Alternative Payment Model

On August 29, 2022, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the RO Model Final Rule, which delays the implementation of the payment model from January 1, 2023, to a date to be determined in a future notice of proposed rulemaking.

In addition to the delay, CMS also notes that future rulemaking may also include modification to model design. ASTRO issued a statement saying that it is hopeful that during this interim period, CMS will make adjustments recommended by Congress and a broad coalition of stakeholders within the radiation oncology community, as we remain concerned that the model in its current form is too punitive for clinics.

ASTRO continues to believe that episodic payments for radiation therapy services have great potential to improve quality and equity while reducing cancer care costs, and we will continue to advocate for proposals that achieve these goals. ASTRO is developing a new proposal that will establish value-based payment for radiation oncology services. In addition to an emphasis on episodic payments, the new proposal will emphasize ways to help patients from economically and socially marginalized groups access and complete radiation treatments.

This page is designed to provide radiation oncology practices with information regarding ASTRO’s advocacy efforts to address the RO Model’s flaws, including background information that details the model’s development over the last several years. As information regarding the new value-based approach becomes available, it will be posted here as well.