PANAMA CITY, FL – U.S. Representative Steve Southerland (R-District 2) today toured Gulf Coast Cancer Treatment Center, a local free-standing radiation therapy center offering the latest cancer technologies and therapies, to meet with cancer care specialists, patients and family members and learn more about radiation therapy offerings in the area. Members of the Panama City area’s cancer care community discussed the key role community-based radiation therapy centers have in helping win the war on cancer, as well as the importance of a logical, predictable Medicare reimbursement policy to ensure continued access to state-of-the-art, quality cancer care in the community setting.
“I am pleased to have the opportunity to tour Gulf Coast Cancer Treatment Center and meet with some of the local constituents and cancer care staff that are providing excellent, first class care right here in our district,” said Representative Southerland. “Especially in an area of health care such as this that is constantly evolving with new technologies, it is wonderful to see the high level of care being delivered in our local community.”
“We applaud Representative Southerland’s commitment to serving our area’s residents and are honored to welcome him to our facility today to meet with our patients and dedicated care giving staff,” said Dr. David Hurst, radiation oncologist of Gulf Coast Cancer Treatment Center. “We are proud to demonstrate the quality care we provide and thank Representative Southerland for his efforts to ensure that Panama City-area patients are able to continue receiving quality, state of the art cancer care right here in our community.”
In addition to showcasing the latest techniques and innovations in radiation therapy, Gulf Coast Cancer Treatment Center’s physician and staff expressed the need for stable, predictable payments in order to ensure that cancer patients can access the full care and medicines recommended by their doctors. In recent years, Medicare payments have been subject to numerous proposed payment reductions, on top of previously enacted federal Medicare cuts for all physician services. Members of the local cancer care community warn that deep additional cuts to radiation therapy services threaten patients’ access to life-saving cancer care. Additional payment reductions could potentially lead to forced facility closures and limited patient access to cutting-edge technologies, which could then result in worsened health outcomes.
Radiation oncology has saved thousands of lives across our country and is helping Americans win the war on cancer as one of the three most commonly used cancer treatments along with surgery and chemotherapy. Today, approximately 50 to 60 percent of cancer patients are treated with radiation at some time during their course of care, and this critical therapy applied through the latest advanced technology is greatly improving patient outcomes.
Further, freestanding cancer centers are often located in underserved and critical access areas, providing patients with a point of care close to home that allows them to remain active in their communities and even keep working as they undergo treatment.
Gulf Coast Cancer Treatment Center provides more than 5.000 treatments annually, and last year delivered care to approximately 300 new patients diagnosed with prostate, breast and lung cancers and other life-threatening diseases. The center offers patients a variety of non-invasive radiation therapy services, with minimal side effects.
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Radiation Oncology Services of American (ROSA) is a member of the Radiation Therapy Alliance, a non-profit organization representing 230 for-profit, community-based cancer care facilities in 24 states caring for more than 78,000 cancer patients annually, working together to educate lawmakers on the essential services free-standing cancer care centers provide; demonstrate the need for stable government funding; and influence public policy to ensure patients receive the quality, compassionate cancer care they deserve.