On November 8 , the Senate Committee on Finance will consider a package of health care policies, including an effort to mitigate Medicare physician payment cuts by year-end.

Absent congressional intervention, physicians are facing, effective January 1, 2024, a 3.39% payment reduction under the 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) final rule. ASTRO is pleased the Senate Finance Committee is planning to address impending 2024 MPFS cuts by postponing a 1.25% statutory payment reduction from 2022. However, the path forward for passing legislation this year is murky given differing priorities among Republicans and Democrats.

ASTRO joins other specialties urging Congress take immediate action on short-term fixes to the broken Medicare physician payment system, while also urging long-term reform through the Radiation Oncology Case Rate (ROCR) payment program