Thank HHS Secretary Price for Terminating the Medicare Part B Payment Model
• Senate Republicans Move Forward with Latest ACA Repeal Attempt
• CMS Announces “New Direction” for Innovation Center, Launches an Informal Request for Information
• House Energy & Commerce Committee Advances Healthcare Bills to Mirror CHRONIC Care Act
• House Ways & Means Committee Advances Stark Administrative Simplification Act
• AACR Releases 2017 Cancer Progress Report

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• The Network Submits Comments on CMS CY 2018 Quality Payment Program Proposed Rule
• The Network Responds to House Ways & Means Committee “Medicare Red Tape Relief Project” Request for Feedback
• Senate HELP Committee to Hold Hearings on Bipartisan ACA Fix
• Anthem Suspends Payment for In-Hospital MRI and CT Scans Performed on an Outpatient Basis
• New Studies Show Adverse Effects of Hospital-Physician Practice Consolidation
• CMS Advisory Panel Recommends Against Cuts to Hospital 340B Reimbursement
• HHS Office of the Inspector General Releases Two Medicare Part B Payment Reports

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• Senate Efforts to Repeal and Replace Affordable Care Act Fall Short
• The Alliance for Site Neutral Payment Reform Endorses Site Neutral Provision in FY2018 Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule
• House Ways & Means Committee Announces Red Tape Relief Projects to Reduce Medicare Barriers
• Medicare Part B Bill Passes in the U.S. House
• CMS Unveils Latest Update to Its Market Saturation and Utilization Data Tool

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• CMS Releases Proposed Medicare Payment Rules, HOPPS Rule Includes Proposal to Significantly Reduce 340B Drug Reimbursement
• House Energy & Commerce Hearing Holds 340B Drug Pricing Program Hearing
• Future of Senate Healthcare Bill Remains Unclear
• The US Oncology Network Joins Patient Advocates, Provider Groups in Support of Bipartisan Senate Prompt Pay Bill
• House Budget Committee Unveils FY2018 Budget Resolution
• Medicare Trustees Release Annual Report, Delay IPAB Trigger Until at Least 2019

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• Network Physician and Clinicians Pen Column on Cancer Care Transitions
• Senate GOP Releases Health Care Bill, Vote Postponed
• CMS Releases Proposed MACRA Rule
• MedPAC Issues Its June 2017 Report to Congress

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• The Network Joins 268 Groups Calling on Secretary Price to Protect Medicare Part B
• CMS Releases Estimated Financial Effects of the American Health Care Act
• HHS Secretary Price Testifies Before Congress on FY18 HHS Budget
• Senate HELP Committee Holds Hearing on Drug Pricing Reform
• American Medical Association Names Community Oncologist as President-Elect
• American Medical Association Study: Fewer Than Half of Physicians Owned their Own Practices in 2016
• New NCI Director Selected, NIH Director Stays in Place

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• House Advances AHCA
• President Trump Releases Budget Blueprint
• Seema Verma Confirmed as CMS Administrator
• Health Resources and Services Administration Delays 340B Rule
• MedPAC Releases Report to Congress; Reiterates Site Neutral Recommendations

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• House Republicans Introduce ACA Repeal and Replace Bill
• Seema Verma Approved by Senate Finance Committee
• MedPAC Discusses Part B Drug Reimbursement

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• McKesson Specialty Health Leaders Author AJMC Column on the Emerging Role of Immuno-Oncology Agents
• Bipartisan Legislation Aims to Tackle DIR Fees
• Tom Price, MD Confirmed as HHS Secretary
• CMS Nominee Testifies Before Senate Finance Committee
• House Republicans Release ACA Replacement Plan

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• President Trump Signs Executive Order Facilitating ACA Repeal
• Congress Passes Budget Resolution with ACA Repeal Instructions
• Senate Holds Confirmation Hearings on Congressman Tom Price as HHS Secretary
• January MedPAC Meeting Focuses on Physician Payment

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• The US Oncology Network Meets with Cancer Moonshot Leaders
• Congress Kicks Off Lame Duck Session
• President-Elect Trump Taps Former Officials for HHS Transition
• MedPAC Holds Meeting on Provider Consolidation

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• CMS Releases Final Medicare Payment Rules for 2017
• Alliance for Site Neutral Payment Reform Commends CMS for Finalizing Site Neutral Policy in HOPPS
• CMS Re-opens Applications for Certain APMS, Extends Oncology Care Model’s Availability to Cover 2017 Performance Year
• Senate Finance Members Released Bipartisan Proposal on Chronic Care Improvement
• CBO Submits Answers on Budgetary Effects of the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation