The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the RO Model Proposed Rule, which seeks to delay the implementation of the payment model from January 1, 2023, to a date to be determined in a future notice of proposed rule-making. ASTRO remains hopeful that during this interim period, CMS will make adjustments recommended by Congress and the 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.

We continue 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 has issued a summary of the rule and will prepare comments in advance of the June 7 deadline. Additionally, view this video from Dave Adler, VP of Advocacy, for a brief summary on this update.