CRANBURY, NJ (Oct. 12, 2022) The Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators’ (AONN+) Policy and Advocacy Committee recently joined the Cancer Leadership Council (CLC) in submitting a letter in response to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Request for Information (RFI) related to Medicare Advantage (MA).
The stated goal of the RFI was to seek public comment on the MA program and to gather input on ways to achieve CMS’ vision so that all parts of Medicare are working toward a future where people with Medicare receive more equitable, high-quality, and person-centered care that is affordable and sustainable.
In the CLC’s August 31 letter, members stated that, “there are currently substantial obstacles to accessing whole-person care in MA plans, as many plan policies and strategies delay or deny access to high-quality care. In addition, many MA plans fall short in achieving health equity.” Among the recommendations outlined in the letter is a call for a cancer care planning process of high quality and equitably provided to all MA enrollees who are diagnosed with cancer, to be a core element of an effort to address diversity, equity, and inclusion issues in MA plans.
“The entire CLC letter is a reflection on the benefits of navigation,” says AONN+ Program Director Sharon Gentry, MSN, RN, HON-ONN-CG, AOCN, CBCN. “The navigation process helps patients overcome healthcare barriers and provides them with timely access to quality medical and psychosocial care from before cancer diagnosis through all phases of their cancer experience. Patient navigation that is responsive to current challenges in cancer care has been identified as a viable solution to achieve cancer care equity and improve cancer disparities.”About the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators, Inc. (AONN+)
The Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators, Inc. (AONN+), is the largest national specialty organization dedicated to improving patient care and quality of life by defining, enhancing, and promoting the role of oncology nurse and patient navigators. The organization, which has more than 9,000 members, was founded in 2009 to provide a network for all professionals involved and interested in patient navigation and survivorship care services in order to better manage the complexities of the cancer treatment process. www.aonnonline.org
For Immediate Release
Gwen Coverdale, 267-884-6328
