Radiation oncologists from across the United States will visit Capitol Hill tomorrow to urge Congress to support policies that safeguard cancer patients’ access to high-quality, high-value health care. The doctors will meet with Congressional leaders during the 15th annual American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Advocacy Day.

Radiation oncologists—doctors who treat cancer patients with radiation therapies—will emphasize several legislative priorities in meetings with policymakers:

preserve patient access to quality cancer care by allowing radiation oncologists to participate in an advanced alternative payment model (APM) and stabilizing Medicare payments;

support cancer research with continuous and stable funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Cancer Institute (NCI);
avoid disruptions in health insurance coverage for cancer patients; and
protect medical access to radioactive material.
"More than one million cancer patients are treated with radiation therapies each year, either to cure their cancer or relieve pain and other difficult symptoms. Radiation oncology provides immense value to the health care system," said Brian Kavanagh, MD, MPH, FASTRO, Chair of the ASTRO Board of Directors. "Radiation oncologists are visiting Capitol Hill to remind Congress of the multidisciplinary nature of cancer care and call for the opportunity to participate meaningfully in the nationwide transition to value-based health care."

Alternative Payment Models (view infographic)

Most American cancer patients are Medicare beneficiaries, and a stable and fair system of compensation for Medicare providers is critical to ensure access to lifesaving cancer treatments, such as radiation therapy. In 2015, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) reformed the health care system by accelerating the shift from volume to value in patient care. ASTRO has proposed an alternative payment model for radiation oncology (RO-APM) that incentivizes adherence to nationally-recognized clinical guidelines for five of the most common cancers treated with radiation therapy (breast, prostate, lung, colorectal and head and neck). The RO-APM would allow radiation oncologists to participate fully in the transition to quality initiatives that improve cancer outcomes and reduce costs.

ASTRO continues working with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to develop and launch the RO-APM. Radiation oncologists will thank legislators for their support for a RO-APM, while also urging them to work with the Administration to move forward expeditiously with the launch of a value-based RO-APM that aligns closely with proposals from ASTRO and the radiation oncology community.

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