Value Health Voices
Value Health Voices
Podcast Description
We discuss the most impactful health policy and healthcare finances developments shaping the US Healthcare system now and in the future. We also discuss personal development for physician executives. Co-hosts Dr Anthony Paravati and Dr Amar Rewari
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The show emphasizes critical themes including healthcare finance, policy analysis, and personal development for physician executives. Episodes examine key issues like the impact of private equity on hospital ownership, the implications of AI in healthcare, the complexities of Medicare payment structures, and the potential healthcare outcomes based on political elections. For example, episode highlights include a debate on AI's role in patient care and an analysis of the complications surrounding Medicare's annual payment cuts.
We discuss the most impactful health policy and healthcare finances developments shaping the US Healthcare system now and in the future. We also discuss personal development for physician executives. Co-hosts Dr Anthony Paravati and Dr Amar Rewari
The presidents of ASTRO and ACRO provide focused analysis of CMS’s 2026 proposed rules and their specific implications for radiation oncology practice. This executive briefing examines key policy changes without background context, concentrating on immediate implementation concerns and the September 12 comment period.
Key Topics Covered:
- Critical APC “crosswalk” methodology issues affecting new treatment delivery codes
- CMS’s new “efficiency adjustment” reducing procedural service payments by 2.5%
- Transition from survey-based valuations to hospital cost data methodology
- Image guidance and port film bundling into treatment delivery codes
- Surface radiation therapy coding updates and valuation changes
- RUC committee dynamics and specialty representation challenges
- Strategic considerations for the comment period ending September 12, 2025
Technical Analysis: Dr. Sameer Keole (ASTRO President) and Dr. Brian Lally (ACRO President) and Drs Paravati and Rewari explain how CMS may have assigned new radiation therapy codes to incorrect ambulatory payment classifications. The analysis suggests CMS deleted separate IMRT codes but may not have recognized that IMRT services are now bundled into new level 2 and level 3 treatment codes, potentially resulting in significant undervaluation.
Policy Context: The discussion examines how radiation oncology’s 21% decline in relative value over 20 years, combined with these proposed changes, affects practice sustainability. Freestanding centers face particular challenges with a 32% reimbursement reduction since 2015.
About Our Guests: Dr. Sameer Keole serves as President of ASTRO and practices radiation oncology in Arizona. Dr. Brian Lally is President of ACRO and practices at an academic center in South Carolina. Both provide extensive expertise in healthcare policy and specialty society leadership.
This focused analysis provides healthcare leaders with essential technical information for participating in the rulemaking process.
Note: This is a condensed version of our full Episode 18 analysis, focusing specifically on radiation oncology implications.
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Episode Tags: Medicare physician fee schedule, HOPPS, radiation oncology, ASTRO, ACRO, APC crosswalk, efficiency adjustment, CMS proposed rule, treatment delivery codes, comment period, healthcare policy analysis, specialty medicine, supercut
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