Medicare Physician Fee Schedule

Major overhauls are needed in the formula that is used to calculate physician payments. Every year, congressional action is taken to patch the system to avoid significant reductions in reimbursement. In 2010, we face a 21.5% cut in reimbursement while the cost of providing the care is increasing due to technological advances, salaries and general inflation. The problem lies within the sustainable growth formula (SGR). This concept was to reduce payments as the number of services that are provided grows. The flaw in this formula is that it includes prescription drugs. One example of this is procrit. More money is spent on this one drug than all of radiation therapy treatments in the country. ASTRO has called upon Congress to prevent the 21.5% cut schedule for 2010 and replace it with a positive payment update and work towards a long-term solution to stabilize payments.