Community Oncology Alliance

“Quality” and “value” have been used as buzzwords for decades in cancer care and there remains a lack of alignment and consensus on what that truly means. That's why COA is proud to release our Quality and Value Standards. The Standards serve as a foundation for oncology practices who want to ensure the provision of high-quality care, participate in certification programs, and discuss & demonstrate what quality care is with patients, employers, and other payers. Learn more about COA’s Quality and Value Standards for cancer care: https://bit.ly/4dUhPdr #CancerCare #CommunityOncology

Cancer can be overwhelming. COA’s Community Oncology 101 video series helps patients better grasp some of the most common lingo in diagnosis and treatment from “prior authorization” to “cancer staging.” Watch Community Oncology 101: https://bit.ly/4gt5nmQ #CommunityOncology #HealthLiteracyMonth

Local advocacy creates national change. Check out Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY (HOA), a COA Patient Advocacy Network (CPAN) chapter in Central New York. HOA engages with policymakers to discuss cancer care policy with support from CPAN tools, such as Sit In My Chair visits. These visits bring state and federal policymakers to practices to experience the patient journey firsthand and see the exceptional care that independent, local practices like HOA provide to patients. Beyond New York, HOA staff use CPAN resources to advocate on Capitol Hill. Learn more and how to get involved with CPAN: https://bit.ly/4epyzJA #CancerAdvocacy #CancerAdvocates #CancerCare #CommunityOncology?

Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) force patients to wait weeks or months for their oncologist-prescribed medications. Beyond stress and aggravation, these treatment delays can worsen cancer progression and contribute to death, like Derek’s story. Derek, a young husband, was diagnosed with advanced melanoma that spread to the brain. The prognosis was bleak; however, Derek and his wife found hope when his doctor prescribed a new drug, potentially extending his life. Yet the PBM delayed his prescription until it was too late and sadly, he died while waiting for the medication. https://bit.ly/47Cz0Ov #PBM #PBMReform #PharmacyBenefitManager

Yesterday, Utah Cancer Specialists hosted Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Commissioner Melissa Holyoak and COA Managing Director Nicolas Ferreyros for a site visit in Salt Lake City to discuss the important need for PBM reform and FTC action. We were also joined earlier for a lunch with US Congress Representatives Blake Moore (R-UT, 1st District) and Celeste Maloy (R-UT, 2nd District). We had the opportunity to show them the essential role independent oncology pharmacies play in ensuring that patients with cancer receive the treatments they need without delays or barriers. The discussion focused on how PBM abuses negatively impact patients and consumers. In particular, we highlighted how PBM practices contribute to anti-competitive behaviors that harm patients and consumers, creating monopolies that limit access to affordable, timely cancer treatments. A big thank you to Commissioner Holyoak, Congressman Moore, and Congresswoman Malloy for their time, attention, and thoughtful engagement on this critical issue. We are hopeful that real progress is on the horizon for robust PBM reform to protect access to community-based cancer care. Together, we can make a difference for patients with cancer and other serious diseases across the country. #CommunityOncology #PBMs #FTC #Advocacy #CancerCare #HealthPolicy

COA’s Fellows Initiative invests in the next generation of community oncologists. Our Career Opportunities database helps medical fellows connect with community oncology practices nationwide. Fellows can search our database and practices can submit openings: https://bit.ly/3ZKckKv Are you an oncology fellow but not yet a member of the Fellows Initiative? Sign up at MyCOA and join the COA Fellows Initiative today: https://bit.ly/3XXLzAT #CommunityOncology #OncologyJobs?

Tune in Wednesday, October 16, at 12 p.m. ET to learn about the importance of pharmacists to independent community oncology practices. Pharmacists do so much more than dispense medication. During the October CPAN Advocacy Chat, guests Lisa Sowinski-Raff and Judith Alberto, MHA, RPh, BCOP will talk to host Rose Gerber, MS about the key functions pharmacists perform to support patients day in and day out, not just when they need their medication.

Are you on a pharmacy team and want to better understand changes for Medicare Part D beneficiaries in January 2025? Join COA’s Judith Alberto, MHA, RPh, BCOP, director of clinical initiatives and leader of the Community Oncology Pharmacy Association, as she hosts a webinar on Tuesday at 1 pm ET about the new policies, what to expect, how to navigate the $2,000 spending cap, Medicare Prescription Payment Plan “smoothing,” and much more. Register now: https://bit.ly/47x6KNe Hear from Austin Cox of Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Ashley Flint of Avalere, Yen Nguyen, Pharm D of Oncology Consultants and Lisa Sowinski-Raff of OneOncology. #CommunityOncology #Medicare

The people, the culture, and the diversity of Richmond, Va., are what made Dr. Donny Wade fall in love with his community. The opportunity to give back to his neighbors and friends is what made him decide to move back to Richmond and practice community oncology. Watch Dr. Wade’s story in the latest Faces of Community Oncology feature: https://bit.ly/3SZf1Du #CommunityOncology

It's been quite a week for COA! We started Monday with an exciting policy win as the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5526, the bipartisan?Seniors’ Access to Critical Medications Act.?We then went on to host a successful Hill Day where our coalition of advocates urged lawmakers to advance robust pharmacy benefit manager reform and also had the opportunity to share our thanks for their efforts to advance?H.R. 5526.? We closed out the week with a productive board meeting where we discussed priorities for the 119th?Congress as well as our future goals for independent community oncology. #StarkLaw #CommunityOncology #HR5526 #CancerCare https://lnkd.in/gRSjD3iE