JENKINTOWN, Pa., February 7, 2006 — With significant advances in cancer research and care, what can the medical community, patients and healthcare payors expect now and anticipate in the future? A prestigious panel of oncology and health care leaders will discuss the latest cancer advances at the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) 11th Annual Conference: Clinical Practice Guidelines & Quality Cancer Care™ on March 8-12, 2006, at The Westin Diplomat in Hollywood, Fla.
The conference also will address how practices will be affected by the 2006 CMS Oncology Demonstration Program (with the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines) and the latest evidence-based NCCN Guidelines recommendations. Attendees will learn about new cancer therapies and receive updates on emerging issues affecting the community of oncology. Sessions will cover the latest cancer research and treatments, with a special focus on renal, bone, lung, cervical and breast cancers, as well as melanoma.
Cancer Care in the 21st Century – Reality and Promise, a roundtable of oncology leaders assembled together for the first time on Thursday, March 9, at 8:30 am, will feature ABC News veteran and cancer survivor Sam Donaldson as moderator. The panelists will discuss a wide range of topics, including the most important advances in cancer care since the war on cancer was declared during the Nixon administration in 1972, the best research strategies to attain significant advances in the next 15 years, how pharmacogenomics is revolutionizing cancer care, and how the nearly 600 drugs and biologics currently in the pipeline will affect cancer care and costs. They are: Martin D. Abeloff, MD, Director, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins; Edward J. Benz, Jr., MD, President, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; David C. Hohn, MD, President and CEO, Roswell Park Cancer Institute; Senator Connie Mack, Chairman, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Insttute at the University of South Florida ; Beryl McCormick, MD, Clinical Director , Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; John Mendelsohn, MD, President, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center; John E. Niederhuber MD, acting director of the National Cancer Institute and Robert C. Young, MD, President, Fox Chase Cancer Center.
Oncology Practice Today: Quality Evaluation, Coverage, and Reimbursement, a roundtable on Friday, March 10, at 8:15 am, is moderated by Clifford Goodman, PhD, of The Lewin Group. The panelists will address coping with higher evidence thresholds for coverage of new treatments with Medicare and other payors, the changing environment for payment determinants, the downward payment pressure and its implications for cancer care delivery and patient access, linking payment to quality of care and health outcomes, and the challenges of measuring and validating the quality of cancer care.
The panelists are: Peter B. Bach, MD, MAPP, US Department of Health and Human Services; Joseph S. Bailes, MD, American Society of Clinical Oncology; Francois de Brantes, General Electric Company; Stephen B. Edge, MD, FACS, Roswell Park Cancer Institute; Patricia J. Goldsmith, National Comprehensive Cancer Network; Alice G. Gosfield, Esquire, Alice G. Gosfield and Associates; Allan Korn, MD, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association; Lee Newcomer, MD, United HealthCare; Mary Lou Smith, JD, MBA, Research Advocacy Network; Jane Weeks, MD, MSc, Dana-Farber/Partners CancerCare.
“The NCCN Conference is a rare opportunity to bring together top experts in the war against cancer, including NCCN physicians, community oncologists, nurses, pharmacists, senior leadership within the healthcare industry and the largest gathering of oncology fellows in the country,” said William T. McGivney, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of NCCN. “With its roundtables and small breakout sessions, the conference offers attendees personal access to participants.”
More than 1,000 medical and industry professionals are expected to attend. Visit www.nccn.org to register or to view a detailed conference agenda.
For an interview, please contact: Alison Ilg, 770-565-5440 or alisonilg@bellsouth.net