Cancer Care Cuts in Medicare Prescription Drug Bill Far Exceed Congressional Estimates According to Updated PricewaterhouseCoopers Study
Posted on: Wednesday, 21 September 2005, 12:00 CDT
WASHINGTON, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- According to an updated study released on September 20th by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the cuts in Medicare reimbursement for cancer care contained in the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) are an estimated $15.7 billion from 2004 through 2013. This exceeds the MMA Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimate of $4.2 billion by $11.5 billion.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050817/NYW098LOGO )
Earlier this year, PwC estimated that the Medicare cuts for cancer care were $13 billion over the same period based on actual Medicare reimbursement; however, the new, higher estimate of $15.7 billion is based on updated reimbursement information provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
"We are very concerned that the large reductions in Medicare funding for cancer care will significantly hinder our ability to continue to deliver high quality, state of the art cancer care to patients in their local communities," states Leonard Kalman, MD, a practicing medical oncologist and President of the Community Oncology Alliance (COA). "We are facing a real crisis starting in 2006 with these Medicare cuts."
The PwC study was commissioned by COA, a non-profit organization representing community cancer clinics reimbursed under Medicare Part B for the cancer care they provide. Currently, over 80% of Americans battling cancer are treated in community cancer clinics.
For additional information contact Dianne Kube, Community Oncology Alliance, 202-756-2258.
The Community Oncology Alliance (COA) is committed to fostering and protecting high quality, affordable and accessible cancer care for all Americans battling cancer. COA's vision is to strongly promote initiatives that further enhance the quality and affordability of cancer care, which along with accessibility have been hallmarks of cancer treatment delivered in the community setting where over 80% of Americans with cancer are treated. For additional information, visit: http://www.communityoncology.org/ .
Contact Information: Deborah D. Coble Community Oncology Alliance Press Officer 901-683-0055x1312 901-831-1010 cellular
Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050817/NYW098LOGO
Community Oncology Alliance
CONTACT: Deborah D. Coble, Community Oncology Alliance, Press Officer,+1-901-683-0055 ext. 1312, +1-901-831-1010 cellular
Web site: http://www.communityoncology.org/
Source: PRNewswire
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