ASTRO led a group of 25 radiation oncology stakeholder organizations in a November 21 letter urging Congress to act before year-end to block Medicare payment cuts. The letter asked Congress to mitigate the impact of the clinical labor price update and provide relief from cuts due to Medicare physician payment conversion factor and PAYGO legislative requirements, which would total nearly 10% starting January 1, 2023.

On November 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 of more than 4% due to PAYGO legislative requirements and the expiration of the moratorium on the sequester. 

“Inaction will threaten access to state-of-the-art cancer care for patients close to their homes, forcing many to travel great distances, at great personal expense, for their daily radiation treatments,” the letter said. “The year over year payment cuts are undermining radiation oncology’s status as a high-value, cost-effective cancer treatment for Medicare beneficiaries, with total annual costs far less than those of just a few cancer drugs.”

ASTRO is working closely with radiation oncology and other specialty organizations to lobby Congress against these severe cuts. Join in the advocacy by contacting your members of Congress.