The Community Oncology Alliance called on CMS to delay the start date of its proposed radiation oncology alternative payment model from Jan. 1 to Aug. 1.
Representatives with the association made the recommendation in comments submitted Sept. 16 about CMS' proposed model, which would test prospective episode-based payments to physician group practices, hospital outpatient departments and freestanding radiation therapy centers for 17 cancer types. Under the model, payments would cover 90-day care episodes, and the model would be tested in randomly selected core-based statistical areas of the U.S.
The nonprofit Community Oncology Alliance said in its comments the delaynecessary to give providers more time to understand the model and how it works.
"COA is concerned that the proposed start date of the RO model does not give practices enough time to make the necessary practice transformation changes and will therefore result in many operational challenges for radiation oncologists," the alliance said "Furthermore, because this model restructures reimbursement for physicians there will need to be additional time to understand the implications of this change."
The alliance also recommended that the model be voluntary, and that CMS include physician fee schedule episodes in its methodology for calculating payments to radiation oncologists.
Read the alliance's full comments here.
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