63 Members of Congress Send Letter to HHS Secretary Insisting CMS Stop the Radiation Oncology Cuts

Call Your Senators and Ask Them to Sign the Senate Version of this Letter

On August 17, 2009, 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) sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius calling for a reversal of the devastating payment cuts for radiation oncology proposed in the Medicare 2010 Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule. 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, but unlike the MedPAC report, 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.

The community oncology centers that provide approximately one third of the radiation treatment for cancer patients in the nation today can not afford to absorb these cuts. The community oncology community greatly appreciates the efforts of Reps. Griffith, Myrick, Capps, and Rogers, along with the 63 members who joined this critical effort.

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, 12 Senators have agreed to sign the Lincoln-Burr letter: Michael Bennet (D-CO), Bob Bennett (R-UT), Jim Bunning (R-KY), Richard Burr (R-NC), 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), and Tom Udall (D-NM).

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