The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has issued a statement from Jeff Michalski, MD, chair of the ASTRO board of directors, in response to continued reimbursement declines in the proposed 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS).
Michalski in his statement called the proposed MPFS, released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) July 10, "disappointing" in that reimbursement for radiation therapy services for cancer patients continues to decline. He added that ASTRO is concerned that CMS "continues to undervalue the impact of cost-effective radiation treatments for cancer" and urges Congress to act on bipartisan radiation oncology payment reform legislation this year.
Since 2013, CMS has cut radiation oncology reimbursement through the MPFS by more than 20%, ASTRO stated. This year’s proposal includes the final year of phased-in reductions stemming from updates to the MPFS clinical labor pricing, which the society said disproportionately impacts radiation therapy services and other capital-intensive specialties.
One legislative measure that ASTRO supports is the bipartisan Radiation Oncology Case Rate (ROCR) Value-Based Payment Program Act (S.4330/H.R.8404), introduced in the House of Representatives and Senate in May. The act aims to stabilize Medicare reimbursement for radiation oncology by shifting to a more patient-centered approach. It also aims to incentivize high-value care, increase access, reduce disparities, and ensure financial stability for radiation oncology practices by simplifying the payment model and linking reimbursement to overall patient episodes.
The ROCR Act was introduced by Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Gary Peters (D-MI), and Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), John Joyce, MD, (R-PA) and Paul Tonko (D-NY).
