Leadership in Oncology Navigation
Transform care through our navigation training and credentialing program.
Professional, non-clinical patient navigation is an evidence-based intervention that improves cancer outcomes from screening through survivorship. The American Cancer Society Leadership in Oncology Navigation (ACS LIONTM) is a standardized training and credentialing program that helps navigators deliver this essential support to individuals, caregivers, and families experiencing cancer. The program meets the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) training requirements for "Principal Illness Navigation" reimbursement and is aligned to professional oncology navigation (PONT) standards.
Benefits of patient navigator training and credentialing
Program benefits for navigators:
- Greater credibility with the formal endorsement of your patient navigation expertise
- Improved knowledge and skills of the complex cancer care system
- Enhanced understanding of how to tailor support by patient needs
- Preparation for greater responsibility and professional development
Program benefits for oncology practices:
- Enhanced role clarity and defined scope for non-clinical patient navigators
- Increased recognition and commitment to the diverse needs of patients, caregivers, and community
- Ability to meet CMS training requirements for providing principal illness navigation services eligible for reimbursement
This program was developed with specific training for CMS-required competencies announced as part of the 2024 Physician Fee Schedule and alignment to the PONT standards. It is uniquely designed to support successful billing for non-clinical navigation services under CMS Principal Illness Navigation (PIN).
Who is this program for?
The ACS Leadership in Oncology Navigation training and credentialing program is designed for any individual or organization seeking recognition for providing professional non-clinical navigation aligned to CMS competencies and professional oncology navigation (PONT) standards, including but not limited to:
- Patient Navigator/Oncology Patient Navigator
- Professional Navigator
- Social Worker
- Nurse Navigator
- Community Health Worker
- Promotores/Promotoras de salud
- Financial Navigator
- Clinical Trial Navigator
- Patient Care Coordinator
- Registered Nurse
- Licensed Practical Nurse
Our navigators thought the ACS LION program was very valuable. Some of them had previously taken other training programs and felt that ACS LION further expanded on what they learned.
Trusted resources and expertise
The American Cancer Society is an experienced leader in patient navigation, working alongside partners and stakeholders for over 30 years to establish the field of navigation. ACS has funded patient navigators and navigation programs, developed navigation training curricula, and united organizations through the American Cancer Society National Navigation Roundtable. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), our advocacy affiliate, has championed policies that expand sustainable access to patient navigation.
Now, we are expanding our navigation work even further with training and credentialing for professional navigators, in active partnership with oncology providers and the cancer community. We’re working to make navigation training more accessible, with a goal of broadening and maintaining our national reach.
Standardized training is more important than ever, especially in an environment that strives to tailor to diverse populations. Reducing barriers with expertly trained navigators will lead to a positive impact that overall reduces health disparities among various patient groups. ACS is uniquely positioned to lead these efforts as a trusted source of cancer information and a patient advocacy organization that stands for high quality cancer care for all.
I loved the organization, the pace, and the difficulty of the content. It was incredibly validating to see how my training and work practices align with the course, as well as areas that I can improve.
ACS LION Equity Support (ACS LION-ES)
Access assistance opportunities for the training and credentialing program are available through the Leadership in Oncology Navigation Equity Support (ACS LION-ES) program. Our goal is to reduce financial barriers to the ACS LION program by offering enrollment to a limited number of individuals at no charge.
The ACS LION-ES application window is open now until June 20, 2025.
More information, eligibility requirements and a link to the application form are available in our Request for Applications Overview.
ACS is dedicated to strategically redirecting the funds gained from this course into efforts to support the rapidly growing field of patient navigators. Learn more about our work in patient navigation.
Key things to know about the program:
- The program is completed online and is self-paced (except for the program assessment).
- There is no in-person requirement.
- The program should be completed on a desktop or laptop for the best experience.
- Modules and quizzes do not have to be completed in one sitting; progress will be saved.
- However, the program assessment must be completed in one sitting at a desktop or laptop with a webcam and microphone (tablets are not supported). To demonstrate competency, the assessment is a live, proctored exam (through the computer) with a time limit.
- Re-credentialing and continuing education will be aligned with CMS requirements.
To earn the Leadership in Oncology Navigation credential, learners must:
- Complete all ten (10) modules in the program.
- Complete all quizzes with a score of at least 80%.
- Complete the program assessment with a score of at least 80%.
- Complete all above requirements within ninety (90) days of enrolling in the program.
The 10 modules are:
- Navigation Basics
- Cancer Basics
- Person-centered Assessments
- Health System Services Access and Coordination
- Community-based Services Access and Coordination
- Community Assessment
- Patient and Family Communication
- Promoting Patient Self-Advocacy
- Facilitation of Person-centered Support
- Professionalism and Ethical Conduct
The learner handbook can be found here.
Reimbursement for professional, non-clinical navigation
Expanded cancer navigation: “Principal Illness Navigation”
The 2024 Physician Fee Schedule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) includes reimbursement for professional, non-clinical patient navigation services for patients with a “Principal Illness,” including cancer and other high-risk conditions.
For the first time, there are reliable reimbursement pathways to support the professional patient navigation workforce.
CMS-required training competencies include: patient and family communication, interpersonal and relationship-building, patient and family capacity building, service coordination and systems navigation, patient advocacy, facilitation, individual and community assessment, professionalism and ethical conduct, and the development of an appropriate knowledge base, including specific certification or training on the serious, high-risk condition/illness/disease addressed in the initiating visit.
To learn more, read our professional navigation payment FAQ.
Provider implementation support
In addition to training and credentialing, ACS will continue to serve as a national convener of stakeholders interested in the implementation, evaluation, and sustainability of patient navigation. We’ll offer a variety of resources to help oncology providers build effective and efficient professional navigation services.
*NEW* ACS LION Building the Business Case for Navigation Toolkit
Tuesday, September 24, 2024 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. ET
Topic: Using EMRs and Other Technology to Support Patient Navigation
Join the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) to learn how to leverage EMRs and other technology to improve patient navigation-related workflows. The webinar will include:
- Patient engagement strategies for navigation services
- The current state of EMRs and other technology in patient navigation
- How technology may help identify and support patients with individual risks and characteristics
- Best practices to optimize workflow processes for team-based care
- Patient engagement strategies for navigation services
Panelists:
- Kylee Flagg, MCIS, RN, Clinical Implementation Specialist, McKesson
- Allyson Remon, RN, MSN, OCN, Oncology Thoracic Nurse Navigator, Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY
- Joan Scales, LCSW, OSW-C, Psych-Oncology Program Director at UKHC Markey Cancer Center
This webinar will be facilitated by Ronda Bowman, MHA, RN, OCN (Senior Director of ASCO Quality Certification Programs Care Delivery Department, American Society of Clinical Oncology).
Register: acslion.windrosemedia.com
Topics:
- Patient Navigation: Innovative Models, Workforce Strategies, and Best Practices for Sustainable Success
- Oncology Navigation: Elevating Care Quality and the Patient Experience
- Medicare Payment Policies Addressing Health-Related Social Needs Under the Calendar Year 2024 Physician Fee Schedule: High-Level Summary
- Oncology Navigation Training and Credentialing Program Orientation: ACS LION™
- Medicare PIN Reimbursement: ACS LION™ Learning Session
The American Cancer Society Leadership in Oncology Navigation (ACS LIONTM) will provide a year-long Financial Navigation Learning Collaborative as part of the next phase of the implementation support program. The application process will open in September 2024 for a kickoff in November 2024 and up to 20 practice sites will be selected to participate.
What is a Learning Collaborative?
In a learning collaborative, ACS convenes teams from oncology practices to work together toward a shared vision and set of aims. As the convener, ACS provides education, implementation support and resources to empower participants to act as champions within their own practice settings and to make improvements more effectively than they could alone.
What is Oncology Financial Navigation and why is it important?
Oncology Financial Navigation (OFN) aims to alleviate financial hardship by coordinating access to financial assistance and health insurance options to reduce out-of-pocket medical costs. Financial navigators assist patients in understanding their expenses, insurance coverage limitations, and payment plan options, aiming to facilitate timely access to necessary care. Financial navigation can improve patient adherence to treatment plans, decrease stress and anxiety, and improve outcomes.
About half of people with cancer experience financial toxicity: a personal economic burden associated with the disease and its treatment (Smith, 2022). Patients and their caregivers do not consistently receive the financial navigation support they need. ACS seeks to address this gap working toward this shared vision: All people with a cancer diagnosis should receive proactive financial navigation that includes ongoing assessment and referral to appropriate resources.
Learning Collaborative overview
Throughout the Learning Collaborative (LC), participants will work to achieve activities with ACS support and facilitation. Teams from all participant oncology sites will meet regularly and LC meetings will feature expert presentations regarding relevant research and implementation best practices.
Participation in the ACS Learning Collaborative is free.
Key Dates:
- Application open: September 3, 2024
- Application closed: October 4, 2024
- Sites selected and notified: by October 15, 2024
- Launch: 1st week of November, 2024
More information about the Financial Navigation Learning Collaborative
The American Cancer Society Leadership in Oncology (ACS LION™) program presents a series of diverse bootcamps to support the expansion of high-quality, sustainable navigation.
Building Sustainable Navigation Bootcamp
The inaugural bootcamp is presented jointly by ACS LION and the Academy of Oncology Nurse and Patient Navigators (AONN+). Building Sustainable Navigation 101 will include:
- Developing a business case for professional navigation
- Staffing models, team definitions, competencies, and roles and responsibilities
Key Details and Dates
- Application due date: March 15, 2024
- Bootcamp term: April 8, 2024 – May 8, 2024
- Modality: Virtual learning activities with weekly sessions featuring a mix of expert presentations and group sharing
- There is no cost to participate
More information about the Building Sustainable Navigation Bootcamp
The ACS LION Clinical Trials Navigation Certificate is a new resource that equips professionals providing navigation services with knowledge and skills to make clinical trials more accessible to patients.
The goal of this program is to increase awareness among individuals diagnosed with cancer regarding clinical trial treatments and resources while also providing patient navigators with up-to-date tools and knowledge to support patients through their cancer journey.
To enroll for this certificate, you must be a current ACS LION credential holder.
If you are an active ACS LION credential holder and you need assistance enrolling into the Clinical Trials Navigation Certificate, please contact the ACS LION team at ACSLION@cancer.org.
If you are not an active ACS LION credential holder, enroll in the ACS LION Mastery Credential program today!
Acknowledgments
Thank you to the following oncology and navigation experts for their support:
- Beth Calhoun, PhD, MEd
- Elizabeth Franklin, PhD, MSW
- J. Nicholas Odom, PhD, RN, ACHPN, FAAN, School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Morgean Hirt, ICE-CCP, Director of Credentialing, Association for Talent Development
- Oncology Nursing Society
- Susan G. Komen
- Triage Cancer
- Vickie Leff, LCSW, APHSW-C, Palliative Care Consultant
Thank you to the following health systems for being pilot participants:
- Guideway Care
- Mount Sinai Health System
- Penn Medicine
- Susan G. Komen
- Thyme Care
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
Thank you to the following ACS LION anchor partners who share commitment to expanding navigation through training and credentialing:
- Duke
- Mount Sinai
- Penn Medicine
- Thyme Care
- US Oncology
- UNC Health
Advisory Council
The American Cancer Society Leadership in Oncology Navigation (ACS LION™) program is excited to announce and welcome the newly appointed members of our ACS LION Advisory Council. ACS is an experienced leader in patient navigation, working alongside partners and stakeholders for 30+ years and are proud to continue this collaborative approach.
Join us in thanking the following advisory council members for their dedication to patient support and patient navigation through this opportunity. Stay tuned for more updates throughout the year!
Frequently Asked Questions
The ACS program was developed with specific training for CMS-required competencies announced as part of the 2024 Physician Fee Schedule and alignment to the PONT standards. It was uniquely designed to support successful billing for non-clinical navigation services under CMS Principal Illness Navigation (PIN). We also sought to provide greater role clarity and defined scope for non-clinical patient navigators and to expand the navigation workforce by offering a credentialing program without an in-person requirement.
The initial launch of this program will be specific to non-clinical oncology navigation.
The cost for access to the program will be $495, which includes up to two attempts to take the program assessment. Given our strong commitment to navigation, revenue generated from the program will be re-invested into ACS' navigation portfolio. Opportunities for program access assistance are available to reduce barriers to the training and credentialing program. For more information, email ACSLION@cancer.org.
On September 13, 2023, the White House issued a Fact Sheet to announce new actions and commitments to end cancer as we know it. The new ACS oncology professional navigator curricula and credentialing program was included in this news, along with commitments from other nonprofits, government agencies, and nongovernmental organizations.
These new CMS billing codes are for patients with traditional, fee-for-service Medicare. It is common for Medicare Advantage plans and private insurers to also pay for codes which are first adopted in fee-for-service Medicare, but uptake timing is variable. PIN can be provided as part of the treatment plan for cancer and other serious, high-risk diseases.
PIN can be provided by certified or trained personnel under the direction of a billing practitioner. Training must include the competencies of patient and family communication, interpersonal and relationship building, patient and family capacity building, service coordination and systems navigation, patient advocacy, facilitation, individual and community assessment, professionalism and ethical conduct, and the development of an appropriate knowledge base, including specific certification or training on the serious, high-risk condition/illness/disease addressed in the initiating visit. The ACS training and credentialing program was developed to meet these competencies and be in alignment with the PONT standards.
Since Medicare does not allow navigators to bill directly for their services, navigators must provide navigation services under the direction of a billing provider (in most cases, a physician, advanced practice provider, or psychologist) working in the outpatient setting.
ACS is also providing learning opportunities in 2024 to help organizations understand the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule billing and documentation requirements, and to provide operational support in providing or expanding professional navigation. To learn more, please email ACSLION@cancer.org
Contact Us
For more information, please contact us at ACSLION@cancer.org or call 800-227-2345.
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