Radiation Oncology Alternative Payment Model (RO Model) - Press Kit

On September 18, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule establishing a Radiation Oncology Alternative Payment Model (RO Model). The current planned start date for the model is January 1, 2022. ASTRO has grave concerns about the success of the RO Model given that CMS accepted very few recommendations that ASTRO provided throughout the rulemaking process. These concerns are heightened by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the finances of radiation oncology practices nationwide.

Press materials related to ASTRO's ongoing response to RO Model updates are available below, and physicians are available for media interviews on request. For all updates on the RO Model, visit our section on What's Happening in Washington.

Information on the RO Model for radiation oncology practices and providers is available here.

Press Materials

• Official Statement: ASTRO urges Congress to pass legislation delaying RO Model and protecting Medicare beneficiaries' access to care, 12/7/21

• Official Statement: CMS 2022 final rules: ASTRO deeply concerned and disappointed, emphasizes need for legislative solution, 11/2/21

• Press Release: Senators and representatives unite to call on CMS to protect patient access to high-quality radiation treatments, 10/21/21

• Official Statement: ASTRO submits comments to CMS: Stop the draconian cuts that will harm cancer patient care, 9/9/21 (view the comment letters, executive summary and issue brief)

• Press Release: Radiation oncologists urge Congress to reverse proposed CMS cuts and create more equity in access to cancer treatments, 7/26/21

• Official Statement: ASTRO responds to Medicare cuts and Radiation Oncology Model update, 7/20/21

• Official Statement: Radiation oncology stakeholders submit recommendations to CMS; ASTRO applauds nominations of Chiquita Brooks-LaSure as CMS administrator and Elizabeth Fowler as CMMI director, 3/1/21

• Official Statement: Congressional leaders take action on RO Model to protect access to radiation oncology care, 12/22/20

• Official Statement: Radiation oncologists urge Congress to advance bills that protect patient access to cancer care during the pandemic, 11/18/20

• Official Statement: ASTRO responds to CMS announcement on delayed Radiation Oncology Model start date, 10/21/20

• Letter from ASTRO, AMA, MGMA, and radiation oncology stakeholders to CMS and HHS, 10/2/20

• Official Statement: ASTRO responds to CMS Radiation Oncology Model: Implementation delay and more reforms needed, 9/18/20

• Letter from ASTRO to CMMI on the potential impact of COVID-19 on the RO Model, 7/22/20

• Press Release: Congressional leaders support radiation oncology community concerns about proposed Medicare alternative payment model, 11/13/19

• Official Statement: ASTRO comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding their proposed radiation oncology alternative payment model, 9/16/19

• Official Statement: Proposed radiation oncology alternative payment model to test new approach to cancer treatment payments, 7/10/19

• ASTRO Concept Paper: Radiation Oncology Alternative Payment Model, 4/27/17

ASTRO Experts Discuss the RO Model

• Op-Ed: President Biden: It's the worst time for cuts to cancer care in Delaware, by Drs. Adam Raben, Nicholas Petrelli and Jon Strasser for The News Journal (Delaware), 11/21/21

• Article: Radiation Oncology’s Role in the Next Chapter of Payment Reform, Anne Hubbard for AJMC Evidence-Based Oncology, 2/12/21

• Article: Concerns About the Real-World Impact of CMS’ Radiation Oncology Model, Association of Community Cancer Centers with Anne Hubbard for the Journal of Clinical Pathways, 12/1/20

• Podcast: Update from ASTRO on the Mandatory Radiation APM, Anne Hubbard for the Journal of Clinical Pathways, 3/31/20

• Video: Understanding the Radiation Oncology Alternative Payment Model, Anne Hubbard for Imaging Technology News, 9/20/19

• Editorial: Radiation Oncology APM: Why us? Why now?, by Dr. Brian Kavanagh, 7/11/19

• Op-Ed: Why Radiation Oncology Needs an APM, by Anne Hubbard for OncLive, 11/3/17

Press Contacts and Social Media

Direct questions and interview requests to ASTRO’s media relations team by email or at 703-286-1600.

To connect with ASTRO on social media, find a list of our channels here.