icba.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050817/NYW098LOGO )
Community Oncology Clinics provide cancer care for over 84 percent of the
nation's cancer patients .

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"Legislators will get the opportunity to learn more about the issues
surrounding Latinos and HIV/AIDS.
This is a critical component of retaining $300 million in funding to
cancer care. Coble
Community Oncology Alliance
Press Officer
901-683-0055 x 1312

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The House today passed the bill H. 302-126. The President said he will sign it into law.
This bill makes great headway in resolving these concerns.7
billion -- nearly four times the amount intended by Congress when it passed
MMA. 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.

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For more information, visit
ICBA's website at http://www. The briefing is co-sponsored by the California State
Latino Caucus and is supported by Assemblywoman Cindy Montanez ."

WHO: Speaker of the Assembly Fabian Nunez
Assemblywoman Cindy Montanez
Oscar De La O, BIENESTAR
Michael H. Given cuts already made to the Medicare payment system, community
cancer clinics cannot absorb further payment reductions without adverse impact
on patient access to care.

The Community Oncology Alliance (COA) is committed to fostering and
protecting high quality, affordable and accessible cancer care for all
Americans battling cancer.

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m."
(Logo: http://www. The Community Cancer Care Preservation
Act of 2005 (HR 4098) will provide a true-up or reimbursement
correction for drugs that are increased (or decreased) in price by the
manufacturer.

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newscom.

The bill addresses a series of specific issues that impact quality and
access to care. The payment
system for these clinics is changing from AWP-based to ASP + 6% in
2006, with an additional 2% of ASP to cover pharmacy facilities. As documented in a recent study of 443
medical staff from 127 community cancer clinics, 40-50% of respondents
believed that the demonstration project improved frequency of severity
assessment of cancer pain, nausea/vomiting, and fatigue, thoroughness
of symptom assessment, and, very importantly, actual treatment of these
symptoms. Linda Bosserman, a
practicing community oncologist. Presently, there is significant momentum
behind the pay-for-performance approach for quality medical care.org.

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This is disruptive for patients and results in higher costs for both Medicare
and beneficiaries.

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"This is a win-win for everybody , both consumers and lenders," Fine said. He added, "Latinos represent
the largest and fastest growing ethnic group in California and the United
States.

-- Pay for pharmacy facilities. The demonstration project has enhanced the quality of
cancer care for patients.
Additionally , The Community Cancer Care Preservation Act of 2005 directs
the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to work with community
oncology in defining measures of quality cancer care.

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"We are grateful
for the leadership of Congressman Ramstad on this issue," said Leonard Kalman,
MD President of COA. A 2005 study by PriceWaterhouseCoopers indicated
that the impact of MMA upon cancer clinics was a 10 year reduction of $15. The bill will reimburse community cancer
clinics for pharmacy facilities at 2% of ASP, which is what CMS intends
to pay outpatient hospital clinics that administer drugs.
In late 2004, CMS averted a crisis in cancer care for 2005 by implementing
the demonstration project and other payment changes.

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It will curtail
abuses in the bankruptcy system that have raised the cost of credit for all
Americans.m. This
provision will make sure that community oncology is involved in arriving at
viable solutions.
For additional information, contact Steve Coplon, COA Co-Executive
Director, 901-683-0055 ext.

Contact information:
Deborah D.

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These include:

-- Fix critical aspects of ASP .

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WHEN: Tuesday, March 21, 2006
1:30 p.

WHERE: State Capitol
Room 317

About BIENESTAR:
BIENESTAR is committed to enhancing the health and well-being of the
Latino community and other underserved communities. COA is underscoring that community cancer clinics are facing a
substantial cut in Medicare funding for cancer care of at least $500 million
in 2006.

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The bill creates a needs-based bankruptcy formula that would direct filers
into Chapters 7 or 13 depending on their ability to pay. Montgomery, California State Office of AIDS
Trista Bingham, California State Office of AIDS
Frank Galvan, Charles Drew University
Marvin Pineda, Office of Senator Gil Cedillo

WHAT: Legislative briefing on Latinos and HIV/AIDS.

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R.

First Ever Legislative Briefing on Latinos + HIV/AIDS in California Cosponsored by State Latino Caucus

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The
bill seeks to improve the impact of the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) upon
the delivery of cancer care in Community Oncology Clinics.

"Congressman Ramstad, along with many other members of
Congress, understands our concerns about patient access and quality care. This will correct the current problem whereby community
cancer clinics are subsidizing Medicare for six months on average for
price increases. Additionally , the bill will eliminate prompt payment
discounts from the calculation of ASP.

-- Extend the demonstration project.

Meanwhile, COA intends to provide CMS and the Congress with data
supporting the need for additional reimbursement codes covering essential
services such as treatment planning. Furthermore, many hospitals around the country have
informed community cancer clinics that they are not able to provide treatment
to additional patients.

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org. The chemotherapy demonstration
project would be extended at its current funding level through 2006.

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ICBA aggregates the power of its members to provide a voice
for community banking interests in Washington, resources to enhance community
bank education and marketability, and profitability options to help community
banks compete in an ever-changing marketplace. BIENESTAR will host the first ever California State legislative briefing
on Latinos and HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS must be
addressed in a comprehensive way addressing issues of substance
abuse, mental health, lack of health insurance, cross -border
issues, language and cultural barriers, and HIV/AIDS stigma. - 3 p. This retained at least
$400 million in Medicare reimbursement for cancer care that was scheduled to
be cut in 2005.

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Fine praised
Congress today for passing a bankruptcy reform bill that was eight years in
the making. The Senate passed an
identical bill last month. HIV/AIDS poses a major health problem in this community. COA has been working with members of Congress and
CMS to avert any problems in 2006 by providing specific solutions, especially
ones that enhance the quality and affordability of cancer care for Medicare
beneficiaries and all Americans.communityoncology.

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WASHINGTON, The Community Oncology Alliance (COA)
is pleased to announce that Congressman HR 4098. Currently, the inclusion of
prompt payment discounts, which average about 2%, artificially depress
drug reimbursement rates from ASP + 6% to ASP + 4%. COA has an ongoing
committee on quality cancer care, which is chaired by Dr. The shift over the past 20 years from the
institution-based, inpatient setting to community -based, ambulatory sites for
treating the majority of the nation's cancer patients was prompted in large
part because of cost savings to the government and Medicare beneficiaries. For
additional information, visit: http://www.

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"ICBA congratulates the Congress for its commitment and persistence .

Community Cancer Care Preservation Act of 2005 Introduced in House of Representatives

This
provision puts community cancer clinics and outpatient hospital
facilities on the same basis for drug reimbursement and pharmacy
facilities.
In addition, the bill directs the Director of the National Cancer
Institute (NCI) to work with community oncology in developing a strategic plan
that is designed to increase the number of patients who enroll in clinical
trials , by improving patient education regarding clinical trials, facilitating
the clinical trial process , and ensuring the viability of conducting clinical
trials in the community oncology setting. Even with the retention of these funds in the Medicare
system, community cancer clinics around the country have reported sending more
patients to the hospital during 2005, especially in cases where ongoing
treatment is not viable because of reimbursement below actual clinic costs.

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WASHINGTON, The president and CEO of the
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), Camden R. "This bill will restore the principles of fairness and personal
responsibility to our bankruptcy system, while protecting and enhancing the
rights of consumers," he said. We will provide insights to issues that
need to be addressed in order to reduce the spread of this disease," said
BIENESTAR's Executive Director , Oscar De La O. The Community Cancer Care Preservation Act focuses on appropriate
corrections to align the impact of MMA with Congressional intent. 1119.

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"

About ICBA
The Independent Community Bankers of America represents the largest
constituency of community banks of all sizes and charter types in the nation,
and is dedicated exclusively to representing the interests of the community
banking industry. The Community Cancer Care Preservation Act
is a well thought out appropriate solution to the current situation.

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ICBA Commends Congress for Passing Bankruptcy Bill

BIENESTAR accomplishes
this through community education, prevention, mobilization, advocacy, and the
provision of direct social support services.
COA is concerned that cancer care is being shifted back to the hospital,
especially when that setting lacks the necessary infrastructure and is more
costly.

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