Sequestration Cuts Return to 2% on July 1, 2022

June 28, 2022

On December 10, 2021, President Biden signed the “Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act,” which phased in the Medicare sequester cuts that had been paused during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), starting April 1, 2022. From April 1, through June 30, 2022, the cut is 1%. The cut will return to 2% on July 1, 2022.

Prior to the bill’s passage, the American Medical Association’s House of Delegates approved an Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO)-backed resolution opposing Medicare sequestration cuts in November 2021. ASCO also urged Congress to prevent these cuts, highlighting that, without congressional intervention, oncology care providers were facing a combination of cuts to Medicare reimbursement in 2022 due to the expiration of sequestration and pandemic relief, as well as the implementation of budget neutrality mandates. 

While ASCO appreciated Congress’ much-needed intervention, which provided a short-term fix, the Association stated that long-term solutions were needed. ASCO stands ready to work with Congress on such solutions to support the cancer care delivery system.

Bookmark ASCO in Action for updates as well as news, advocacy, and analysis on cancer policy.