CMS Limits Proposed Medicare Cuts To Radiation Oncology

ASTRO very pleased by decision to significantly lessen, phase in cuts

FAIRFAX, Va., Nov. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- ASTRO, the American Society
for Radiation Oncology, today praised the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services (CMS) for limiting the payment reductions initially proposed for
radiation oncology and spreading the remaining cuts over four years.

ASTRO had asked CMS to not implement proposed changes to the Medicare policies
and payment rates for physician services that would have cut radiation
oncology services by 19 percent, with certain services being cut by up to 44
percent. An ASTRO survey conducted in July indicated cuts of this scale would
have a particularly devastating effect on community-based cancer centers and
the patients they treat. The final rule released on October 30 is slated to
reduce radiation oncology payments by only 5 percent over a four-year period.
In other words, the proposed 19 percent cut for next year has been
significantly reduced to only about a 1 percent cut for 2010.

"CMS's important action will allow radiation oncologists, particularly those
working in community-based practices, to continue providing lifesaving
radiation treatments for cancer patients. Keeping these clinics open and
continuing to see Medicare beneficiaries with cancer will ensure cancer
patients have local access to their essential daily treatments," ASTRO Chair
Patricia Eifel, M.D., FASTRO, a radiation oncologist at M.D. Anderson Cancer
Center in Houston, said.

In response to the July 13 Medicare physician fee schedule proposed rule,
ASTRO wrote CMS urging it to withdraw its proposal to increase the equipment
utilization rate for radiation therapy from 50 percent to 90 percent for
equipment costing more than $1 million. ASTRO also asked CMS to make
significant adjustments to the physician practice information survey data for
radiation oncology and delay its implementation until changes were made. In
its final rule, CMS agreed with ASTRO that the proposed increase on the
assumed equipment utilization rate for equipment should not apply to radiation
therapy equipment. In addition, CMS agreed with most of ASTRO's
recommendations regarding the physician practice expense survey information,
making several important adjustments specific to radiation oncology.

"ASTRO is very pleased by CMS's final decision and remains committed to
working with the Obama administration and Congress to ensure that healthcare
reform moves forward and provides cancer patients with coverage and access to
important radiation oncology services. Proposals to expand coverage by
providing subsidies to lower-income individuals and insurance market reforms
that ban pre-existing conditions and limits on annual and lifetime benefits
will help protect that patients served by our members," Laura I. Thevenot,
ASTRO's chief executive officer said.

ASTRO also deeply appreciates the more than 100 members of Congress who wrote
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to express serious
concerns about the impact of the proposed cuts on cancer patient care in their
communities and to object to the proposed cuts. In particular, ASTRO is
grateful for the tremendous leadership of Reps. Lois Capps (D-Calif.), Sue
Myrick (R-N.C.), Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) and Parker Griffith (D-Ala.) and Sens.
Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.) for spearheading efforts to
stop the proposed cuts.

Letters from Congress, ASTRO comment letters and other materials on the cuts
can be found at www.astro.org/medicarecuts.

ASTRO is the largest radiation oncology society in the world, with more than
10,000 members who specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies.
As the leading organization in radiation oncology, biology and physics, the
Society is dedicated to improving patient care through education, clinical
practice, advancement of science and advocacy. For more information on
radiation therapy, visit www.rtanswers.org. To learn more about ASTRO, visit
www.astro.org.

Contact:
Beth Bukata, 703-839-7332, bethb@astro.org

Nicole Napoli, 703-839-7336, nicolen@astro.org

SOURCE American Society for Radiation Oncology

Beth Bukata, +1-703-839-7332, bethb@astro.org, or Nicole Napoli,
+1-703-839-7336, nicolen@astro.org, both of the American Society for Radiation
Oncology