The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) wants to partner with new Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) administrator Mehmet Oz, MD, to advance radiation oncology payment reforms.
"As cancer specialists devoted to improving patient outcomes, we look forward to working collaboratively with Dr. Oz and the CMS team on critical priorities including Medicare payment reform and prior authorization," stated ASTRO's board chair Howard Sandler, MD, in a letter following Oz's confirmation as CMS administrator.
Most Americans diagnosed with cancer are covered by Medicare, making CMS policies central to their access to timely, high-quality care, Sandler said.
"We encourage the new CMS leadership to support bipartisan, patient-centered solutions such as the Radiation Oncology Case Rate (ROCR) Act, which would help ensure stable reimbursement and reliable access to cancer care in communities nationwide," he continued.
The ROCR Act aims to shift radiation reimbursement from fee-for-service to bundled payments. It was reintroduced in Congress on March 14 and aims to change radiation oncology payment from per fraction to per patient.
Nearly 100 stakeholders from a wide spectrum of cancer care -- including patient advocacy groups, hospitals, independent clinics, medical societies, and technology companies -- support the ROCR Act, according to ASTRO.
