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ASTRO asks Congress to address radonc workforce shortages

March 21, 2023

ASTRO urged Congress to address workforce shortages among radiation oncology health professionals in a March 20 letter in response to a request for information from the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. The Committee is seeking input from health care stakeholders to better understand the drivers of health care workforce shortages and potential solutions. Inflationary pressures, increasing cancer cases, declining reimbursement and burdensome requirements are threatening the ability of the radiation oncology treatment team to ensure patients have access to timely, high-quality cancer care close to home, the letter said. Noting that radiation oncology clinics are facing severe shortages among radiation therapists, dosimetrists, nurses, medical physicists and clinical trial coordinators, as well as a maldistribution of radiation oncologists, the letter suggested several policy solutions, including stopping Medicare payment cuts and fixing prior authorization. The letter also reiterated ASTRO’s support for legislation to allow residents interest-free deferment of student loans and to create a student loan repayment program for specialists practicing in rural areas.

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