The Senate Committee on Finance recently issued a “Bolstering Chronic Care through Physician Payment: Current Challenges and Policy Options in Medicare Part B” white paper for public comment. The white paper covers key issues in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule which have been failing physicians across the spectrum of care.

ASTRO issued comments in response to the white paper urging the Committee to support ROCR which plays a key role in securing rate stability and protecting access to radiation therapy services. The letter also addresses the need for reforms to the existing Advanced Alternative Payment Model and Merit-Based Incentive Payment System programs, as well as urges CMS to reinstitute the RVS Update Committee Refinement Panel, which served as an opportunity for specialty stakeholders to appeal CMS decisions related to valuation of services until it was eliminated in 2016.

The white paper is just one of several recent Congressional efforts to address reimbursement inadequacies in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. ASTRO will continue to monitor these developments and advocate for ROCR as a key component to any broader Congressional initiative that is developed.