ROCR Value Based Program Act
Rep. Fitzpatrick Proposes Bundled Medicare Payments for Cancer Care and Free Rides for Patients
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
↔Companion bill: Sen. Tillis Introduces the ROCR Act to Overhaul Medicare Cancer Treatment PaymentsLegislative Progress
Key Points
- The bill changes how Medicare pays for radiation therapy for 15 types of cancer, including breast, lung, and prostate cancer. Instead of paying for every single visit or test, Medicare would pay one set price for the entire course of treatment. This is meant to make costs more predictable and focus on the quality of care rather than the number of appointments.
- To help patients who struggle to get to their appointments, the bill allows doctors to offer free or discounted rides. It also gives clinics an extra $500 per patient to cover transportation costs for people who don't have a reliable way to get to the hospital. This is a big change because current laws often prevent doctors from giving patients free services like rides.
- The plan requires radiation clinics to meet high quality standards and get official accreditation to receive their full payments. This ensures that patients are getting safe, modern care no matter where they live. Smaller clinics in rural areas would get extra support and more time to meet these new requirements.
- While the new system is being built, Medicare would be banned from cutting the current pay rates for radiation therapy. This 'payment floor' is designed to keep cancer centers stable and open while they transition to the new rules.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Life & Work
Independent radiation therapy clinics and small physician group practices would face a mandatory shift to the new bundled payment model, which changes how they bill and get paid. While the payment floor protects current rates during the transition and accredited practices get a 1% bonus, smaller practices may face challenges adapting to new reporting requirements. Limited-resource providers get some protections, including exemption from payment penalties and alternative pathways to meet accreditation requirements.
Programs
Disabilities
State Impacts
Milestones
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
7 articlesRadiation oncology reimbursement bill returns to Congress
A bipartisan bill aimed at shifting Medicare reimbursements to prioritize quality of care has been reintroduced in Congress. The ROCR Act of 2025 seeks to create patient-specific, episode-based payments and encourage the adoption of shorter, evidence-based treatments.
ROCR Act Reintroduced in Congress
The Radiation Oncology Case Rate (ROCR) Value Based Payment Program Act would stabilize access to radiation therapy. Key features include patient-specific episode-based payments and targeted assistance to address transportation barriers for rural and underserved patients.
Bipartisan legislation recommends ROCR value-based payments
Bipartisan legislation introduced March 13 reasserts the ROCR Value-Based Payment Program, proposing to exempt it from budget neutrality adjustments. The bill favors patient-specific payments and free or discounted transportation for radiation oncology patients.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
ROCR Value Based Program Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
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