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ASTRO disappointed Congress didn’t stop the full cuts

December 20, 2022

ASTRO is disappointed that Congress did not include full physician relief and prior authorization reform in year-end legislation expected to pass by December 23. While ASTRO is pleased that Congress increased funding for cancer research and expanded resources to increase the diversity of clinical trials, only providing partial payment relief from conversion factor cuts and not addressing clinical labor cuts is insufficient. Here are the details on the omnibus legislation:

  • Two years of Medicare physician conversion factor payment cut relief of 2.5% in the first year, and 1.25% the following, which falls short of addressing the full 4.5% cut for 2023.
  • 4% paygo penalties waived
  • Two years of support to build and expand telehealth capabilities
  • ASTRO-supported DIVERSE Trials Act language to support expansion of diversity in clinical trails in specialties across the country
  • Alternative payment model participation is now at 3.5% for one year
  • A $2.5 billion overall increase to the National Institutes of Health, funding the agency at $47.5 billion, including:
    • National Cancer Institute funding increase of $408 million, to $7.32 billion this year
    • Every cancer program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is increased
    • The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) funding is increased $500 million, funding the Agency at $1.5 billion

The legislation did not include Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act language to reform prior authorization, and did not address clinical labor cuts to radiation oncology of 1% per year from 2023-2025. ASTRO will work to address outstanding priorities, including reforming Medicare physician payment for radiation therapy and addressing prior authorization, with the new 118th Congress starting January 3.

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