2018 U.S. Budget Agreement Contains Key Wins for ONS—Plus an Area of Concern

Key Win: Medicare Part B Drug Costs Excluded From MIPS Consistent with ONS advocacy efforts, the law revises the Medicare Access and Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act to exclude Medicare Part B drug costs from the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) payment adjustments and eligibility calculations. Created to keep Medicare entitlement spending under control, the IPAB required a board of nonelected government officials to recommend changes to the Medicare program when spending exceeded a targeted growth rate. Key Win: CHIP Reauthorized Through 2027 ONS has advocated in support letters and Capitol Hill meetings for the reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to ensure access to health care for children, including those with pediatric cancer.