ASTRO joined over 120 organizations in a letter to congressional leadership advocating for Medicare physician payments to be adjusted each year with an inflationary update. The letter specifically highlights H.R.2474, a bipartisan bill that would add a permanent Medicare Economic Index-based inflation update to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. Other supported legislation include H.R.6371 and S.4935, which would help stabilize physician payments by making changes to Medicare’s budget neutrality requirement.  The addition of an annual inflation adjustment is consistent with the ROCR Act legislation.

When adjusted for inflation, Medicare physician payments have declined by 29 percent between 2001 and 2024. Furthermore, the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) is the only payment system in Medicare lacking an annual inflation adjustment. ASTRO urges Congress to promptly act to provide clinicians with the financial stability needed to continue providing high-quality care long term.