The American College of Radiology® (ACR®) provided comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the Radiation Oncology (RO) Model Proposed Rule released April 6.
The ACR believes, with modifications, the RO model would prove successful. Some of the modifications include voluntary participation in the model, as opposed to mandatory, reducing hospital outpatient prospective payment system discount factors to 3% or less, and making the reporting of clinical data elements a gradual requirement, giving clinicians time to implement the necessary workflows and software. The ACR is committed to working with CMS, Congress and other stakeholders to make the necessary reforms to the RO Model.
In the proposed rule, CMS proposes to delay the start date of the RO Model to a date to be determined through future rulemaking. The rule also proposes to modify the definition of the model performance period to be established in future rulemaking. The RO model has been delayed multiple times, including two delays imposed by Congress.
The ACR will continue to monitor any updates from CMS regarding the RO Model. For more information, please contact Christina Berry, ACR Team Lead, Economic Policy.