Recent Medicare payment changes are causing significant financial harm to cancer clinics and threatening patient access to radiation therapy, according to a national survey by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).
“Radiation therapy is a cornerstone of modern cancer treatment and plays a vital role in improving survivorship rates, but these cuts are potentially catastrophic for patient access across the country,” said Sameer Keole, MD, chair of ASTRO’s board of directors, in an April 1 statement.
New federal payment changes for radiation oncology services took effect January 1, including a major restructuring of how Medicare pays for radiation therapy, with federal officials estimating that the changes would reduce payments by about 1% for the specialty overall.
However, ASTRO’s survey of 160 U.S.-based radiation oncologists reveals that large majorities of physicians are experiencing sharp declines in reimbursement, with more than two-thirds of physicians surveyed reporting declines of 10% or greater and many clinics anecdotally reporting cuts in the 20% to 30% range.
Survey respondents reported being forced to lay off staff -- including physicians -- and implement hiring freezes, ASTRO noted. One physician wrote, “This is a financial emergency for our practice … we are struggling to make payroll.” Another said, “We are operating in a critical deficit. We will be forced to close the door of our cancer center if this continues.”
The survey also found that operational challenges from the code restructuring are compounding the financial strain. Half of the survey respondents said advanced radiation treatments are frequently delayed or denied by insurers, often due to prior authorization requirements or difficulties processing the new billing codes.
ASTRO is calling on policymakers, including Medicare officials and Congress, to take immediate steps to stabilize patient access to radiation therapy, particularly for community-based and rural practices facing the greatest financial strain.
“This is not an abstract policy issue. It is a direct threat to patient care,” Keole said. “We need urgent, targeted action to ensure that patients can continue to access high-quality cancer treatment close to home.”
The survey results can be found here.
