The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) said it commends the U.S. Congress for passing legislation that would freeze payment rates for radiation oncology services provided in freestanding clinics through 2019.
The Patient Access and Medicare Protection Act (PAMPA) of 2015 set the payment rate for radiation treatment and image guidance outside of hospitals to a fixed amount from 2016 through 2018. The new legislation will extend the deadline of this act to December 31, 2019.
ASTRO collaborated with leaders in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives to help secure the one-year freeze extension. This congressional action will provide more time for the development and implementation of an alternative payment model, the society said.
