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November 20, 2020

Oncology Groups Push Back on New Medicare Radiation Therapy Payment Model

A new payment model for cancer care issued by CMS and set to begin January 1 will bundle payments for radiation therapy provided to cancer patients in various settings. The model is designed to improve care and reduce costs and is based on an effort to shift traditional Medicare from a fee-for-service care model to a value-based care model. Medical providers argue that savings will come at their expense and dispute the timing of the implementation of the rule during the pandemic as they attempt to regain patient volume and revenue lost resulting from closed operations. A letter from several oncology groups to HHS Secretary Azar and CMS Administrator Verma asking to reverse course on the launch date. CMS delayed starting the model in January of this year after some lawmakers expressed similar concerns about the proposal.