CMS will delay start of Radiation Oncology Model

CMS recently announced that it intends to delay the launch of the new Radiation Oncology Model (ROM) to July 1, 2021 instead of January 1, 2021. The decision comes after stakeholders commented that a January start date would place an unfair burden on providers already challenged by staff shortages.

Published last month, the ROM is a mandatory payment model that includes approximately 30% of outpatient radiation therapy episodes nationally furnished by freestanding and hospital-based radiation oncology providers. According to CMS, the ROM is intended to improve the quality of care for cancer patients receiving radiotherapy and move toward a simplified and predictable site-neutral payment system.

In comments to CMS on the final rule, the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) called mandatory participation in the model “untenable” for practices, in part due to COVID-19-related challenges. The group argued that participation in the value-based reimbursement model would require significant practice changes and investments that would be difficult, if not impossible, to implement in time for the new year.

The radiation oncology organization is pleased with CMS’ decision to delay the start date. “We are hopeful that the delay represents the first step toward full, open engagement with ASTRO on ways to ensure that the RO Model achieves our shared goals of higher-quality, lower-cost cancer care. We remain seriously concerned with excessive payment cuts in the model that will cause significant financial strain on practices and risk patient access to radiation treatments,” said ASTRO in a statement.