ASTRO members advocate for the field at ASTRO’s 20th Advocacy Day
On May 19 and 20, nearly 100 members of ASTRO came together to advocate for the field and hear the latest developments on Capitol Hill impacting radiation oncology. Hailing from 29 states, they met for updates on Medicare payment reform and urged congressional cosponsorship of the ROCR Act (S.1031, HR.2120) for long-term payment stability in radiation oncology. The group also discussed long-overdue reform to Medicare Advantage’s burdensome prior auth practices, and how to lobby for robust Federal investment in cancer research programs during a year of cuts.
Guest speakers offered their perspectives on payment reform and how to advocate for our field in a time of congressional turmoil and in-party disagreements. To provide insight and advice, longtime Hill staff from ASTRO champion offices Matt Tucker, Deputy Chief of Staff with Representative John Joyce, MD (PA-13) and Emily Silverberg, Deputy Chief of Staff/Legislative Director with Representative Paul Tonko (NY-20) joined Health Policy Council Chair Catheryn Yashar, MD, FASTRO, for an insightful and encouraging discussion of the different ways each office approaches policymaking and how they find common ground on important initiatives —like ROCR.
Attendees included residents, early career physicians, physicists, ASTRO Board leadership, and members from community and academic centers across the U.S. — all of whom hit the ground running on day two for more than 120 meetings across Capitol Hill with members of Congress and their staff. Underlining one of ASTRO’s legislative priorities this year, the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 (S.1816, HR.3514) was introduced on Tuesday, May 20 — just in time for ASTRO members to ask Congress to cosponsor this much-needed reform and support more efficient cancer care for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries nationwide.
ASTRO awarded 14 residents the Emerging Advocacy Grassroots Leadership (EAGL) award in recognition of their outstanding policy leadership and to encourage ongoing advocacy efforts.
Prior to the start of Advocacy Day, ASTRO leaders met with the newly elected ARRO Executive Committee. ARRO presented updates on their accomplishments over the past year and shared new initiatives. The ARRO Executive Committee then joined members of ASTRO at Advocacy Day.
ASTRO encourages all U.S.-based members to build on the momentum of Advocacy Day and contact your members of Congress (www.astro.org/advocate) to urge them to cosponsor ROCR (S.1031/HR.2120) and prior auth reform through the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 (S.1816, H.R.3514).
