Federal lawmakers are presenting a united front in their battle to save Medicare reimbursements for anemia drugs. Reps. Anna Eshoo (D, Calif.) and Mike Rogers (R, Mich.) have introduced a bill to reverse a CMS decision to restrict reimbursements to low-dose levels of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs). The decision, issued in July, limits the duration of ESA treatment to a maximum of eight weeks after a chemotherapy session and requires doctors to wait until hemoglobin levels drop below 10 gm/dl before starting ESA treatment. The restrictions have come under fire from several groups, including the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the Association of Community Cancer Centers. Last month, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution asking CMS to reconsider its decision. The resolution introduced by Eshoo and Rogers on Sept. 27 was referred to the House Energy & Commerce Committee and the House Ways & Means Committee. It provides for Congressional disapproval of CMS' final decision and, if approved, would make the rule "have no force or effect."

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