ASTROnews Web Exclusive: CMS Reverses Course on Radiation Oncology Medicare Cuts

In a major policy victory for ASTRO, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on October 30, 2009, that it will not implement the proposed 19 percent Medicare physician payment cuts to radiation oncology for 2010. Instead, the agency will reduce radiation oncology payments by only five percent over a four-year period. In other words, the proposed 19 percent cuts for next year has been significantly reduced to only 1 percent for 2010, which will start January 1, 2010.

CMS's final ruling follows upon ASTRO's most intensive advocacy campaign in its history, which resulted in more than 100 members of Congress, cancer patient groups and other key stakeholders urging the agency to stop the 19 percent cuts proposed in July 2009. To view the Congressional letters and other advocacy materials used to stop to the cuts, go to www.astro.org/medicarecuts.

An initial analysis of CMS's ruling reveals that the agency agreed with ASTRO that its proposed increase on the assumed equipment utilization rate should not apply to radiation therapy equipment. In addition, CMS agreed with most of ASTRO's recommendations regarding the PPIS data and will make several important adjustments to practice expense survey information specific to radiation oncology, thus resulting in an increase in the radiation oncology PE/HR.  

More details on CMS's decision will be forthcoming in future news updates and discussed this week at ASTRO's Annual Meeting in Chicago. Feel free to stop by the ASTRO PAC booth in the Exhibit Hall where staff will be available to answer any questions.

Thanks and congratulations to the thousands of radiation oncology team members who participated in this successful effort!