ACCCBUZZ BLOG

This is the first post in the blog series, “Notes on Nursing,” in which Robin Atkins shares her thoughts about her career as an oncology nurse. Here, she talks about not only why she became an oncology nurse, but also why she chooses to STAY a nurse.

“For me, this experience was excellent, and I felt prepared with the preparation ACCC offered,” said Jared Kast, RT(T), MHA. The successful ACCC Virtual Hill Day—held May 12, 2021—brought together ACCC members and state lawmakers. Learn more about what issues were discussed and members' experiences in this new virtual format.

In March, the Wisconsin legislature passed the 2021 Wisconsin Act 9 with overwhelming bipartisan support. Enactment of this PBM reform legislation establishes, for the first time, PBM oversight in Wisconsin.

No one disputes the need to rein in U.S. healthcare costs. However, for patients with cancer and the providers who care for them, the increasing burden of prior authorizations, step therapy requirements, and the lack of transparency regarding certain PBM business practices add on costs. Find out what advocates in Tennessee are doing to enact reform at the state level.

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month! Learn how the Cancer Support Community's patient guides help patient health literacy and promote shared decision-making.

ACCC recently released its 2020 Trending Now in Cancer Care report, an annual initiative that seeks to identify current and emerging trends in cancer practices and programs across the country.

This is the first of a monthly blog series on how the author created a streamlined oncology service line within her health system to help improve clinical outcomes across all sites.

Each May, Bladder Cancer Awareness Month helps highlight the facts about bladder cancer, promote awareness about the disease, and call for more investment in research, treatment, and care. This year’s theme emphasizes the importance promoting conversations about bladder cancer and its symptoms, treatments, and management.

The Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act would give Medicare beneficiaries living in medically underserved communities access to patient care services delivered by their state-licensed pharmacists. ACCC spoke with APhA's Dr. Scott Knoer to learn more about this legislation and how it can help patients.

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.