Community Oncology Alliance wrote scathing letter to MedPAC saying the recommendations would further cut reimbursements, fuel practice acquisitions.

recommendations that they say would backfire and end up costing beneficiaries more, not less.

In a March 24 letter, the Community Oncology Alliance said it disagreed with the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission’s Medicare Part B recommendations released earlier this month.

“If implemented, these recommendations will cause the complete opposite of their intent, fueling more increases in Part B costs for Medicare and beneficiaries,” said President Jeff Vacirca, MD.

The recommendations ignore the shift of cancer care to the hospital setting, he said.

Before 2004, about 84 percent of chemotherapy was delivered in cancer clinics. That figure is now 54 percent. The remainder have moved to more expensive hospital outpatient settings where the payment is better, according to Vacirca.

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