Congress is considering a one-year 2.5% increase in the Medicare physician payment adjustment as part of a lame-duck health care deal, but discussions are still fluid and could change leading up to a December 20 funding deadline. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services finalized the 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule payment adjustment earlier this year, which includes an average 2.9% reduction in physician payments despite physician operating costs being expected to increase by 3.5%.

While a temporary doc fix would provide short-term relief, radiation oncology needs financial stability in the long run after over 23% cuts in payments since 2013. Introduced earlier this year, the bipartisan Radiation Oncology Case Rate Value-Based Program (ROCR) Act would move radiation oncology away from a fee-for-service model, stabilize payments, and provide rural and underserved patients with transportation assistance to access daily cancer treatments.

ASTRO members are encouraged to tell their members of Congress to cosponsor the ROCR Act using our convenient grassroots tool.