Medicare Patient Access to Cancer Treatment Act

HR 4473, the Medicare Patient Access to Cancer Treatment Act, requires Medicare to pay the same rate for cancer care services whether provided in a hospital outpatient department or a physician’s office. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries receiving cancer treatment and healthcare providers (hospitals and physician offices) who deliver cancer care services. The bill mandates equal reimbursement for defined cancer care services - such as chemotherapy administration and cancer diagnosis/treatment - starting in 2025, eliminating current higher payments for hospital settings. This change aims to reduce unnecessary cost increases for Medicare (estimated $615 million added between 2015-2019 due to current payment disparities) without altering care quality.