Doctors: Reimbursement cuts may affect cancer treatment (Target:Radiation Treatments)

BayNews9 ^ | 08/30/2009

[devane617]

The U.S. Department of Health is proposing a major reduction in reimbursement for cancer treatments.

Recently the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced they're planning on cutting reimbursement rates for radiation cancer treatment -- in some cases by 44 percent.

"The radiation oncology community was shocked," said Dr. Robert Miller with Wellspring Oncology Cancer Center. "At the time our cost have gone up higher and higher, they were going to cut the reimbursement by almost in half."

Last year Wellspring spent more than $2 million to by a TomoTherapy machine. It targets only cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed.

Doctors fear with a cut in reimbursement rates many people will not be able to afford the best treatment possible.

"We are hoping that, there probably will be some cutback, but we are hoping more realistic -- 5 percent, 7 percent -- but not a dramatic 44 percent," Miller said.

Miller says the consequences of such a large cut could be a healthcare nightmare. Doctors may no longer use the most advanced technology to treat cancer patients, or perhaps even more alarming, they may refuse to treat patients with Medicare altogether.

Patients have until Monday to comment on the proposed cuts.

Miller has been encouraging his patients to call and write their lawmakers. Bay News 9 tried to contact St. Petersburg Rep. Bill Young for comment, but he could not be reached.

[devane617]

Radiation treatments for cancer is a 'standard' that if cut will cost the lives of many people. This is absolutely outrageous!

When I was Dx'd with Prostate cancer in late 2007 I elected to have 43 treatments of radiation over surgery. Although I have private insurance, I can't imagine Medicare cutting the reimbursement for this procedure. Wonder how many lives can be ended with this simple rule change? My God, what is happening to our America?

[Cementjungle]

Patients have until Monday to comment on the proposed cuts.

As in tomorrow???

[Pearls Before Swine]

Note that these are REAL cuts, unlike the screaming in Congress over decreases in the rate of increase in a Congressional program, which are also labeled cuts.

[devane617]

Sounds like it, and this is the first I have heard of this. See how easy it will be for them to slip this stuff in without congress?

[G Larry]

Yep!
I had 35 treatments in 4Q 2006.
Sure glad the insurance covered it!

[kcvl]

This is absolutely outrageous!

Yes, but Obama, et al, said there was NO RATIONING! What the hell do you call this?!

[Salamander]

“My God, what is happening to our America?”

It’s obvious.

0’s clearing out the ‘dead wood”.

[I’m very glad you survived your cancer, sir]

[Salamander]

“Down sizing”.

Stock up on aspirin.

[CottShop]

[[”The radiation oncology community was shocked,”]]

And you’re whining about now AFTER voting him into office why again oncology community? Keep voting for ‘change’ America- just don’t expect those of us who could SEE the writign on the wall to listen to your whining AFTER you find out ‘whoopsie- it;’s affecting us- Gosh- didn’t see that one coming”

[God luvs America]

bump

[WHBates]

""The radiation oncology community was shocked," said Dr. Robert Miller with Wellspring Oncology Cancer Center. "At the time our cost have gone up higher and higher, they were going to cut the reimbursement by almost in half."

You haven't seen anything yet. That is call savings in "Obama lingo" as Rush would say.

There will be a rude awakening for our seniors and I don't think most see it coming. Maybe they should think twice about voting for the Democrats en-mass as they have been known to do?

[devane617]

This story should go out to every senior community in America.

[RC2]

America??????? It’s called ASS......American Socialist Society. Get rid of the sick, the old, the young. The rest go into work camps. That’s what’s happening to America. The big question is....When will American stand up and put a stop to it......and how. The “how” is the scarey part.

[Diogenesis]

This is criminal.

Radiation therapy is the only way to assure long term
disease free survival for many individuals afflicted with malignant disease.

“These reductions are not for us. We are gods.
We will continue our kickbacks, orgies, and platinum health care.
And if any of our constituents don't like it, we will take their daughters
and you, Barney, will have their sons.”

"WELCOME TO THE REAL AMERICA WHERE CRIMINALS GET TO BE
CELEBRITIES AND CELEBRITIES GET AWAY WITH MURDER."
"TO DIE FOR" Columbia Pictures

[devane617]

We need to start Recall campaigns al across America. Once the dims see that America is serious, the mess will stop. There are so many rule changes they can make without congress that it is truly scary. Lets just hope there is something left to save.

[N3WBI3]

Typical of Obama type politics... If you don’t give anyone to complain then nobody must mind..

[Gapplega]

As a radiation oncologist, I can say for a fact that these cuts will be devastating. Most of us will likely just quit over night. I definitely will. It’s a very stressful job that demands technical skills but also compassion. Bye bye USA, it was nice knowin’ ya.

[uncbob]

Meanwhile they want a health plan that covers illegal immigrants

[Kirkwood]

0bamacare adds 40 to 50 million patients to the system. There aren’t enough doctors or clinics to make it work. Everything that matters will be cut, starting with the most expensive critical care programs like cancer treatments. People will be dying in droves for lack of care just so 0bama can have all the illegals with ingrown toenails treated.

[Cyropaedia]

>>This is absolutely outrageous!

Yes, but Obama, et al, said there was NO RATIONING! What the hell do you call this?!

This has Zeke Emanuel's fingerprints all over it...