Radiation oncologists call on Congress to boost cancer research funding and protect patients in health care reform

More than 100 ASTRO members will meet with legislators today to advocate for policies that support high-quality, high-value cancer care

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American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO)

May 01, 2017, 07:51 ET

WASHINGTON, May 1, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 100 radiation oncologists from across the United States are on Capitol Hill urging Congress to grow its investment in cancer research and to protect patients' access to high quality cancer care. The doctors are in Washington to meet with Congressional leaders on Tuesday as part of the 14th annual Advocacy Day organized by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

Cancer Research Funding Infographic from the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO)

Stable Medicare Payments and Access to Care -- Infographic from the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO)

Radiation oncologists are emphasizing four priorities as they meet with policymakers and their staffers: (1) supporting cancer research by increasing the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget by $2 billion; (2) avoiding disruptions in health insurance coverage for cancer patients; (3) preserving patients' access to quality health care by stabilizing Medicare payments while pursuing innovative models of physician reimbursement; and (4) protecting access to radioactive isotopes. Infographics are available for each of these key issues.

Federal investment in cancer research has played a role in every major innovation in the fight against cancer and has led to a decline in the overall number of cancer deaths in the United States, yet funding for cancer research is under threat. The President's proposed 2018 budget would cut $6 billion from the $32 billion earmarked for NIH, which could lead to a roughly 20 percent cut in the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) budget. This drastic cut would derail the progress toward improved outcomes for cancer patients and cause leading scientists to leave the cancer research field. Cuts also would erase the commitment Congress made in late 2016 by passing the 21st Century Cures Act, which was widely-supported, bipartisan legislation that pledged nearly $5 million in additional support for the NIH.

"There are more than two hundred types of cancer, and only through research can we learn which treatments, including radiation therapy, will be most effective to fight the many different forms of this illness. We ask that Congress reject proposed cuts to federal cancer research funding and instead support an increase in the budget to eradicate cancer," said Brian Kavanagh, MD, MPH, FASTRO, president of ASTRO and chair of the department of radiation oncology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

As Congress and the administration debate the future of American health care, ASTRO members are encouraging policymakers to prioritize reforms that avoid coverage disruptions for cancer patients. Studies have demonstrated that a lack of adequate health insurance leads to delayed diagnosis and treatment, resulting in higher mortality rates. Inadequate coverage also leads to higher costs that are felt throughout the economy. ASTRO strongly supports bipartisan solutions that protect cancer patients from losing their health insurance or not being approved for coverage following a cancer diagnosis, including maintaining bans on pre-existing condition exclusions and annual and lifetime caps; preserving guaranteed issue and guaranteed renewability provisions; and safeguarding access to clinical trials.

ASTRO members also are urging Congress to protect access to care by stabilizing Medicare reimbursement rates and fully supporting the transition to a health system that rewards quality over quantity. Congress unanimously passed the Patient Access and Medicare Protection Act in 2015, freezing payment rates for key radiation treatment services in freestanding clinics through 2018 at levels set in 2016 and requiring the Secretary of HHS to report to Congress on the development of alternative payment models (APMs) in radiation oncology. With the support of key Congressional leaders, we have much-needed stability in radiation oncology payments, and ASTRO has been working on the development of an APM that incentivizes adherence to nationally-recognized clinical guidelines through an episode-based payment framework across five primary cancer sites: breast, lung, prostate, colorectal, and head and neck. Radiation oncologists are on Capitol Hill to remind Congress of the multidisciplinary nature of cancer care and call for the opportunity to meaningfully participate in the nationwide transition to value-based health care.

"When Medicare inappropriately ratchets down on payments for cancer treatments, it jeopardizes whether patients have access to the care they need," said David C. Beyer, MD, FASTRO, chair of the ASTRO Board of Directors and medical director of Cancer Centers of Northern Arizona at Sedona. "In the past decade, radiation oncologists in community-based practices have sustained as much as a 20 percent drop in their Medicare payments. We're urging Congress to prevent additional cuts and support physician-led efforts to drive value-based care."

Finally, ASTRO members are advocating to preserve access to radioactive isotopes. Any effort to abandon radioactive source-based technology in health care would limit patients' access to certain radiation therapy treatments, which could interfere with treatment decisions and result in higher mortality and recurrence rates. A recent Nuclear Regulatory Commission analysis found no violations with safety or security consequences over the past 30 years, demonstrating the culture of safety and security among domestic radioisotope users. Moreover, radiation oncologists and medical physicists receive extensive training in the safe use and security of radioactive isotopes. ASTRO members are urging Congress to reject attempts to limit access to radioactive isotopes and promote policies that enhance the safe and effective use of these materials.

ABOUT ASTRO
ASTRO is the premier radiation oncology society in the world, with more than 10,000 members who are physicians, nurses, biologists, physicists, radiation therapists, dosimetrists and other health care professionals who specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies. As the leading organization in radiation oncology, the Society is dedicated to improving patient care through professional education and training, support for clinical practice and health policy standards, advancement of science and research, and advocacy. ASTRO publishes three medical journals, International Journal of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics (www.redjournal.org), Practical Radiation Oncology (www.practicalradonc.org) and Advances in Radiation Oncology (www.advancesradonc.org); developed and maintains an extensive patient website, RT Answers (www.rtanswers.org); and created the Radiation Oncology Institute (www.roinstitute.org), a nonprofit foundation to support research and education efforts around the world that enhance and confirm the critical role of radiation therapy in improving cancer treatment. To learn more about ASTRO, visit www.astro.org.