60 Members of Congress Send Letter to HHS Secretary Insisting CMS Stop the Cuts to Radiation Oncology, Medical Oncology, Cardiology, Radiology and Urology
On September 10, 2009, two members of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, Reps. Charlie Gonzalez (D-TX) and Mike Rogers (R-MI), sent a letter signed by 60 members of Congress to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius calling on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to back away from their proposed reimbursement cuts to radiation oncology, medical oncology, cardiology, radiology and urology. The Gonzalez-Rogers letter was spearheaded by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC), and was supported by US Oncology.
The Gonzalez-Rogers letter criticizes the decision by CMS to propose reimbursement cuts for the treatment of cancer and heart disease, citing reductions in rates for chemotherapy and pacemaker implantation that reach 20-40 percent. The letter is highly critical of the American Medical Association (AMA) Physician Practice Information Survey (PPIS) Survey that was used to justify these cuts, noting that the survey defies well-recognized trends when it draws the conclusion that oncology and cardiology practice expenses have dropped substantially over the last 5 years. The letter questions the use of the PPIS survey considering its inadequate sample size that fails to capture the conditions across the nation, especially in rural and low-income urban areas.
63 Members of Congress Send Letter to HHS Secretary Insisting CMS Stop the Radiation Oncology Cuts
The Gonzalez-Rogers letter comes on the heels of a similar radiation oncology-specific letter sent on August 17, 2009, by House Representatives Griffith (R-AL) (radiation oncologist), Myrick (R-NC) (Co-Chair of the Cancer Caucus), Capps (D-CA) (Co-Chair of the Cancer Caucus), and Eshoo (D-CA) (Co-Chair of the Cancer Care Working Group), to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius calling for a reversal of the devastating payment cuts for radiation oncology. US Oncology worked successfully with ASTRO, ACRO, Varian, 21st Century, Vantage Oncology, OnCure and Alliance Oncology to help garner 63 signatures of Members of Congress on this important letter.
The Griffith-Myrick-Capps-Rogers letter points out that this misguided CMS policy stems primarily from concerns raised by Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) report to Congress regarding volume growth of diagnostic imaging services. Unlike the MedPAC report and subsequent MedPAC comments, CMS fails to make a critical distinction: radiation therapy is not diagnostic imaging. The Representatives stress that radiation therapy for cancer is therapeutic, is not diagnostic imaging, and notes that MedPAC has confirmed that their report did not recommend cuts to radiation therapy for cancer patients. The letter concludes that radiation oncology should not endure these debilitating cuts, which climb to 44 percent for certain radiation therapy payments and result in a 19 percent cut in overall payments for radiation oncology services.
Now Ask Your Senators to Sign the Lincoln-Burr Letter to HHS
Contact Your United States Senators Here
This effort now focuses on the U.S. Senate. Call your Senator and ask them to sign the letter from influential Senators Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Richard Burr (R-NC) calling on the HHS Secretary to reverse the proposed payment cuts for radiation oncology in the proposed CMS rule. These Senators also point out that this policy stems from misinterpreted concerns raised by Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) regarding volume growth of diagnostic imaging services. The Senators warn that these drastic cuts could force freestanding and community-based cancer centers to close their doors, limiting access to cancer care for our seniors, particularly those living in rural areas.
To date, 16 Senators have agreed to sign the Lincoln-Burr letter: Evan Bayh (D-IN), Mark Begich (D-AK), Bob Bennett (R-UT), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Jim Bunning (R-KY), Richard Burr (R-NC), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Kay Hagan (D-NC), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Tim Johnson (D-SD), Carl Levin (D-MI), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Tom Udall (D-NM), and George Voinovich (R-OH).
Click here to read the text of the letter from Senators Blanche Lincoln and Richard Burr that they are asking their fellow Senators to sign.
Click here to read telephone talking points.
Contact Your United States Senators Here |