Early-bird for H&N Symposium, ASTRO-BCRF Emerging Investigator Award, Bill to stop Medicare cuts
December 13, 2023
Don’t miss the early-bird discount this Friday for the Multidisciplinary H&N Cancers Symposium! |
We’re heading to the AAA-rated four-diamond JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge in Phoenix from February 29 – March 2, 2024, for the 2024 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancers Symposium. This multidisciplinary meeting brings together all treatment specialties for a comprehensive look at the latest science and therapies for head and neck cancers. New this year, the Meeting onDemand is included with both in-person and virtual registration. Register by December 15 to take advantage of the lowest registration rates and don’t forget to book your hotel! |
Missed the Thoracic Symposium? Purchase Thoracic onDemand now in the ASTRO Academy |
The 2023 Multidisciplinary Thoracic Cancers Symposium onDemand includes case discussions, educational sessions on multidisciplinary therapies, new targeted therapies, immunotherapy, treatment and screening guidelines, supportive care, and oral abstract sessions highlighting the most current, evidence-based practices. With the Symposium onDemand you’ll receive over 16 hours of educational content, the ability to claim 16.75 AMA PRA Category 1™ CME credits, and the ability to review content for two years post-symposium. Learn more and purchase now. |
DEI cultural audit listening sessions |
ASTRO invites all members to participate in one of our upcoming virtual focus groups during the month of January. Jernigan and Associates is partnering with ASTRO to assess our current DEI efforts and make recommendations for how we can continue to enhance our focus and initiatives. Be on the lookout for the invitation to participate. Sessions are limited and will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. More details to come! |
New on the Blog: Updates from Survivor Circle Grant awardees from Texas | |
Two Texas-based organizations, Breast Cancer Resource Center (BCRC) and Thrivewell Cancer Foundation, were selected as ASTRO’s 2022 Survivor Circle grant winners for the services they provide to cancer patients, their families and caregivers. Read more to learn how each organization used the $10,000 grant to provide tangible support in the past year. We encourage cancer support organizations in the DC-Maryland-Virginia (DMV), next year’s Annual Meeting region, to apply for the Survivor Circle grant. We are now accepting applications for the 2024 grant, which has increased to $12,500! |
CDC urges vaccination push ahead of holidays |
Help support patient vaccination during the holiday season! The CDC reports that vaccinations are down and has asked all medical societies to stress with members the importance of vaccinations for their patients with the arrival of viral respiratory season. You can see how your state is doing. You can also find helpful materials in the CDC’s Preparing Your Patients for the Fall and Winter Virus Season health care provider toolkit, including this Respiratory Diseases At-A-Glance which has key vaccine recommendations and links. |
ASTRO-BCRF champions diversity: Emerging Investigators Award |
The ASTRO-BCRF Emerging Investigator Award aims to empower early-career researchers in breast radiation oncology who identify with underrepresented populations in the U.S. biomedical, clinical, behavioral and social sciences research. Learn more and submit your application by January 10, 11:59 p.m. Eastern time. |
Call for ASTRO Guideline Task Force applications now open |
ASTRO is initiating a task force to develop a guideline on Radiation Therapy for Gastric Cancer. ASTRO strives to avoid bias and to assemble diverse task forces with respect to race, ethnicity, gender, experience, practice setting and geographic location. To expand the pool of potential task force members, a new process has been implemented so interested members may apply for consideration. Please apply or forward this information if you know of any colleagues that may be interested. The application deadline is January 8. |
Congressman Murphy, MD, introduces bill to eliminate Medicare cuts |
Last week, Congressmen Greg Murphy, MD (NC-03), Danny Davis (IL-07), Brad Wenstrup, MD (OH-02), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Larry Bucshon, MD (IN-08), and Michael Burgess, MD (TX-26) introduced a bill that would eliminate the looming 3.37% cut to the conversion factor — the Preserving Seniors' Access to Physicians Act (HR.6683). Eliminating this cut introduces crucial stability into the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS), and if passed, would mitigate some of the cuts facing radiation oncology in 2024. For more and to email your member of Congress, visit ASTRO’s Become an Advocate page. |
ASTRO continues to seek feedback and respond to ROCR questions |
ASTRO has updated the Radiation Oncology Case Rate (ROCR) FAQs in response to questions received during this past Saturday’s Annual Coding and Coverage Seminar, which was attended by 140 participants. The newly added FAQs cover billing scenarios that came up during the program. ASTRO continues to engage with practices in all settings to discuss ROCR and its potential impact. Those interested in meeting with ASTRO’s ROCR team are encouraged to email Health Policy staff. |
ASTRO Government Relations Resident Fellow selected |
We’re excited to announce that Aaron Bush, MD, a resident at the Mayo Clinic, Florida, was selected as ASTRO’s 2024 Government Relations Resident Fellow. Dr. Bush will spend a week in Washington, DC, shadowing ASTRO’s Advocacy staff, participating in all advocacy meetings and functions, including meetings with members of Congress or their staff. Dr. Bush, who was among 10 applicants for the inaugural fellowship, is a member of ASTRO’s Congressional Relations Subcommittee and Payer Relations Subcommittee and has participated in ASTRO’s Advocacy Day for the last three years and will attend again in 2024. Applications for 2025 will open in the fall of 2024. |