The Network Sends Letter in Support of Bill to Stop Payment Cuts to Radiation Oncology

The US Oncology Network recently sent a letter to Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Greg Murphy, MD (R-NC), Tony Cardenas (D-CA), and Danny Davis (D-IL) to express support for H.R. 3674, the Providing Relief and Stability for Medicare Patients Act of 2023. This important legislation would mitigate the continued payment cuts to radiation oncology and many specialty services provided in the community.

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) updates to clinical labor pricing have hit capital-intensive medical specialties, like radiation oncology, especially hard. Radiation oncologists practicing in freestanding radiation therapy centers are disproportionately affected by the continued cuts in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) caused by the clinical labor adjustment.

The cuts also exacerbate the existing payment disparity between the physician office setting and the hospital setting that has incentivized consolidation. They also are being phased-in at a time when physician offices are already experiencing considerable fiscal uncertainties related to inflation, rising practice expenses and increased staffing and equipment costs.

The Network looks forward to working with these members on advancing this important legislation that would provide targeted relief for practices by providing an increase to the non-facility practice relative value units (PE RVU’s) for those procedures performed in an office-based setting.

To read The Network’s letter to Congress, CLICK HERE.

To read the text of the Providing Relief and Stability for Medicare Patients Act of 2023, CLICK HERE.