ASTRO pushes for ROCR in Medicare physician payment reform package
August 12, 2026
On August 11, ASTRO submitted a letter highlighting the ROCR Act as complementary policy and a potential offset for physician payment reforms in the Patients First Act. The letter urges inclusion of the ROCR Act to generate Medicare savings while improving payment stability, supporting community-based cancer care and aligning reimbursement with evidence-based radiation therapy.
ASTRO responded to a Request for Information from the Republican and Democratic Doctors Caucuses on how to strengthen Medicare physician payment policy and responsibly fund reforms included in the Patients First Act. The RFI specifically sought stakeholder input on possible offsets and broader policy recommendations as lawmakers work to develop durable physician payment legislation.
The letter explains that ROCR advances many of the same goals as the Patients First Act by promoting payment stability, supporting independent and community-based practices, improving patient access, strengthening quality accountability and moving radiation oncology toward a more predictable, value-based payment framework. The letter also makes the case that radiation oncology illustrates the urgent need for structural reform.
ASTRO will continue to engage with congressional offices, physician specialty allies and the broader radiation oncology community as the Patients First Act moves forward. The society’s message to Congress is clear: Medicare physician payment reform must address system-wide instability, and ROCR offers a bipartisan, stakeholder-supported path to improve value, preserve community-based access and strengthen the future of radiation oncology care.
ASTRO responded to a Request for Information from the Republican and Democratic Doctors Caucuses on how to strengthen Medicare physician payment policy and responsibly fund reforms included in the Patients First Act. The RFI specifically sought stakeholder input on possible offsets and broader policy recommendations as lawmakers work to develop durable physician payment legislation.
The letter explains that ROCR advances many of the same goals as the Patients First Act by promoting payment stability, supporting independent and community-based practices, improving patient access, strengthening quality accountability and moving radiation oncology toward a more predictable, value-based payment framework. The letter also makes the case that radiation oncology illustrates the urgent need for structural reform.
ASTRO will continue to engage with congressional offices, physician specialty allies and the broader radiation oncology community as the Patients First Act moves forward. The society’s message to Congress is clear: Medicare physician payment reform must address system-wide instability, and ROCR offers a bipartisan, stakeholder-supported path to improve value, preserve community-based access and strengthen the future of radiation oncology care.
