Health Care Policy Reform

Before we can begin to talk about all the technologies available to treat cancer, we need to discuss health care policy and some current trends. I was recently invited to meet with members of Congress and Senate at the sixth annual ASTRO (American Society for Radiation Oncology) Advocacy Day. This was held in Washington D.C in March. I represented the SROA (Society of Radiation Oncology Administrators), joining over 100 physicians, physicists and administrators from 44 states. This event is coordinated to get our professional organizations more involved with the legislative process. This year is most likely the most important year as radiation oncology faces three major issues that threaten our profession. It is also our turn to make a difference. With a new president, changes in Congress and health care reform being at the forefront with our troubled economy, leaders are looking to us to help them make difficult decisions.

The goal of Advocacy Day was to reach out to our elected officials and their staffs and educate them about radiation oncology. According to the American Cancer Society, cancer is second to heart disease as the leading cause of death in the United States. Radiation therapy is given to over 65% of all cancer diagnoses. As seen in the data presented at many of our meetings, we have made great strides over the last decade with increased survival rates. Major advances in technology have also allowed us to minimize the side effects seen with treatment. These changes have brought radiation oncology to the forefront of cancer care, yet it is still misunderstood by many lay people what we do. Very often there is confusion that leads to the notion that we are “part” of radiology. As we are aware, this is simply not the case.

Attendees were briefed by the ASTRO government relation’s staff on the issues facing our profession. There were many guest speakers from legislative leaders to health care consultants. The three primary issues we face today are self-referral, proposed cuts to the Medicare physician’s fee schedule and increases in funding for cancer research.

My next post will begin to dissect these issues and better explain current challenges.