WASHINGTON, DC – Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), and Paul Tonko (NY-20) have introduced the bipartisan Radiation Oncology Case Rate (ROCR) Value-Based Program Act of 2025, a transformative bill that modernizes Medicare’s reimbursement model for radiation therapy. This legislation ensures patients nationwide can access cutting-edge cancer treatments, improves health outcomes, reduces disparities, and generates substantial Medicare savings.
For more than a decade, declining Medicare reimbursements have jeopardized access to life-saving radiation therapy—hitting seniors, rural communities, and underserved patients the hardest. Radiation oncology has faced a staggering 23% reimbursement reduction, more than nearly any other specialty. The ROCR Act reverses this trend, ensuring financial stability for providers and protecting access to cutting-edge cancer care across the nation.
A Smarter, Patient-Centered Approach
The current fee-for-service system discourages oncologists from following modern, evidence-based best practices, which increasingly recommend shorter, more effective radiation therapy regimens. The ROCR Act corrects this misalignment by implementing a fair, bundled payment model that prioritizes quality over quantity, ensuring patients receive the best care possible without unnecessary financial strain.
Key Features of the ROCR Act:
- Modernizing Medicare – Shifts to episode-based payments, aligning financial incentives with high-quality, patient-centered care.
- Protecting Access to Care – Ensures Medicare patients, particularly in rural and underserved communities, can receive and complete radiation therapy.
- Enhancing Patient Outcomes – Supports shorter, more effective treatment regimens, reducing patient burden and improving recovery time.
- Ensuring Quality & Safety – Strengthens practice accreditation to safeguard excellence in patient care.
- Restoring Financial Stability for Providers – Establishes a sustainable, fair payment structure after a decade of Medicare cuts.
- Reducing Costs – Generates an estimated $200 million in savings over the next decade without compromising patient care.
“The ROCR Act is about putting patients first and ensuring every American battling cancer has access to the highest quality care. We cannot allow outdated policies to dictate patient outcomes,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick, co-chair of the House Cancer Caucus. “The ROCR Act modernizes Medicare to ensure radiation therapy remains accessible, innovative, and patient-centered, especially for those in our most vulnerable communities. By aligning our healthcare system with the latest advancements in medicine, this bipartisan bill puts patients first and strengthens the future of cancer treatment nationwide.”
“A cancer diagnosis is devastating for patients and their families, and no one should be told that some treatments are unavailable,” said Rep. John Joyce, M.D. “Innovation is the cornerstone of American medicine, and I am proud to join the bipartisan group co-leading the Radiation Oncology Case Rate Act, which would ensure seniors have access to the innovative therapies critical for their cancer treatments.”
"Every year, more than a million Americans rely on radiation therapy to fight cancer, yet outdated Medicare payment policies are putting their care at risk,” said Rep. Panetta. “The Radiation Oncology Case Rate (ROCR) Act is a crucial step toward ensuring that all patients, especially those in rural and underserved communities, have access to the high-quality care they deserve. By shifting to a patient-centered, evidence-based reimbursement model, this bipartisan legislation will improve outcomes, reduce disparities, and ensure Medicare sustainability.”
“I have long believed in the tremendous value of radiation therapy for people with cancer across our nation, and I’m proud today to introduce the ROCR Value-Based Care Act to help ensure those patients have access to state-of-the-art care near their homes. People with cancer deserve sound policy solutions that put patients first and foster innovative care solutions. By bundling Medicare payments, ROCR will bring financial stability, improved patient access, and better health outcomes for patients here in New York and beyond. After more than a decade of cuts, this legislation will allow cancer clinics across the nation to deliver the highest standard of essential care while ensuring a fair and stable payment structure,” said Rep. Tonko.
“The ROCR Act modernizes Medicare’s payment system to ensure cancer patients receive the best care possible,” said Senator Tillis. “Current reimbursement policies reward quantity over quality, making it harder for physicians to provide the tailored, high-quality care cancer patients deserve. This bipartisan bill fixes this by shifting to a fair, bundled payment model that removes incentives for redundant treatments, supports innovation, and ensures continued access to world-class care.”
“The ROCR Act represents a balanced, evidence-based policy solution to safeguard access to high value cancer treatment for Americans, and it is the only viable policy solution designed to provide payment stability for the field of radiation oncology in 2026 and beyond,” said Howard M. Sandler, MD, FASTRO, Chair of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Board of Directors. “ASTRO applauds Sen. Tillis, Sen. Peters, Rep. Fitzpatrick, Rep. Panetta, Rep. Joyce and Rep. Tonko for championing a forward-thinking, patient-centered policy that keeps quality and value at the heart of cancer care.”
Tackling Disparities: The HEART Initiative
A cornerstone of the ROCR Act is the Health Equity and Achievement in Radiation Therapy (HEART) initiative, designed to remove financial and logistical barriers that prevent patients from accessing care. Under HEART, radiation centers will receive funds to assist patients facing transportation challenges, following a National Cancer Institute-backed model that has successfully increased cancer survival rates in underserved communities.
Ending a Decade of Medicare Cuts
Despite its proven, life-saving value, radiation oncology has suffered a devastating 23% reduction in Medicare payments over the past decade—one of the steepest cuts among all medical specialties. The ROCR Act finally reverses this damage, ensuring seniors and cancer patients can continue receiving the gold-standard treatment they deserve.
Read the Supporter Letter here.