2020 CoC Standards Implementation Timelines

With a few exceptions, programs were expected to implement the Optimal Resources for Cancer Care (2020 Standards) beginning January 1, 2020. Optimal Resources for Cancer Care (2020 Standards) was updated in February 2023. A change log is available that details updates to the manual since its original publication.

Starting January 1, 2024, programs will be required to demonstrate accreditation for anatomic pathology by a recognized organization.

Programs were expected to comply with Standard 4.2 beginning January 1, 2021.

Resources to support implementation:

• Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC) website for information on certification and continuing education (CE). The ONCC also provides an updated list of available free CE options.
• Oncology Nursing Society also provides information on continuing education for nurses, including free options.
• Oncology Nursing Credentials Frequently Asked Questions resource answers questions submitted by programs regarding all aspects of the standard.
• The Oncology Nursing Credentials Template, located in QPort, is a useful tool to track compliance throughout the accreditation cycle and can be used to demonstrate compliance with the standard. The template must be uploaded into the Pre-Review Questionnaire at least 60 days before the site visit.

Programs were expected to comply with Standard 4.8 beginning January 1, 2021. A Frequently Asked Questions document and a resource that provides compliance examples for a variety of programs are available in the Standards Resource Library.

Standard 5.1 is on pause for 2023, for both site visits and cancer program activity. The review of pathology reports during the site visit to evaluate that the required CAP elements are present in synoptic format will be removed starting with 2023 site visits.

Standard 5.1’s measure of compliance has been replaced with a requirement to perform an internal audit of pathology reports. Programs are expected to comply with the updated requirements, as fully detailed in the Standards manual, by January 1, 2024.

Programs were expected to comply with Standards 5.7: Total Mesorectal Excision and 5.8: Pulmonary Resection beginning January 1, 2021.

Standards 5.3 Sentinel Node Biopsy for Breast Cancer, 5.4 Axillary Lymph Node Dissection for Breast Cancer, 5.5 Wide Local Excision for Primary Cutaneous Melanoma, and 5.6 Colon Resection will be phased in over three years, beginning in 2022. In 2022, programs were to document their final plan for how they plan to achieve compliance with Standards 5.3, 5.4, 5.5 and 5.6 beginning in 2023. Documentation of final plans is being reviewed at site visits in 2023.

Note: Standards 5.3-5.8 were republished with substantive updates in 2021 and 2023. Please review the most recent version of Optimal Resources for Cancer Care (2020 Standards) for updates. More information on the Operative Standards site review process and how the standards will be rated may be found on the CoC Operative Standards Timeline and Compliance Information page. Resources to support implementation can also be found on the CoC Operative Standards page and Operative Standards Toolkit page.

This standard was retired beginning in 2021 as complete data for all requested analytic cases will be submitted to the National Cancer Database (NCDB) in accordance with the requirements for use of the new Rapid Cancer Reporting System (RCRS). Data accuracy will be evaluated under Standard 6.4: Rapid Cancer Reporting System: Data Submission.

In 2021, Standard 6.4 was renamed Rapid Cancer Reporting System (RCRS) Data Submission with the following requirements:

• All new and updated cancer cases are submitted at least once each calendar month.
• Submit all complete analytic cases for all disease sites via RCRS as specified by the annual Call for Data.
• Rapid Cancer Reporting System data and required quality measure performance rates are reviewed by the cancer committee at least twice each calendar year and documented in the cancer committee minutes.

The most recent version of Optimal Resources for Cancer Care (2020 Standards) reflects the updates to Standards 6.2, 6.3, and 6.4.

Starting January 1, 2022, Standard 6.5 requires a rolling 15-year requirement for long-term follow-up. Follow-up on cases older than 15 years from the most current year of completed cases will no longer be required for submission to the National Cancer Database. Updates are reflected in an updated version of Optimal Resources for Cancer Care (2020 Standards).

Standard 7.1 is on pause for 2023. Due to major upgrades in the National Cancer Database (NCDB) quality measures, 2023 program activity for Standard 7.1 will not be rated at future site visits. Additionally, 2023 site visits (which evaluate activity from 2020, 2021, and 2022) will not provide a compliant or non-compliant rating for Standard 7.1.

At this time, there are no studies planned in 2020, 2021, 2022, or 2023 for Standard 9.2: Commission on Cancer Special Studies.