ACCC Thankful for Inclusion of Key Priorities in Omnibus Package

The Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) is grateful that Congress is poised to address many of our year-end policy priorities in its proposed fiscal year 2023 omnibus appropriations package released this week. From an extension of Medicare telehealth flexibilities for an additional two years 2024 to new requirements for clinical trial sponsors to create diversity action plans, we are hopeful that these policy changes will improve access to high-quality, equitable care for all patients with cancer in 2023 and beyond.

We are also thankful for Congress’s proposal to offset reimbursement cuts finalized in the calendar year 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and to delay for two years the 4% statutory Pay-As-You-Go sequester, which were both set to take effect January 1, 2023. While Congress has chosen not to avert the full 4.5% MPFS conversion factor cut, ACCC is appreciative of lawmakers’ efforts to protect oncology care providers from the majority of these payment cuts at a time when workforce shortages and inflationary pressures continue to threaten the financial viability of our nation’s cancer programs and practices.

ACCC is hopeful that Congress will take action to finalize these proposals and get this bill to the President’s desk this week. We look forward to working with the next Congress in the new year to make progress on our remaining policy priorities to improve the lives of patients with cancer and their families and to ensure payment stability for cancer care providers.

About the Association of Community Cancer Centers

The Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) is the leading education and advocacy organization for the cancer care community. Founded in 1974, ACCC is a powerful network of 30,000 multidisciplinary practitioners from 1,700 hospitals and practices nationwide. As advances in cancer screening and diagnosis, treatment options, and care delivery models continue to evolve - so has ACCC - adapting its resources to meet the changing needs of the entire oncology care team. For more information, visit accc-cancer.org. Follow us on social media; read our blog, ACCCBuzz; tune in to our CANCER BUZZ podcast; and view our CANCER BUZZ TV channel.