The lazy days of summer are almost upon us and I look around and wonder when are we going to be able to be a little, well, lazy? Due to looming healthcare reform on the horizon (target: before the August congressional recess!?), we must continue communicating with our legislators the needs of community oncology and the patients we serve. The pressures we feel as a result of shrinking reimbursement, increased inventory costs, billing challenges, and bad debt can cause us to feel overwhelmed but we must remain engaged in this worthwhile effort.
PRICE MATCHING: SWON continues to place downward pressure on the drug costs through its Price Matching Program. Remember, if you find a better price on a product from a competitor, submit the appropriate documentation to Lesli Lord, Melissa Welch, or Brandon Osborn and we will work to match the price -not only for the submitting practice but for the entire membership within same terms (certain restrictions apply). In May, ZED/ZEC SWON'ers received lower pricing on the following products:
· Ceftriaxone 1 GM SDV 10/PK
· Irinotecan 20 MG/ML SDV 2ML
· Irinotecan 20 MG/ML SDV 5ML
· Pamidronate Liq 3MG/ML SDV 10ML
· Pamidronate Liq 9MG/ML SDV 10ML
· Pamidronate Liq 6MG/ML SDV 10ML
· Paclitaxel Inj 100 MG/16.7ML
· Carboplatin 450MG SOL MDV 45ML
· Trelstar Depot 3.75MG Mixject
Thank you, Brandon Osborn for all your help with the price matches and our SWON members who submitted the price matches!
MLN Matters SE0910- Special Edition: Clarification for billing Part B versus Part D for the anti-emetic aprepitant (Emend). The article provides information with regard to billing aprepitant when used as a complete replaced fro intravenous therapy or as a completion of a 48-hour regimen where IV aprepitant is given the day of chemotherapy and the oral medication is given days 2-3 or therapy. Click here for a copy of the article:
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/SE0910.pdf
