The challenges in cancer care require complex solutions. NOSN unites parties from different areas of oncology to respond to these challenges within the states.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (PRWEB) July 23, 2019
The National Oncology State Network (NOSN) held its 3rd Annual Partners Meeting, last month, with attendance by State Partners representing: Alabama, Alaska, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Utah, and Virginia.
The 2-day meeting included a review of NOSN’s 2018 accomplishments starting with the status of Cancer Caucuses in various stages of reinstatement, development and launch in the states of: California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Utah and Wisconsin. Also reviewed were pharmacy standards and state advocacy efforts specifically focusing on oral parity legislation, step therapy legislation and opioid legislation.
With the mission of NOSN in mind of fostering collaboration, sharing ideas, coordinating activities, unifying the voice of the states, and generating rapid response to emerging challenges within each state, the Partners brought troublesome access-to-care issues from their respective states. Discussions revolved around: Physician burnout, Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), lack of Medicaid payments for clinical trials, patient food insecurities, inconsistent oral parity laws, and unused drug recycling, to name a few. Some issues addressed, affecting specific states were: Certificate of Need requirement for any site of care to treat a patient in Michigan; Co-pay accumulators in Virginia, and prior authorization abuses in Illinois. All Partners acknowledged that their states share these and other similar issues.
Together, the Partners identified the Network’s 2020 top priorities:
1) Ensuring reasonable interpretation of USP Pharmacy Standards through monitoring and influencing states activities, creating an implementation fact sheet and checklist for all oncology practices in the nation, and education.
2) Partner with employer groups and business coalitions addressing access to oncology care for their employees while mindful of cost; and
3) Monitor state legislation ensuring consistency across state lines, specifically addressing legislation on: Prior Authorizations, Certificate of Need, Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBM’s), and Step Therapy, Oral Parity, Off-label law and Copay Accumulators.
Summarized by NOSN President, Mariana S-B Lamb, M.S., “The challenges in cancer care require complex solutions. NOSN unites parties from different areas of oncology to respond to these challenges within the states. NOSN’s focus for 2020 is “Patient Access Equality.”’
About The National Oncology State Network
The National Oncology State Network (NOSN) is an independent, 501(c) 6, non-profit action organization, established by state oncology leaders collaborating on emerging state issues in order to strengthen cancer care and policy across the country. NOSN currently represents 39 states.