The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it will delay the start date of the Radiation Oncology alternative payment model (APM) from Jan. 1, 2021, until July 1, 2021, based on feedback from MGMA and other radiation oncology stakeholders. MGMA appreciates the leadership of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) on efforts to improve this model and push back its launch until group practices are better prepared.

MGMA joined ASTRO and others in expressing concerns about the model. We are pleased that CMS is delaying participation, but there is still work to be done to improve the model, including urging CMS to make participation voluntary, rather than mandatory.

In an Oct. 2020 Stat poll, 76% of respondents indicated they do not support the government requiring participation in APMs. MGMA has long championed voluntary APM opportunities for physician group practices of different types, sizes, and specialties, but does not agree with requiring groups to experiment in untested demonstrations that lack evidentiary support.