AMS pleased with CMS' increase in 2012 payment rate for proton therapy

AMERICAN SHARED HOSPITAL SERVICES (AMEX:AMS), a leading provider of turnkey technology solutions for advanced radiosurgical and radiation therapy services, said today that the recent announcement by the Centers for Medicare & Medicade Services (CMS) of a 15% increase in the payment rate of proton therapy for hospital based centers beginning in 2012 strengthens the economic case for the proton centers now under development by the Company. "We are pleased that CMS recognizes the therapeutic value of proton therapy, now widely regarded as the optimal radiation treatment for an increasing variety of cancers. This payment increase will facilitate the development of much-needed proton therapy centers throughout the country," said AMS Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ernest A. Bates, M.D.

“We are pleased that CMS recognizes the therapeutic value of proton therapy, now widely regarded as the optimal radiation treatment for an increasing variety of cancers. This payment increase will facilitate the development of much-needed proton therapy centers throughout the country”

AMS is developing hospital based proton therapy centers in Boston (Tufts Medical Center), Orlando (Orlando Regional Healthcare) and Long Beach, California (Long Beach Memorial Medical Center).