The assault continues... (new proposed medicare cuts)

[Burt Radnolds]

On July 3, 2014, Medicare proposed rates for the 2015 physician fee schedule that would cut radiation oncology by four percent and radiation therapy centers by eight percent. ASTRO is very concerned by these proposed cuts and their potential impact on patient access to cancer care.

The proposal most significantly impacting radiation oncology would remove the radiation treatment vault as a direct practice expense input from radiation treatment procedure codes. Medicare said it already captures the value of the vault as part of the indirect practice expense inputs. This policy change would impact many radiation oncology treatment delivery codes (including CPT codes 77402-77418, 77373) and affect radiation oncology practices differently based on their service mix.

The 2015 proposed Medicare hospital outpatient regulations also released today would package ancillary services and expand a comprehensive ambulatory payment classification (APC) policy, which could significantly impact hospital-based radiation oncology payments by paying for related services in a single payment. ASTRO is reviewing the impact of these and other proposals in the hospital outpatient rule.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services also proposed other policies that could impact radiation oncology services. ASTRO is closely reviewing these proposed policy changes and will provide a detailed analysis to membership soon.

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Members don't see this ad.

 

[thesauce]

Reload and fight again.

It's time we get real:
"Medicare proposes major reductions in benefits for breast cancer patients"

 

[medgator]

Reload and fight again.

It's time we get real:
"Medicare proposes major reductions in benefits for breast cancer patients"

I don't hear about Medicare going to Celgene, Bristol Meyer or Sanofi and telling them about cutting drug reimbursements like this each year (Med Oncs have already been shafted a long time ago on drug margins).

 

[thesauce]

I don't hear about Medicare going to Celgene, Bristol Meyer or Sanofi and telling them about cutting drug reimbursements like this each year (Med Oncs have already been shafted a long time ago on drug margins).

Medicare part D had conditions that took away the fed's ability to negotiate drug prices

 

[thesauce]

Actually, I like this one better:
"Medicare proposes major reductions in benefits for breast cancer patients TO PAY FOR OBAMACARE"

 

[lazers]

Actually, I like this one better:
"Medicare proposes major reductions in benefits for breast cancer patients TO PAY FOR OBAMACARE"

Lol, I like it !!!

 

[medgator]

Medicare part D had conditions that took away the fed's ability to negotiate drug prices

Yup. Unlike the VA, other countries etc.

 

[ketosisevangelist]

On July 3, 2014, Medicare proposed rates for the 2015 physician fee schedule that would cut radiation oncology by four percent and radiation therapy centers by eight percent. ASTRO is very concerned by these proposed cuts and their potential impact on patient access to cancer care.

The proposal most significantly impacting radiation oncology would remove the radiation treatment vault as a direct practice expense input from radiation treatment procedure codes. Medicare said it already captures the value of the vault as part of the indirect practice expense inputs. This policy change would impact many radiation oncology treatment delivery codes (including CPT codes 77402-77418, 77373) and affect radiation oncology practices differently based on their service mix.

The 2015 proposed Medicare hospital outpatient regulations also released today would package ancillary services and expand a comprehensive ambulatory payment classification (APC) policy, which could significantly impact hospital-based radiation oncology payments by paying for related services in a single payment. ASTRO is reviewing the impact of these and other proposals in the hospital outpatient rule.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services also proposed other policies that could impact radiation oncology services. ASTRO is closely reviewing these proposed policy changes and will provide a detailed analysis to membership soon.

Blame Cancer Centers of America.

 

[ketosisevangelist]

Lol, I like it !!!

"If you like your healthcare plan, you can keep it."

 

[RadOncDoc21]

Maybe this means more patients, maybe that will mean more hiring because right now the job market sucks! Just sayin...

Back to the topic: It seems like every year there is a cut of at least 2-4%.