ASTRO member input needed; Opportunities to advance practice; New resources for payer appeals
October 7, 2026
| ASTRO members – we need your input |
| 2026 Member Survey is open — and it’s shorter this year
The 2026 ASTRO Member Survey has been completely redesigned (and shortened!). Take five minutes to answer 15 quick questions about the state of the field and your experiences with ASTRO. We will share the aggregated findings and updates on how ASTRO is responding to your feedback. Vote now: Ballot open for bylaws changes The Board of Directors proposed new bylaw updates to broaden the leadership pipeline, increase member engagement and better reflect the professionals ASTRO proudly represents. Review the proposed changes and cast your vote by 5:00 p.m. Eastern time, Friday, November 6. |
| Volunteer for Speed of Light – The ASTRO Foundation and HACE Council committees |
| Help advance ASTRO’s mission by sharing your expertise and perspective! Speed of Light – The ASTRO Foundation and ASTRO’s Healthcare Access and Community Engagement (HACE) Council are seeking volunteers to serve on committees and subcommittees for the Society year beginning January 1, 2027! Submit your preferences on the Call for Committee Volunteers webpage by October 16. |
| Take your practice to the next level |
| Ready to bring radiopharmaceutical therapy to your practice?
Don't wait to build the expertise needed for the future of cancer care. ASTRO's Authorized User (AU) Training Program provides a structured, regulation-aligned pathway to help radiation oncologists achieve AU status through free educational coursework and supervised clinical experience. Gain the knowledge, training and documentation needed to confidently navigate NRC and Agreement State requirements and expand access to RPT for your patients. Apply today and take the next step toward becoming an Authorized User. Exploring the expanding role of cardiac radioablation On October 29, join ASTRO's next Functional Radiation Medicine Grand Rounds featuring Clifford Robinson, MD, and Kenneth Merrell, MD, for a discussion on cardiac radioablation. Hear how this emerging approach is being used for patients with refractory arrhythmias, including current clinical applications, treatment strategies and where the field may be headed. Register today! Register for the 2026 Coding and Coverage Seminar Reserve your seat for the 2026 Coding and Coverage Seminar on Saturday, December 5! Learn about key coding and reimbursement updates for 2027, coverage and payment policies, updated delivery codes and ASTRO’s advocacy efforts around current reimbursement challenges. Both the electronic and print versions of the 2027 ASTRO Coding Resource are included in your registration. |
| Payer updates: New appeals resources and streamlined prior authorization |
| Osteoarthritis template appeal letters available to ASTRO members
ASTRO recently added sample appeal letters for practices receiving denials for LDRT to treat osteoarthritis (and other nonmalignant conditions) in the Payer Resolution Center and on the appeal letter compendium page. ASTRO is pushing back against the growing number of payer policies that deem LDRT as “not medically necessary” for treatment of osteoarthritis. These templates are meant to be tools for your peer-to-peer reviews and appeals and can be downloaded and edited for individual cases. Aetna rolls out bundled prior authorizations for radiotherapy services As of September 1, Aetna began bundling separate prior authorizations for cancer treatments, including radiation oncology services, for select Medicaid members in some states. Aetna plans to expand the approach to Medicare Advantage and other insurance lines in 2027. Although details on how this will affect radiation therapy requests remain limited, the change is part of a broader insurer effort to reduce prior authorization burden. |
| Education your way: onDemand and in person | |
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Missed ASTRO 2026?
Catch up on the latest science and education while earning CME with the Annual Meeting onDemand |
Access more than 200 hours of recorded content, including:
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| Abstract submission deadlines nearing for the 2027 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancers Symposium | |
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The window is closing to submit your research for the 2027 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Symposium – now held annually! The submission period ends on October 14. |
| Join us February 25-27, 2027, in Orlando to share your research and connect with leading experts. ➡️ View H&N submission details and submit your abstract |
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| Registration and abstract submissions are open for the 2027 Multidisciplinary Radiopharmaceutical Therapy Symposium | |
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Registration is open for the 2027 Multidisciplinary Radiopharmaceutical Therapy Symposium, held on March 18-19, 2027, in Chantilly, Virginia. Abstract submissions are also open until October 14! |
| ➡️ View RPT submission details and submit your abstract | |
| ASTRO Government Relations Resident Fellow selected | |
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ASTRO has selected Elitza Koutleva, MD, MBA, a resident at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as ASTRO’s 2027 Government Relations Resident Fellow.
Dr. Koutleva will shadow ASTRO’s Advocacy staff throughout the year, participating in advocacy meetings and functions. She is a veteran participant in ASTRO’s Advocacy Day and will attend again in 2027. Applications for 2028 will open in the summer of 2027. |
