Signifying a change from 2007 enrollment trends, small practice oncology groups are enrolling directly in the Medicare Part B competitive acquisition program (CAP), BioScrip and several practices shared with OBR.
In early 2007, the Medicare Part B program’s vendor, BioScrip, reported that oncology scripts were written under the program, but very few oncology practices had signed up. “We had almost 300 internal medicine specialists enrolled in 2006,” said Russell Corvese, a BioScrip administrator. “Many had an oncologist in their practice writing the chemotherapy script.”
In 2008, however, oncologists—including several in the New York City area—enrolled during Medicare’s latest sign-up period, January 1 to February 15, according to BioScrip. This means that some oncologists are choosing to forego buying and billing drugs under the average sales price system (ASP) for their Medicare population and, for the moment, are sending a significant portion of their business to BioScrip.
Across specialties, there are approximately 3000 total physicians enrolled in the CAP. OBR will have an exclusive oncology enrollee breakdown, interviews, and analysis in an upcoming issue.
In early 2007, the Medicare Part B program’s vendor, BioScrip, reported that oncology scripts were written under the program, but very few oncology practices had signed up. “We had almost 300 internal medicine specialists enrolled in 2006,” said Russell Corvese, a BioScrip administrator. “Many had an oncologist in their practice writing the chemotherapy script.”
In 2008, however, oncologists—including several in the New York City area—enrolled during Medicare’s latest sign-up period, January 1 to February 15, according to BioScrip. This means that some oncologists are choosing to forego buying and billing drugs under the average sales price system (ASP) for their Medicare population and, for the moment, are sending a significant portion of their business to BioScrip.
Across specialties, there are approximately 3000 total physicians enrolled in the CAP. OBR will have an exclusive oncology enrollee breakdown, interviews, and analysis in an upcoming issue.
posted by Don Sharpe - www.oncbiz.com at
9:25 AM
2 Comments:
This is not an endorsment of CAP, but an indictment of ASP+6% and cutting your losses. Goodbye to the small practice model of oncology. Goodbye to community based oncology.
It is clear that the small practice economics will not work going forward but I suggest that it is not the end of community oncology. The model needs to change to reflect the changes in reimbursement. Integration of multi modalities of care into a physician owned and managed community-based practice can still work. Changing from a small cottage like business to one with professional managment and advanced business skills can affect the outcome of the practice. There are many examples around the country where this has shown to work. In this world, patients and providers win.
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