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New Advances EIC announced, Last call for draft guidelines public comment, MedPAC meeting on ROCR

December 6, 2023

ASTRO names new Advances editor-in-chief
ASTRO is pleased to announce Rachel Jimenez, MD, as the new editor-in-chief of Advances in Radiation Oncology. Dr. Jimenez, an associate professor of radiation oncology at Harvard Medical School and the chair of quality and safety in radiation oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital, will begin her five-year term in March 2024. Dr. Jimenez will succeed Robert C. Miller, MD, MBA, FASTRO, who has served as editor-in-chief since the journal was founded in 2015. Read more about Dr. Jimenez in ASTRO’s release.
 
Registration for the Coding and Coverage Seminar closes Friday!
Don’t miss the December 2023 Virtual Coding and Coverage Seminar that addresses the many factors that affect this complex and ever-changing aspect of clinical practice. View the schedule to see the dynamic program we’ve got planned to help make clinical coding easier to understand and apply to your practice. Join us virtually for this convenient, one-day seminar this Saturday, December 9. Bring your coding questions for our experts and be prepared to collaborate with your radiation oncology coding colleagues. Registrants will receive both an electronic and print copy of the 2024 ASTRO Coding Resource. Registration closes on Friday, December 8, so register now!
 
It’s time to renew your ASTRO membership
Thank you for your commitment to ASTRO. Membership renewal notices are in the process of being emailed. You can renew your membership online by clicking on the link in the email you receive or by logging into ASTRO.org and clicking on the alert on your MyASTRO page. We are excited to announce that beginning January 2024, the ASTRO Board of Directors has approved a 50% membership dues discount for individuals in low- and lower middle-income countries to help enable all members of the #RadOnc community access to the benefits of ASTRO membership.
 
Reminder: Join the inaugural meeting of the Ethics Virtual Discussion Group
Be sure to register for the new Ethics in Radiation Oncology Discussion Group. The ASTRO Ethics Committee will initiate the forum with its first discussion topic, “Ethics-Centered Guidelines for Social Media Use by Oncology Professionals” on December 12, 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Eastern time. Registration for this virtual discussion is free. Discussion will focus on a recent editorial in the Journal of Clinical Oncology: Oncology Practice by Shukla et al., that reflects on the importance of ethics-centered guidelines for social media use by oncology professionals and will introduce the bioethical tenets of beneficence, nonmaleficence, respect for patient autonomy and justice, to frame considerations for what ethical use of social media means in our community.
 
Medical Student Q&A tonight
There’s still time for medical students to register for tonight’s Q&A session. Encourage students to join radiation oncologist Idalid (Ivy) Franco, MD, MPH, and radiation oncology resident Kekoa Taparra, MD, PhD, to learn more about the field and ask any questions they may have about becoming a radiation oncologist. The bi-monthly Medical Student Q&A sessions are hosted by the Communications Committee. More sessions will be announced in 2024.
 
Shop ASTROmerch for the holidays
Looking for a holiday gift for your colleague? The online ASTRO store has great gift ideas. New items have recently been added. Browse ASTROmerch for stock and onDemand items.
 
ASTRO meets with MedPAC on ROCR and updates FAQs
Last week, ASTRO Health Policy leadership met with the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) on recent payment cuts and the Radiation Oncology Case Rate (ROCR) program. MedPAC is an independent commission that advises Congress on Medicare payment policy. In addition to the MedPAC meeting, ASTRO staff and leadership continue meeting with radiation oncology practice groups about ROCR. The ROCR FAQs have been updated to include new questions raised about the program.
 
Tell Congress to fight Medicare cuts before it’s too late
Send a message to your member of Congress now urging them to take action to mitigate cuts to radiation oncology in the 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. Congress continues to discuss possible solutions, with members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce yesterday considering measures, including an ASTRO-supported fix to conversion factor cuts. Your message not only educates your representatives, but also highlights the urgent need to take action. Help us achieve our goal of 500 messages by visiting  astro.org/advocate to help stop the cuts before the end of the year.  And, save the date for May 20-21 for Advocacy Day in Washington, DC! More details to come.
 
Last call for comments on draft guideline
ASTRO requests feedback on the draft guideline Radiation Therapy for Palliation of Symptomatic Bone Metastases. Comments are due Monday, December 11 and can be submitted via webform at www.astro.org/PublicComment.
 
IHE-RO requests comment on three projects
IHE-RO, an ASTRO and AAPM sponsored initiative to improve technology functionality within radiation oncology, has released three projects to public comment. These projects provide guidance to vendors offering or developing products that integrate across the radiation oncology platform. Comments are welcome until December 11 for Treatment Delivery - Record Content Ion, Treatment Delivery - Record Content Brachy, and Treatment Plan - Plan Content Brachy.   
 
'Tis the season for the 12 Days of gRADitude!
Join the Radiation Oncology Institute (ROI) - ASTRO's foundation - to celebrate 12 days of making a difference. From December 4-15, ROI is sharing an update on the work of ROI-funded researchers, made possible thanks to the generosity of volunteers and donors. AND, Frank Wilson, MD, FASTRO, and members of the ROI Board of Trustees are offering to match all donations received up to $12,000! Learn more on the ASTRO Blog.  
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