December Newsletter: Capitol Hill Updates, New Board Officers, and More! Happy Holidays From the COA Family

Published On: December 27th, 2021Categories: COA Newsletters
End of Year Update from Capitol Hill
Where the Build Back Better Act and Other Policies Stand As the Year Ends

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Typically, December is a slow month in Washington. In 2021, it’s been full of updates from lawmakers and regulators. Instead of leaving you hanging, COA has put together a quick brief on the biggest items facing cancer care providers and patients in 2022.
From the Build Back Better Act stalling out to the mysterious fate of the Oncology Care Model and Radiation Oncology Model, check out the update to set yourself up for a good start in 2022.

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Check out the full update on LinkedIn.
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COA Elects New Board Members, Certifies Officers for 2022
Kashyap Patel, MD, Reelected President and Two New Board Members Join

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The COA Board of Directors and has reelected Kashyap Patel, MD, as COA president for a second term and elected two first-time members. Aaron Ambrad, MD, of Ironwood Cancer & Research Centers, and Moshe Chasky, MD, FACP, of Alliance Cancer Specialists join the board as newcomers.
In addition to the elections of Drs. Patel, Ambrad, and Chasky, several members were reelected to serve an additional term on the board and/or chosen to serve as members of the Executive Committee.

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Read the full list of returning and departing members on the COA website.
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Don’t Miss Early Bird Pricing for the 2022 COA Conference!
Pricing Deal Expires January 20

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What’s better than attending the 2022 Community Oncology Conference? Saving money while doing so. If you’re a COA practice member or affiliate, medical professional, or advocate, you can save 20 percent if you register by January 20!
The 2022 Conference is March 17-18 at the Gaylord Palms Hotel in beautiful Kissimmee, FL. We’re looking forward to a fun, educational, and safe meeting. Will you be there?

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Register today and don’t miss out on community oncology’s conference of the year!
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COA-Organized Working Group Shares Solutions to Prior Authorization
New White Paper Identifies Methods of Reducing Prior Authorization Pain Points

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The prior authorization system was designed to help patients by preventing unnecessary procedures and ensuring the most cost-effective medicines were used during treatment. In recent years, the system has become a burden, interfering with physician decisions and even stopping needed treatment.

A group of national experts has now created, “Prior Authorizations: Where Are We and Where Can We Go?”, a white paper that identifies common points of friction between physicians and payers such as appeal processes and disconnect between medical and non-medical personnel and offers solutions.

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Read the full white paper on the COA website.
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Join COA or Renew Your Membership!
In 2022, Your Support Is More Crucial Than Ever

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Before you leave for the holidays, don’t forget to renew your COA membership or become a COA member! COA advocates for you and your patients year-round and needs your support to do it.

Your support helps COA staff get in front of lawmakers and industry giants alike. With 2022 shaping up to be a busy year, it is vitally important that community oncology be represented using the best resources around. Your financial support ensures that the voice of community oncology is a loud, respected voice in the halls of Congress and statehouses around the country.

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Pledge your support using the COA membership renewal letter on the COA website.
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Webinar: The Crystal Ball for Oncology in 2022, a CPAN Advocacy Chat
What We Can Expect from Policymakers in the New Year?

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We’re kicking off 2022 with a familiar face: COA’s Executive Director Ted Okon is the guest for the January 2022 CPAN Advocacy Chat. The policy world is buzzing with activity, and attendees of this session will be prepared to act and react to the biggest changes. 2022 is a midterm election year, and both sides of the aisle are trying to pass big ticket items to score points with voters. Okon will cover the fate of the Build Back Better Act, aka President Biden’s megabill, efforts to stop pharmacy benefit manager abuses by Congress and regulators, the latest in the 340B wars, and more. Don’t miss this chat on Wednesday, January 12 at noon ET.

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Register for the January 2022 CPAN Advocacy Chat!

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