ASTRO releases survey results, meets with CMS on coding issues, New webinars, New APEx facilities
April 1, 2026
| ASTRO releases Medicare payment impacts survey results, meets with CMS |
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ASTRO just published results of its new national survey that show recent Medicare payment changes are causing significant financial harm to clinics and threatening patient access to radiation therapy. Survey respondents shared that large majorities of physicians are experiencing sharp declines in reimbursement following the coding changes that took effect January 1. Today ASTRO held a constructive meeting with CMS to share the survey findings and member feedback and discuss potential immediate solutions. This initial meeting emphasized the acute financial emergency that practices — especially those in community-based settings — are experiencing. This meeting is part of an ongoing dialogue with the Agency. Thank you to those who took the time to complete the impact survey. We hear your concerns and are actively engaging with payers, regulators and legislators, as well as partnering with organizations across radiation oncology, including those representing community-based practices. Take action: 📝 Read the Executive Summary of the survey. 💻 Join the Coding Town Hall on May 6 (see below for details). |
| ASTRO Town Hall: Revised Treatment Delivery Codes |
| ASTRO invites all members to join a virtual Town Hall on Wednesday, May 6, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time. This session will focus on your experiences with the revised treatment delivery codes, including a review of the results from our recent member survey and updates on advocacy. Register now! |
| ROCR picks up four bipartisan cosponsors |
| Momentum for Advocacy Day 2026 is growing thanks to the addition of four bipartisan ROCR Act cosponsors. On the Republican side, ASTRO and its members secured the support of Energy and Commerce Committee member August Pfluger (R-TX) and Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (R-VA). The two Democratic representatives were Don Davis (D-NC) and James Walkinshaw (D-VA). Help urge your members of Congress to cosponsor ROCR by registering for this year’s Advocacy Day held on April 27-28. |
| Hear from Sophia Kamran, MD, Harvard Medical School professor, in this edition of the Member Spotlight |
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| ASTRO President Neha Vapiwala, MD, FASTRO, speaks with Sophia Kamran, MD, professor of radiation oncology at Harvard Medical School with a specialty in GU cancers, and a member of ASTRO’s Workforce Diversity Committee. In this episode, Dr. Kamran shares about current and future uses of brachytherapy in treating cancers and also offers tips to junior faculty on ways to access research funding. |
| Apply today! ASTRO-BCRF Annual Meeting Trainee Travel Awards hearing |
| The ASTRO-BCRF Annual Meeting Trainee Travel Awards will provide conference funding to support trainee participation at ASTRO 2026. Students and residents are encouraged to apply for this award designed to help trainees gain career building skills and engage in education, networking and mentoring events at the Annual Meeting. Applications are being accepted through Thursday, April 23. |
| Industry Sponsored Webinar – Mirion Medical, April 2 |
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| Radiation oncology is playing an increasingly important role in theranostics — but building a successful program requires many components, from infrastructure and workflow to radiation safety and regulatory considerations. Mirion Medical is hosting a free webinar for ASTRO members offering practical insights into what it takes to stand up and operationalize a theranostics program, including real-world challenges, requirements and lessons learned. The session will conclude with a look at how therapy-ready, turnkey solutions can help streamline implementation — bringing together the software, instrumentation and expertise needed to move from planning to practice with confidence. Register for this free webinar! |
| Boost your RPT knowledge this April with new webinar series |
| Mark your calendar for a new two-part webinar series on radiopharmaceutical therapies. On April 16, Neil Taunk, MD, will present on Lu177-DOTATATE: Current Indications and Emerging Approaches, followed by Mallika Marar, MD, MBA, on April 21, who will speak on RO Leadership in PSMA-Targeted Radiopharmaceutical Therapy. |
| Reminder! ASTRO seeks public comments for updated guideline on Radiation Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer |
| Review the draft guideline on Radiation Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer and submit comments through the webform by April 15. This guideline addresses radiation therapy for the treatment of patients with invasive ductal pancreatic adenocarcinoma with a broad spectrum of nonmetastatic and metastatic pancreatic cancer. The scope focuses on radiation therapy delivered in the definitive, preoperative, postoperative, and palliative settings. You can also access the draft guideline and webform at www.astro.org/PublicComment. |
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| APEx welcomes new facilities |
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Congratulations to the following facilities for achieving accreditation through ASTRO’s APEx - Accreditation Program for Excellence®:
And, congratulations to the following facilities for achieving reaccreditation through APEx:
And, congratulations to the following facilities for achieving RPT designation through APEx:
The APEx process provides a transparent, measurable, evidence- and consensus-based review of compliance with standards that emphasize a radiation oncology practice’s commitment to safety and quality. View a list of accredited facilities and contact ASTRO staff to learn about the new options for accreditation and why APEx is the right choice to accredit your radiation oncology practice. |
