Publication Awards Deadline, Election Voting, and Prior Auth Progress

Early career and trainee investigators - don’t miss your opportunity to be recognized for an outstanding recent manuscript! Nominations for the Speed of Light Publication Excellence Awards and the ARRO Healthcare Access Publication Award are due next week on July 7! Self-nominations are accepted, and you can apply for one or both awards simultaneously. See the call for nominations on the Speed of Light or ARRO website.

📅 Learn more about eligibility and apply.

ASTRO’s 2026 official elections are now open! Please note that “campaigning” is not allowed, which includes letters, email or texts to mass communication lists, as well as debate over social media channels about the election, candidate qualifications or related issues. A nominee may, however, communicate about the election with individual ASTRO members. Voting remains open until 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on Friday, July 24. To view the nominees and access the ballot, visit https://www.astro.org/Vote; the ballot and instructions will appear once you log in.

Radiation oncologists Jenna Kahn, MD, and Jill Remick, MD, discuss different phases of dealing with endometrial cancer, from diagnosis, staging and the role of radiation therapy after surgery. They explain the differences between external beam radiation and vaginal brachytherapy, what patients can expect during treatment and how side effects are managed. Listen and share this resource with your patients!

Register now for a webinar on July 20 discussing the Latest Developments in Management of High-Risk Prostate Cancer, presented by Amar Kishan, MD, and Declan Murphy, MD, and moderated by ASTRO President Neha Vapiwala, MD, FASTRO. This webinar reviews the latest in multidisciplinary management of high-risk/locally advanced prostate cancer, including practical takeaways from recently published data. This webinar is free for ASTRO members!

ASTRO is identifying U.S. radiation oncology centers that offer cardiac ablation for ventricular arrhythmias using SBRT (i.e., STAR), including those with active clinical programs or those participating in related clinical trials. ASTRO will use this information to foster collaboration between colleagues and identify treatment sites to support patient care. If applicable, please complete this brief form.

After months of advocacy, ASTRO has received notice from California’s Medicaid program (Medi-Cal), confirming that the state’s fee schedule for radiation treatment delivery codes 77402, 77407 and 77412 will be updated. California Department of Health Care Services will reestablish reimbursement rates for these codes at 80% of the current 2026 Medicare rates within 90 to 180 days. A correction will be issued for eligible services with dates of service on or after January 1, 2026. Read What’s Happening in Washington for more.

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) released its June report to Congress. The report recommends increasing physician payments and discusses payment incentives in Medicare, improper payments and Medicare Advantage. MedPAC is an independent, nonpartisan agency that advises Congress on Medicare policy and provider payments. Read What’s Happening in Washington for more information.

The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health advanced the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act on June 25, moving the bipartisan legislation one step closer to full committee consideration and a vote on the House floor. The legislation targets harmful prior authorization delays in Medicare Advantage, representing a key issue for the ASTRO Advocacy Team.

At the 67th Annual Meeting last fall in San Francisco, two California-based organizations — Latinas Contra Cancer and Carter’s Foundation — each received a $12,500 Survivor Circle Grant. Both organizations shared with ASTRO how they have further advanced their missions since receiving the grant last fall. Read more on the blog.