Word of mouth is spreading throughout the region that SWON provides substantial savings for community oncology and membership is free!

 

SWON welcomes our new members.

 

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center of Dallas

UT Medicine San Antonio/ UT Health Science Center

Charles L. Conlon, MD

Brazosport Cancer Center

Cancer Center Associates

Denton Oncology Center

The Board of Regents for the University of Oklahoma

The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders

Plano Cancer Institute
OU Physicians

Lone Star Cancer & Blood Disorders

Medical Oncology, LLC

Ping S. Chu, MD, PhD
 

Reddy Oncology Associates

 

Vista Oncology

 

Naz Medical Center

 

Plaza Cancer Specialists

 

 Center for Oncology Research & Treatment, PA

Southwest Hematology Oncology Associates

Kashif H. Ansari, MD, PA

Ahmad I. Qadri, M.D., P.A.

Lone Star Oncology Consultants, PA

Rohit Kapoor, MD, PA

Hematology Oncology Physicians Experts (HOPE)
Las Colinas Hematology Oncology

H. Alejandro Preti

Southeast Texas Oncology Partners

Hope Oncology

Abilene Hematology Oncology Group, PA

Collom & Carney Clinic

Clinical Oncology and Hematology
Cancer Specialists of South Texas, P.A.

Temple Cancer Clinic, PA

Houston Center of Hope

Dabas Cancer Clinic

East Texas Hematology Oncology

Hematology Oncology Life Center, LLC

Richard A. Artim, MD, P.A.

Victoria Cancer Care Oncology

Blood & Cancer Center of East Texas

Nadya Hashom-Jiwa, DO, P.A.

The Austin Diagnostic Clinic 

SWON negotiated a market superior price book for our membership.  After the pricing was secured, SWON negotiated an administrative fee with Oncology Supply and ION.

 

Many are asking how we are able to obtain better pricing - the answer is simple: SWON negotiates the pricing based on a competitive compliance model and actively marketing our contract and membership.  The SWON Rebate Program also serves as a 'supplemental' discount to assist practices even more.  Translation: SWON decreases the market basket of pricing by lowering the total drug bill with shared administrative fees.

 

 SWON will dedicate a percentage of its administrative fees to member practices commensurate with the total net volume of their purchases. Net volume rebates will be paid to member practices from SWON based on certain qualifications and criteria.

 

SWON members obtain superior pricing; one price match-all price match policy; quarterly rebates on purchases; additional rebates on generic and pharmacy pre-fill products; and additional services at a reduced fee or free. 

 

Oncology Supply and ION are SWON's exclusive vendor for the GPO.  Together with OS and ION, SWON will provide value and support to its members.

 

Interview Checklist--The 25 Forbidden Questions
 
Forbidden Questions-Age
  1. "How old are you?"
  2. "What is your date of birth?"
(You may ask, "Do you meet the state minimum age requirement for work?" and "Are you over 18 and under age 65?")
 
Forbidden Questions-Availability for Work and Travel
  3. "Can you work Saturdays and Sundays?"
  4. "Do you have children?"
  5. "What are your child care arrangements?"
(You may ask, "These are the hours of work-can you attend work during these hours?" and "Work sometimes requires overtime. Can you work such a schedule?" and "Do you have any obligations that would keep you from work-related travel?")
 
Forbidden Questions-Birthplace and Citizenship
  6. "Where were you born?"
  7. "What is your native language?"
(You may ask, "Are you legally authorized to work in the United States?")
 
Forbidden Questions-Clubs and Affiliations
  8. "To what organizations do you belong?"
  9. "Do you want to tell me about any of your memberships relating to the performance of this job?"
 
Forbidden Questions-Disabilities
  10. "Do you have a disability?"
  11. "Have you ever filed for workers' compensation?"
  12. "Have you ever been treated for any of the following conditions or diseases (followed by a checklist of various illnesses)?"
  13. "How many days were you absent from work because of illness last year?"
  14. "What prescription medications are you taking?"
  15. "Is there any health-related reason you may not be able to perform the job for which you are applying?"
(You may ask, "Can you perform the essential functions of the job for which you are applying?" and "Can you demonstrate to me how you would perform those functions?")
 
Forbidden Questions-Economic status
  16. "Have you ever had your wages garnished?"
  17. "Do you own your own home?"
  18. "How long do you plan to work on this job?"
  19. "Have you ever filed for bankruptcy?"
 
Forbidden Questions-Name
  20. "Have you ever had your name changed?"
  21. "What is your maiden name?"
(You may ask, "Is there any additional information we need about your name to verify your employment/education record?")
 
Forbidden Questions-Relatives
  22. "Who is the relative to be notified in case of emergency?"
  23. "Are you married?"
  24. "Do you have children?"
  25. "Do you plan to get pregnant?"
  
-HR Daily Advisor Newsletter

Q3 volume rebates are being calculated and rebate checks will be in the mail within 45 days!  The SWON Rebate Policy outlines the qualifications for eligibility.

 

For practices that qualify, SWON will dedicate a percentage of its administrative fees to member practices commensurate with the total net volume of their purchases.  Net volume rebates will be paid to member practices from SWON based on certain qualifications and criteria outlined below.
 
Qualifications
The qualifications to participate in the SWON Rebate Program are:
 
-Must be a SWON member in good standing
-Must have signed SWON Participating Agreement on file with SWON
 
Criteria
The SWON Rebate Program will be based on total net purchases from Oncology Supply for each calendar quarter.  SWON members rebate program will start at the first day of the next month from the signed enrollment (i.e. if enrollment date is June 20th then rebate start date is July 1st.).
 
Reporting
SWON volume rebates will be paid based upon purchasing reports provided by Oncology Supply.  Total Net Purchases are the total amount of ALL quarterly purchases at List Price (i.e. ZE payment terms), less any manufacturer off-invoice discounts (not including any manufacturer rebates or prompt pay discounts) minus credits applied to your account ,excluding payments applied to your account for this Program or Manufacturer pass-through credits.
 
Payment
Payments will normally be made within 45 days after the end of a calendar quarter. SWON reserves the right to change the terms or end this shared administrative fee program at any time.

 

Wednesday, October 2 - Noon Report

Last night's Senate vote on the financial rescue plan, a 74-25 victory, followed the pattern of Monday's House vote. The more conservative and liberal Senators voted against it as well as Senators in tight races. Since only one-third of the Senate must stand for re-election, the third category had much less impact than in the House.

On the House side, there are signs of positive movement on both sides of the aisle. Based on conversations with our contacts on the Hill, we believe as many as 20-25 members who voted against the package on Monday may now support the plan.

For some GOP Members, the raising of the FDIC insurance cap to $250,000 and the SEC's action on Tuesday to relax "mark-to-market" accounting rules have provided reasons to re-think their earlier opposition. Members of both parties have an interest in the tax break extenders and the Alternative Minimum Tax patch.

There is a slim chance the House may vote this evening, but a vote tomorrow is more likely.

 

 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today announced that, beginning October 1, 2008, it will publish most of the edits utilized in its Medically Unlikely Edit (MUE) program to improve the accuracy of claims payments.
 
"It is always our aim to ensure that CMS pays for appropriate services, at the same time protecting the Medicare Trust funds and the American taxpayer," said CMS Acting Administrator Kerry Weems.  "This program is going to help us dramatically reduce costly payment errors."
 
CMS established the MUE program to reduce payment errors for Medicare Part B claims.  Claims processing contractors utilize these edits to assure that providers and suppliers do not report excessive services.  The edits are applied during the electronic processing of all claims.
 
To view the entire Press Release, please see: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/press_releases.asp 
 
The edits will be published on the CMS Web site at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalCorrectCodInitEd/08_MUE.asp#TopOfPage

  

Local Coverage Determinations (LCD) Regulations

 

TrailBlazer is sensitive to issues providers are experiencing regarding the new MAC LCD regulations. With the award of the J4 MAC, TrailBlazer was mandated with creating uniform LCDs across this multi-state contract. CMS reviewed and approved the consolidated LCDs prior to their posting to the TrailBlazer Web site in December 2007, with these LCDs effective at cutover for each state. TrailBlazer's Contractor Medical Directors (CMDs) philosophically believe an LCD is never final. Providers may request TrailBlazer to reconsider (modify) any LCD. Providers may learn more about LCDs and reconsideration requests by referencing the article listed below:
 
http://www.trailblazerhealth.com/Tools/Notices.aspx?DomainID=1&id=12680
 

 

Q4 ASP Payment Amounts Available

 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has made available the Medicare Part B Drug and Biological Average Sales Price (ASP) Payment Amounts for October 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008 on the CMS website at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/McrPartBDrugAvgSalesPrice/01a_2008aspfiles.asp

 

The files are located in the \\\\"Downloads\\\\" section of this web page.

 
Texas Hematology/Oncology Files for Bankruptcy
 
Court records: Physicians group plans to reorganize

Friday, September 12, 2008
Dallas Business Journal - by Joyce Tsai Staff Writer
 
Dallas-based Texas Hematology/Oncology Center PA, which has served the Dallas-Fort Worth area for nearly 30 years, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The physician-owned organization, founded in 1979, employs about 100 physicians and employees. Its headquarters is on the campus of RHD Memorial Medical Center in Dallas.

It expanded its network in 2001 to include the Patients' Comprehensive Cancer Center in Carrollton, and in 2005, the McKinney Regional Cancer Center.
 
According to bankruptcy court documents filed in late August, the business owes an estimated 100 to 199 creditors, and has assets and liabilities of $10 million to $50 million.

 

More Newsworthy Topics can be found on the SWON website.  Click here.