Asco Association

See schedule o:accreditation & certification: the association conducts an accreditation program that promotes the practice of its members by maintaining and improving the quality of medical care available to the public and maintaining high standards of excellence in oncology. The quality oncology practice initiative (qopi) certification program ("qcp") provides a three-year certification recognizing high-quality and safe care for outpatient hematology-oncology practices. The qcp standards were adapted from the chemotherapy administration safety standards codeveloped by the association's related organization, the american society of clinical oncology, inc. (the society), a section 501(c)(3) organization, and the oncology nursing society (ons). They are intended to provide saftey to both patients and the care delivery staff by reducing the risk of errors and promoting the safe handling of chemotherapy agents. Participating practices receive site surveys by experienced oncology professionals to assess compliance with all qcp standards through interviews, observation, and medical record reviews. Participants receive reports documenting their level of compliance with each certification standard and making recommendations or requirements for improved care. Qcp certification recognizes high performing practices and is not required for any professional licensing, nor is it required of the association's members. 272 hematology-oncology practices consisting of 900 sites of service were actively certified in 2024. The asco certified certification recognizes patient-centered cancer care delivery adhering to the oncology medical home standards codeveloped by asco and the community oncolgy alliance (coa). Similar to qcp, participating practices receive site surveys by experienced oncology professionals to assess compliance with all asco certified standards through interviews, observation, and medical record reviews. Participants receive reports documenting their level of compliance with each certification standard and making recommendations or requirements for improved care. Once certified, participants are monitored annually for continuous quality improvement and resurveyed every 3 years. Asco certified is not required for any professional licensing, nor is it required of the association's members. 16 hematology oncology practices consisting of 143 sites of service were certified in 2024.

See schedule o:advocacy: the association's advocacy work focuses on achieving high-quality care for all patients with cancer. Working with volunteer members and affiliated state and regional oncology societies, the association engages with the administration, congress, and state policymakers to address issues of critical importance to cancer care and research. The association's advocacy portfolio includes clinical research, insurance, clinical practice, cost and access, survivorship, information technology, and cancer prevention. Advocacy activities include tracking, monitoring, analyzing, and influencing pending legislation and regulations, and educating both members and policymakers about the impact of policy on cancer patients, clinicians, and clinical research. The association's perspective is sought routinely by policymakers as they address challenges in cancer care and research. In 2024, the association was invited to testify before the house ways and means committee on the persistent and ongoing drug shortage crisis. The association was also one of only six medical societies invited to a meeting convened by the senate finance committee to explore potential improvements in the medicare physician payment system. In april of 2024, the association convened an advocacy summit where 170 oncology professionals conducted 220 visits with members of congress and their staff to share perspectives. Additionally, the association sent over 300 comment letters to congress, provided input on more than 60 state legislative proposals and conducted 400 meetings with members of congress and their staff for 2024. The asco 2024 annual meeting was the first annual meeting to host all three federal leaders of the primary agencies of relevance for cancer research and care the director of the national institutes of health, the director of the national cancer institute, and the commissioner of the u.s. Food and drug administration. The association also had 47 meetings with federal agency staff and leaders,sent 25 comment letters in response to federal proposals and regulations, and filed 7 joint amicus briefs to the courts.