Press Kit: Prior Authorization and Radiation Oncology
Radiation oncologists consistently name prior authorization as the biggest challenge facing their clinics. In nationwide surveys by ASTRO, physicians report widespread delays to radiation therapy caused by prior authorization that are leading to serious harm for people with cancer, including abandoned treatments, hospitalizations and death. Doctors also warn that these policies exacerbate staff burnout at cancer clinics, and that the problem of prior authorization is getting worse. Below, find more information on the scope of this problem in radiation oncology and ASTRO’s efforts to address it.
Press Materials
- News Release: Radiation oncologists urge Congress to support people with cancer by passing ROCR, stabilizing Medicare payments, reining in prior authorization and investing in cancer research (5/20/25)
News Release: New ASTRO survey finds that prior authorization delays lead to serious harm for people with cancer (12/4/24)
Executive Summary: How Prior Authorization Harms Cancer Care — Results of a Nationwide Physician Survey (12/4/24)
Official Statement: ASTRO applauds new bipartisan legislation to reform prior authorization for Medicare Advantage patients (6/12/24)
- News Release: ASTRO supports CMS’ prior authorization reform for Medicare Advantage plans (4/6/23)
Official Statement: ASTRO applauds House passage of bipartisan bill to reduce prior authorization burden and treatment delays (9/14/22)
Previous Research/Surveys on Prior Authorization
News Release: Prior authorization costs radiation oncology clinics more than $40 million each year, study estimates (10/25/21)
News Release: ASTRO backs bipartisan Congressional bills to reduce prior authorization burdens and treatment delays for people with cancer (includes 2020 survey findings, 10/20/21)
News Release: Prior authorization obstacles unnecessarily delay patient access to cancer treatments, physician survey finds (4/25/19)
Executive Summary: Prior Authorization and Cancer Patient Care: Results of a Nationwide Physician Survey (4/25/19)
Press Briefing (recording, slides): Leaders from ASTRO, the American Medical Association (AMA) and the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) discuss the unnecessary burden of prior authorization during an online press briefing. (4/25/19)
Physician testimonials on the burden of prior authorization for patients
Congressional Testimony
In September 2019, then-ASTRO Chair Paul Harari, MD, FASTRO, discussed how prior authorization increasingly restricts physicians from exercising their clinical judgment in determining what is in the best interest of their patients during a U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business hearing on “Utilization Management: Barriers to Care and Burdens on Small Medical Practice.” Watch the recording of the hearing.
Contacts and Social Media
Direct questions and interview requests to ASTRO’s media relations team. To keep up with the latest conversation on prior authorization, follow ASTRO on social media:
