HOPPS Final Rule, ASTRO Academy discounts & new courses, Support the ROI
November 26, 2025
| ASTRO secures improvements in 2026 Hospital Payment Rule |
| On November 21, CMS released the 2026 Hospital Outpatient Perspective Payment System (HOPPS) final rule, which takes effect on January 1, 2026. The Final Rule includes a 2.6% increase factor and responds positively to ASTRO recommendations for using appropriate cost data for reassigning revised radiation treatment delivery codes to ambulatory payment classifications. Read What’s Happening in Washington for more information. |
| Telehealth flexibilities reinstated; claims should be resubmitted |
| On November 20, CMS directed telehealth providers to retroactively submit claims held during the government shutdown and to continue billing normally through January 30, 2026, when current telehealth flexibilities expire unless Congress acts. Read What’s Happening in Washington for more information. |
| Bipartisan bill would tie physician reimbursement to inflation |
| Reps. Raul Ruiz (D-CA) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) reintroduced the ASTRO-supported bipartisan Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act on November 20. This legislation would reform reimbursement under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule by tying reimbursement to the annual percentage increase in the Medicare Economic Index. See more at What’s Happening in Washington. |
| ASTRO will fight overly restrictive EviCore rad onc guideline |
| ASTRO is fighting back against EviCore’s outrageous updated guidelines for radiation oncology services that would limit coverage for complex treatments. Effective January 1, 2026, EviCore plans to restrict billing of CPT 77412 (Level 3 radiation therapy) for nearly all clinical indications. ASTRO is urging changes to the flawed policy and considering other avenues to stop it from taking effect. See additional details. |
 |
| End-of-year ASTRO Academy sale! |
| Take advantage of ASTRO’s own version of Black Friday, only for much longer! Redeem code THANKYOU25 for 25% off most Academy activities, from now until Wednesday, December 31. |
| eContouring for Glioblastoma Webinar - Free for Members-in-Training |
| Experience hands-on contouring on real cases during the eContouring for Glioblastoma Webinar, taking place Thursday, December 18, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern. This ASTRO Academy live webinar will be led by Elham Rahimy, MD. ASTRO members receive a discount and members-in-training and international members-in-training can register for free, thanks to the support by the Radiation Oncology Institute’s Juan A. del Regato Fund. |
| Applications are open for the 2026 ASTRO-ACS Felix Feng Clinician Scientist Development Grant |
| This Clinician Scientists Development Grant is a collaboration of ASTRO and the American Cancer Society in honor of Felix Feng, MD. The grant aims to foster the research career of a clinician scientist in radiation oncology and is designed for people trained primarily as clinicians who want to maintain clinical practice and conduct cancer research. Applications are due next Monday, December 1. Learn more and apply! |
| ACGME survey request |
| The projected three-year major revision of the ACGME Common Program Requirements is underway, and the ACGME task force is requesting feedback through their second stakeholder survey, with specific interest in reaching residents and recent graduates. Please consider participating in the ACGME Survey by December 11 to provide feedback on work hours, dedicated time, faculty ratio, quality and safety, well-being, categorization, artificial intelligence, and nutrition. |
| Support ROI on #GivingTuesday | |
 |
Next Tuesday, December 2, is #GivingTuesday: an international day of giving to the causes you believe in. When you make a donation to the Radiation Oncology Institute (ROI) – the ASTRO Foundation – you are helping turn ideas into discoveries and discoveries into better outcomes for patients. Accelerate research by empowering passionate investigators so more people live longer, healthier lives. Donate at ROInstitute.org/donate and follow ROI on social media at X, Facebook, and LinkedIn. |
 |
| APEx welcomes new facilities |
Congratulations to the following facilities for achieving accreditation through ASTRO’s APEx - Accreditation Program for Excellence®:
|
