To the Editor,
Over 180,000 Floridians will be diagnosed with cancer this year. As they undergo treatment, the support of family, friends and the whole community is crucial. So is access to local oncologists who can provide convenient, individualized care.
Unfortunately, community-based physicians are having to make tough decisions about how––and whether––they can continue providing care. A 2022 law will soon reduce Medicare reimbursements for oncologists providing complex cancer treatments like chemotherapy. With reduced reimbursements, many independent clinics won’t be able to afford to administer and store complex cancer drugs, forcing them to stop offering certain treatments, turn away new patients or shut down entirely. That’s bad news for Florida’s patients.
Thankfully, Members of Congress introduced the Protecting Patient Access to Cancer and Complex Therapies Act (H.R. 4299) to reinstate reimbursement for community practices and ensure that patients can continue to access this care.
As a champion for community oncology, Representative Aaron Bean recently co-sponsored this critical legislation and visited our practice in Fleming Island to see the benefits of local cancer care firsthand. I thank him for supporting this legislation and urge other members of the Florida delegation to follow his leadership in protecting patient access to high-quality, affordable care.
Dr. Richard McDonough, Florida Cancer Specialists
