# Summary of S. 4330 — ROCR Value Based Program Act of 2024
This bill creates a new Medicare payment system for radiation oncology services called the Radiation Oncology Case Rate (ROCR) Value Based Payment Program. Under this program, radiation therapy providers and suppliers would receive bundled per-episode payments covering all professional and technical services for cancer treatment, rather than separate payments for individual services. The Secretary of Health and Human Services has one year from enactment to establish the program through rulemaking.
The bill affects Medicare beneficiaries receiving radiation therapy for 15 specified cancer types (including breast, lung, prostate, and colorectal cancer) and radiation therapy providers and suppliers that participate in Medicare. The per-episode payment would be split into two installments and would be based on national rates adjusted for geography, inflation, and quality measures. Participating providers and suppliers must meet accreditation requirements or conduct external audits, though small providers have alternative compliance options.
The legislation includes a $500 health equity add-on payment per patient per episode when transportation insecurity is documented, with annual increases of $10. It also exempts the ROCR program from Medicare's "budget neutrality" rules, meaning any cost savings from the program will not trigger automatic payment reductions in other areas. Additionally, the bill creates new legal protections allowing radiation therapy providers to offer free or discounted transportation to patients without violating anti-kickback laws. The Government Accountability Office must report on the program's implementation and impact within seven years.
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