Last week, a bipartisan group of legislators introduced the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act, which would prospectively eliminate the current 2.8% cut to Medicare physician payments and add a 2% update to account for inflation for 2025. Stability in payments is critical for the long-term viability of radiation oncology services. Congress can no longer wait to act after radiation oncology has experienced over 20% in cuts since 2013. Help ensure future payment stability by encouraging your members of Congress to support this legislation through ASTRO's convenient grassroots tool. It takes just a few minutes to complete!

Congress originally intended to pass a one-year 2.5% increase in the Medicare physician payment adjustment as part of a lame duck health care deal last December, but this provision ultimately fell through. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services finalized the 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule payment adjustment last year which included an average 2.9% reduction in physician payments despite physician operating costs expected to increase by 3.5% without Congressional action. The new legislation represents a significant opportunity to reverse these cuts, provide a temporary increase in payments, and stabilize reimbursement in 2025.