COA expresses concerns on Medicare IPI proposal

The Community Oncology Alliance (COA) recently submitted formal comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the Medicare Program International Pricing Index Model for Medicare Part B Drugs pre-proposed rule, also known as the IPI Model.

The letter explains that although community oncology is very concerned about escalating drug costs and the high costs of cancer care, it does not support a mandatory, national experiment on patient care as proposed in the IPI Model. The COA has serious concerns about its impact of the IPI Model on the care received by patients with cancer, the impracticality of its design, and its legality, and therefore strongly urges CMS not to move forward with it.