After the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS), the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) issued the following statement from Jeff M. Michalski, MD, MBA, FASTRO, Chair of the ASTRO Board of Directors.
“ASTRO is deeply disappointed that CMS finalized an additional 2% cut to reimbursement for radiation therapy in today’s MPFS final rule. The consistent decline in Medicare reimbursement for radiation oncology threatens to undermine patients’ access to vital cancer care across the country. The time has come for Congress to intervene with reform legislation to ensure short-term stability and long-term viability.
The additional cuts finalized today ensure that radiation oncology Medicare physician payments will have dropped by 25% from 2013 to 2024, more than nearly all other medical specialties. The continued trend of reduced reimbursement further underscores the critical need for a legislative fix for radiation oncology payments.
Earlier this year, ASTRO introduced the Radiation Oncology Case Rate (ROCR) legislative proposal, a pivotal step toward ensuring that Americans have access to essential cancer care close to home. ROCR would create a new Medicare payment system for radiation oncology that is based on the value of the care provided, rather than the volume of services, offering an innovative path to achieving stable payments, enhancing the quality of care, reducing health disparities and lowering costs for both patients and Medicare.
ASTRO also supports several legislative efforts designed to address shortcomings in the Medicare physician fee schedule, including:
ASTRO is determined to work Congress and CMS to secure the long-term stability needed for radiation oncologists to continue to deliver cutting-edge cancer care and maintain a strong focus on the value that we provide to our patients.”
Back To TopASTRO Calls on Congress to Reform Healthcare Payments After Medicare Final Rule Cuts Reimbursement. Appl Rad Oncol.