The Radiation Therapy Alliance (RTA), a nonprofit organization representing 227 community-based radiation therapy centers, commended the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for withdrawing the proposal to cap certain freestanding radiation oncology reimbursements at the OPD/ASC rates in the CY 2014 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule, issued Nov. 27.

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized updates to payment policies and payment rates for services furnished under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) on or after Jan. 1, 2014.

Previous evidence, including published National Lung Cancer Screening Trial (NLST) results, shows that computed tomography (CT) lung cancer screening significantly reduces lung cancer deaths in high risk patients*, and is appropriate, with careful patient selection and follow-up. This benefit significantly outweighs the comparatively modest rate of overdiagnosis noted in an article published online Dec. 9 in JAMA Internal Medicine. The American College of Radiology (ACR) will continue guideline and appropriateness criteria creation to support CT lung cancer screening programs across the country.