Comments on Interim Final Rule for CAP

In comments (click "here" at the bottom of ACCC news release page) submitted April 26, 2005 to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) questioned the practical application of the now suspended Competitive Acquisition Plan (CAP) Interim Final Rule that was planned to go into effect January 1, 2006. The implementation of the CAP program will be delayed until the vendor competitive bidding process is re-established. According to the ACCC, the program as presented in the Interim Final Rule would add an administrative burden to physicians that may discourage participation in CAP, causing access to cancer drugs through the program to diminish.  ACCC recommended CMS take steps to both reduce the administrative burden of CAP and provide increased compensation to offset the increase in administrative costs. In addition, ACCC recommended changes of policy regarding the acquisition of drugs from CAP vendors.