Resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should be commended for implementing the Medicare demonstration project to assess the quality of care of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and should extend the project through 2006, subject to any appropriate modifications.

        [Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 261 Engrossed in House (EH)]

H. Res. 261

In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

October 6, 2005.
Whereas chemotherapy for cancer patients is primarily furnished in physician
offices and is therefore subject to the revised method for determining
payment amounts;
Whereas in 2005 the Medicare program instituted a demonstration project to
assess the quality of care for patients undergoing chemotherapy by
collecting data on the impact of chemotherapy on cancer patients'
quality of life;
Whereas the demonstration project is a strong effort to improve the quality of
cancer treatment by assessing pain, nausea and vomiting, and fatigue;
Whereas the demonstration project reflects a foundation to evaluate important
patient services moving forward;
Whereas payment amounts under the demonstration project have mitigated the
significant reductions in Medicare support for chemotherapy services
that would otherwise have gone into effect;
Whereas reports by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Medicare
Payment Advisory Commission regarding any adverse effects from the
changes in the reimbursement method for chemotherapy services are not
due until late 2005 and January 1, 2006;
Whereas the demonstration project achieves the concurrent objectives of
collecting data to improve the quality of cancer care and maintaining
financial support for cancer chemotherapy pending the completion and
review of studies on the recent reimbursement changes;
Whereas it may be possible to modify the demonstration project to collect
additional or different data elements that would make it even more
useful in enhancing the quality of cancer care; and
Whereas it is essential that the access of Medicare cancer patients to
chemotherapy treatment be maintained and in the strong interest of
patients that the quality of their care be assessed and improved: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that--
(1) the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should extend
through 2006 the Medicare demonstration project to assess the quality of
care for patients undergoing chemotherapy, and then thoroughly review
the merits of the demonstration project;
(2) the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should use the
results of this demonstration project to develop a system to pay for
chemotherapy services under Medicare based on the quality of care
delivered and the resources used to deliver that care, including
physician performance;
(3) the demonstration project should be modified to accumulate even
more useful data relating to the quality of care furnished to Medicare
patients with cancer, such as the clinical context in which chemotherapy
is administered, and patient outcomes; and
(4) payments to physicians for participation in the demonstration
project should facilitate continued access of Medicare patients with
cancer to chemotherapy treatments of the highest quality.

Attest:

Clerk.