The Medicare Quality Cancer Care Demonstration Act of 2009 (H.R. 2872) in the United States is a federal program designed to improve the quality of cancer care for elderly individuals covered by Medicare, with a particular focus on approximately 45% of cancer patients who are beneficiaries of the Medicare program.
This legislation for the Medicare Quality Cancer Care Demonstration Act was proposed in the US congress by Congressman Artur Davis (D-AL), with co-sponsorship from Representatives Steve Israel (D-NY) and Mary Jo Kilroy (D-OH), aims to enhance the quality of care for seniors while also addressing cost control measures.
The Quality Cancer Care Demonstration (QCCD) project was developed by a community of oncologists, with inputs from policy experts, to be a national Medicare demonstration project focused on two key aspects of cancer care: treatment planning and end-of-life care. Treatment planning involves all essential components of establishing the cancer care plan and monitoring its effectiveness. End-of-life care involves all essential components of patient-centric cancer care, relating to individuals facing end-of-life planning and decision-making.
By the Medicare payment system, H.R. 2872 calls for national reporting of key metrics of evidence-based care, and also refines those metrics; develops new Medicare performance-based reimbursement system that is patient-centric and quality driven, while aligning better with cost control.
The bill includes the following elements:[1]