November 21, 2022: MGMA and other radiation oncology stakeholders urge Congress to prevent significant Medicare payment cuts to radiation therapy services

November 21, 2022 
 

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Schumer, Leader McConnell, and Leader McCarthy:

On behalf of radiation oncology stakeholder organizations -- including radiation oncologists, medical physicists, medical dosimetrists, radiation oncology administrators and other members of the radiation oncology cancer care team, group practices, hospitals, device manufacturers and more -- we urge Congress to protect patients’ access to life-saving cancer care by passing legislation before year-end to prevent significant Medicare payment cuts to radiation therapy services.

On Nov. 1, 2022, Medicare finalized reductions to radiation oncology under the Medicare physician fee schedule (MPFS) for 2023, with radiation oncology facing 4% cuts, among the steepest of any specialty. The cuts stem from a decrease in the Medicare conversion factor, budget neutrality requirements from prior changes to evaluation and management services, and the second year of clinical labor price updates. In addition, radiation oncology also faces additional cuts due to PAYGO and the expiration of the moratorium on the sequester. These cuts add to significant prior cuts to radiation therapy cancer services under the MPFS exceeding 20% over the last 10 years. An analysis by the American Society for Radiation Oncology further reveals 5-year reductions in reimbursement for standard courses of radiation therapy for breast cancer (-18%), prostate cancer (-30%) and lung cancer (-34%).

 

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