Advocacy Day recap, ASTRO expands collaboration in Latin America

April 29, 2026

ASTRO members take urgent needs to Capitol Hill for 21st Advocacy Day

More than 100 ASTRO members, representing 35 states, met in Washington, DC, April 27-28 to advocate for the ROCR Act, demanding long-overdue reform to burdensome prior authorization practices, and encouraging robust federal investment in cancer research programs. Keep the momentum going! Make your voice heard and petition CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, MD, directly. 🚨 Take action - Tell CMS how coding changes impact you 💬 Reserve your spot at ASTRO’s Town Hall, May 6

 

Proton Beam Therapy Model Policy update

ASTRO updated its Proton Beam Therapy Model Policy to include oropharyngeal cancers among Group 1 indications — clinical scenarios for which proton therapy is generally supported by evidence and expert consensus. The update follows the recent publication of a proton phase 3 trial that informed the policy’s evidence base. View the updated model policy.

 

ASTRO makes progress with state Medicaid programs

Seventeen states have updated their fee schedules, and 10 more are currently working on updates, following letters sent by ASTRO to update their reimbursement and billing guidance for radiation therapy services. For more information, please read What’s Happening in Washington.

 

ASTRO expands collaboration in Latin America and signs new agreements with SOLAR and SOCHIRA

ASTRO CEO Vivek Kavadi, MD, MBA, FASTRO, traveled to Chile earlier this month to meet with regional radiation oncology leaders. The visit resulted in two new agreements: a collaboration agreement with SOLAR, a federation representing 13 national radiation oncology societies across Central and South America, and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with SOCHIRA, the Chilean Society of Radiation Oncology. These partnerships underscore ASTRO’s shared commitment to strengthening collaboration and advancing radiation oncology worldwide.

 

Hear from Alejandro Berlin, MD, MS, in this edition of the Member Spotlight

ASTRO President Neha Vapiwala, MD, FASTRO, interviews Alejandro Berlin, MD, MS, professor at the University of Toronto and Medical Director of the Cancer Digital Intelligence Program at Princess Margaret Hospital. Tune in as Dr. Berlin shares his vision for digital health innovation in radiation oncology, how AI and automation can augment physician roles, and his thoughts on building more effective multidisciplinary teams.

 

Check out the RadOnc Toolbox’s new look

Speed of Light – The ASTRO Foundation is excited to reveal a revamped RadOnc Toolbox app: new logo, new colors, same great content! It is now available in the App Store and Google Play or at rotoolbox.org.

 

Last days to volunteer for ASTRO Committees!

Make a difference for your Society — volunteer on an ASTRO committee or subcommittee. Applications close this Friday, May 1, and service will begin on September 29, 2026. Visit the Call for Committee Volunteers online, where you may select up to two committees in order of preference. Volunteers who are selected to serve will be notified no later than August 1.

 

Mark your calendar for two new webinars hosted by ASTRO President, Neha Vapiwala, MD, FASTRO

Join ASTRO President Neha Vapiwala, MD, FASTRO, and Stacy Loeb, MD, for two upcoming ASTRO webinars on prostate cancer. On May 21, they will present Evidence-Based Recommendations on Nutrition and Lifestyle in Prostate Cancer, followed by Common Misinformation about Prostate Cancer and What to Do on June 8. These webinars are FREE to all ASTRO members and offer CME credits. Register today on the ASTRO Academy!

 

New on the Blog: A Day in the Life of an APEx Surveyor

William Chen, MD, shares what it’s really like to be an APEx Surveyor and turns out that while the work is fascinating, it’s also completely manageable. Enjoy this animated narrative and consider taking a step onto the path of APEx Surveyor. The need is great and so is the ROI.

 

Share this podcast with your patients – new episode available

Malcolm Mattes, MD, and Stephen Chun, MD, from ASTRO’s Communications Committee provide a broad overview of radiation therapy for lung cancer. In this episode, they cover how to integrate radiation therapy with other lung cancer treatment modalities, various radiation techniques, and potential side effects. Encourage your patients to subscribe to On Target, ASTRO’s patient-focused podcast to hear this episode and more.