ACCCBUZZ BLOG

Many patients with cancer now enjoy the invaluable benefits and flexibilities that telehealth makes possible. Patients have more convenient access to appointments, increased support from family caregivers who can attend virtual visits, and more time to focus on their work and families. Olalekan Ajayi, PharmD, MBA explains how the Telehealth Modernization Act can make this expanded healthcare access available beyond the pandemic.

In March 2021, ACCC joined other stakeholders in stating our support of the Access to Genetic Counselors Services Act to update Medicare law and improve access to genetic counselors for Medicare beneficiaries. Now, ACCC is supporting S. 1450, a bill that would authorize CMS to recognize certified genetic counselors as healthcare providers.

As City of Hope embarkes on the development of an experimental COVID-19 vaccine currently in a phase I clinical trial, ACCCBuzz spoke with Dr. Sanjeet Dadwal about the investigational vaccine’s safety and efficacy, potential emergency use authorization (EUA), and suitability for patients with cancer.

Survivors of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancers face greater financial hardship in adulthood than adults without a cancer history, according to a study published this month in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Learn how the Children’s Cancer Cause is closely studying financial toxicity in childhood cancer survivors and working to identifying policy solutions to help.

Older adults with cancer are consistently precluded from participating in clinical trials for promising new treatments. A multi-pronged approach is required to ensure trials are developed for all patients, including paying specific attention to inclusion/exclusion criteria and creating clinically meaningful endpoints that can enhance enrollment efforts in underserved populations.

This year's ACCC 2021 Virtual Hill Day, which will take place May 12, will offer ACCC members a new way to experience advocacy trainings, legislative briefings, and Congressional meetings from the comfort of their home or office. This year, ACCC's legislative priorities will focus on the Telehealth Modernization Act and the Safe Step Act of 2021.

The disparities in prostate cancer are striking. In the United States, Black men continue to experience a far greater incidence of new prostate cancers and are 2.2 to 2.5 times more likely to die from the disease than any other racial/ethnic group. Taking action to close these gaps is an imperative for moving toward equitable cancer care.

The interactive and virtual ACCC Financial Advocacy Network Town Hall: Tips for Tracking Impact, held March 23, 2021, featured financial navigation experts sharing tips and tools to address patient financial need. The town hall is now available on demand.

ACCC released its compact geriatric oncology guide for community cancer centers to help cancer care teams improve treatment decision-making, guide supportive care interventions, and improve patient and caregiver satisfaction. This guide will provide you with the information you need to efficiently conduct comprehensive geriatric assessments in your cancer program or practice.

While the coronavirus has negatively affected many healthcare services, it has had a particularly significant impact on patients previously diagnosed with other diseases—including cancer. In some cases, that impact has had devastating consequences for patients.

LGBTQI+ communities have a long history of experiencing barriers to healthcare, have increased risk factors for cancer, and are less satisfied with their cancer care. One survey demonstrates that these patients want their providers to show them they are welcome and make that welcome real.

Poor access to care among AYA patients is not only evident in low clinical trial enrollment. The struggle to access much-needed care continues when treatment concludes. Most AYA cancer survivors must learn to navigate follow-up medical care on their own.

Advances in cancer treatment often mean that patients have multiple therapeutic options to choose from. As a result, engagement in decision-making is more important than ever.

To help address the ongoing prevalence of colorectal cancer, ACCC is inviting its members to submit proposals for quality improvement initiatives in treating metastatic forms of this cancer.

Led by the Prevent Cancer Foundation, ACCC has joined more than 300 organizations in signing a letter urging the passage of the MCED Screening Coverage Act, which will help cancer care providers be able to use the latest testing technologies to improve quality of life and better patient outcomes.

The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan (ARP) is a comprehensive attempt to address the problems raised by the COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying economic disruption. This post examines COBRA and marketplace subsidy provisions, which are expected to extend insurance coverage to millions of Americans.

The Road to Recovery Report makes specific recommendations for maintaining the adaptations made necessary to accommodate the disruptions caused by the pandemic. Where possible, the report recommends building on that momentum to spur much-needed change in cancer care and research.

ACCC President Krista Nelson, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, FAOSW, shares with us why she believes the theme of this year’s Social Work Month is important and how it ties into her own theme as ACCC’s new president.

Insurer mandates requiring patients to have their therapies dispensed via “brown bagging” or “white bagging” are becoming increasingly common. Oncologists treating patients whose insurers require these methods of pharmaceutical procurement have identified problematic issues with them, including concerns about patient safety, proper care coordination, potential treatment delays, and drug waste.

Montana is one of the most rural states in the U.S., with nearly half of its population living in rural regions. Accordingly, accessing healthcare services can be difficult for Montana’s citizens, and gaining access to clinical trials is particularly challenging.

At the ACCC 47th Annual Meeting & Cancer Center Business Summit (AMCCBS) this week, panelists discussed the appropriate use of telehealth in cancer care, debated the continuation of such care as the pandemic recedes, and addressed persistent gaps in oncology services in diverse populations.

The ACCC 47th Annual Meeting & Cancer Center Business Summit (AMCCBS) opened today with an overview of the rapidly changing national political climate and what it may mean for healthcare policy in the months and years ahead.

One member of your cancer care team who plays an essential role yet often goes unrecognized is a patient’s caregiver. With the added work caregivers have had in the past year to keep their loved ones safe during the pandemic, the work they do is even more important today. To support cancer care teams looking to address the critical role caregivers play in patient support, ACCC recently launched a free, one-hour on-demand webinar.

COVID-19 has highlighted how challenging it is for cancer care providers large and small when healthcare resources are limited. One oncologist shares her experience on a task force that drafted a series of recommendations for moving forward in cancer care as the pandemic recedes.

AMCCBS Virtual sessions on Thursday, March 4, will focus on practical strategies for better managing your organization. There is no specific roadmap to success for your cancer program or practice, but AMCCBS Virtual can help by hosting sessions that will share new perspectives and ideas for expanding your service line portfolio to better meet the needs of your patients.

On February 15, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services opened healthcare.gov for a special enrollment period that runs through May 15. “By opening the health insurance marketplace, President Biden is providing our patients with options they did not have available to them before,” says Lori Schneider, chair of ACCC’s Financial Advocacy Network and oncology operations manager at Green Bay Oncology. “It is imperative that all cancer centers review and discuss these options with their patients to help prevent financial toxicity.”

On Wednesday, March 3, AMCCBS Virtual will focus on cancer service line efficiency and revenue optimization. Some of the biggest impacts on cancer programs and practices stemming from the pandemic have been regarding their clinical and financial performance. Attendees will gain new perspectives and learn new strategies to help them navigate and potentially rebuild their service lines to meet the demands and challenges brought on by COVID-19.

On Tuesday, March 2, AMCCBS Virtual will focus on timely, real-world case studies from organizations that used the opportunities created by the pandemic to forge new paths forward. On March 2, sessions will focus on telehealth, virtual care, and remote monitoring. Speakers will address and lead conversations about the multiple and changing roles of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic.

World Cancer Day—observed February 4—is an opportunity to pause and listen to the stories of cancer survivors from across the world. This year, ACCCBuzz spoke with Nicole Schulz, who was first diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia at 14 years old. “I’ve been in the cancer world for 15 years now,” said Nicole. “World Cancer Day is one of my favorite days of the year to get the message out—especially now during the pandemic. Everybody needs to remember that cancer doesn’t stop for it [COVID-19], and patients are still in need.”

ACCCBuzz sat down with ASCO's Dr. Richard L. Schilsky to look back on his career and look forward to the future breakthroughs in this era and beyond.