Radiation oncologists converge on Capitol Hill to push for payment reform
Radiation oncologists converged on Capitol Hill Monday, pushing for payment reform to help the specialty navigate a crisis.
American Society for Radiation Oncology members from across the country took part in ASTRO’s annual advocacy day on April 27. They highlighted survey results from the society, which showed recent billing code changes are wreaking havoc for radiation oncologists—with two-thirds of respondents reporting pay declines of 10% or more since Jan. 1.
ASTRO is pushing politicians for passage of the Radiation Oncology Case Rate Act, among other changes. First proposed a year ago, the bill seeks to realign the specialty so that Medicare pays for the quality of care, rather than the number of times patients visit radiation oncology clinics.
“The data in our new survey signal a serious threat to cancer care access," Sameer Keole, MD, chair of ASTRO’s Board of Directors, said in a statement Monday. “Community clinics face bankruptcy, prior authorization delays are growing worse, and research funding is under threat. Congress has the tools to fix these problems, and we're asking them to act now before people with cancer lose access to the care that can save their lives.”
ASTRO estimated that more than 1 million Americans rely on radiation therapy each year. Yet, Medicare reimbursement for the specialty has fallen about 27% since 2013, when adjusting for inflation, “more than most other medical specialties.” Payment reductions are further compounded by rising inflation and increased financial pressures, “driving rampant consolidation.”
Radiation oncologists note that the Radiation Oncology Case Rate Act is supported by nearly 30 congressional co-sponsors and almost 140 organizations, including the American College of Radiology. In addition, ASTRO also is urging lawmakers to pass bipartisan legislation to reform prior authorization in Medicare Advantage. A recent study showed the privately managed payment program is failing to curb radiation oncology costs, despite subjecting physicians to onerous prepayment requirements.
To address this, ASTRO also is asking legislators to pass the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, which would boost turnaround times and add greater transparency when processing radiation therapy requests.
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.