Prior auth survey results, ASTRO 2025 Call for Abstracts, ASTRO President’s Corner
December 4, 2024
| ASTRO survey finds that prior authorization leads to serious harm for people with cancer | |
 |
ASTRO’s newest prior authorization survey finds that prior authorization harms people with cancer by causing treatment delays, abandoned treatments, hospitalizations and patient deaths. Findings also make clear that the problem of prior authorization is growing worse, with patients now experiencing longer radiation therapy treatment delays than during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that the growing burden is exacerbating burnout among clinic staff. |
| More than 750 ASTRO members from across the U.S. responded to the survey, representing both academic (47%) and private (51%) practices. Results reinforce the urgent need for Congress to pass prior authorization reform legislation and prevent further harm to people with cancer. Read more about the survey results in our press release and executive summary, and encourage your member of Congress to act today. | |
| ASTRO 2025: The Call for Abstracts is open! |
 |
| ASTRO is now accepting abstract submissions for the 2025 ASTRO Annual Meeting in San Francisco! Kenneth Rosenzweig, MD, FASTRO, Chair of the Annual Meeting Scientific Committee, invites you to start your abstract submission. View his video, review the abstract submission guidelines thoroughly, and get ready to share your knowledge and research with colleagues by submitting an abstract for ASTRO 2025! Abstract submissions are due February 25, 2025. |
| Registration for the Coding and Coverage Seminar closes Thursday |
| This Saturday, December 7, join us virtually for the 2024 Virtual Coding and Coverage Seminar. View the schedule to see the dynamic program designed to make clinical coding easier to understand and apply to your practice. Also, bring your coding questions for our experts and be prepared to collaborate with your radiation oncology coding colleagues. Registrants will receive both an electronic and print copy of the 2025 ASTRO Coding Resource. Hurry, you must register by tomorrow, December 5, to attend. |
| Today! Boost your research career: ASTRO Supported Grants web session |
| Interested in advancing your research career? This afternoon, find out some useful steps to take during the ASTRO Supported Grants web session from 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Eastern time! Hear from successful grant recipients as they share their experiences navigating the world of ASTRO funding. This session, designed for early-career researchers, residents, fellows and junior faculty in radiation oncology and medical physics, offers valuable tips on grant applications, overcoming challenges and building collaborative networks. Register now! |
| Introducing the President’s Corner |
 |
| ASTRO President Sameer Keole, MD, FASTRO, initiates a new video series, the ASTRO President’s Corner! Dr. Keole, and other ASTRO leadership, will present different topics and interviews to give more insights into the Society’s operations. This week, Dr. Keole discusses the organizational structure of ASTRO, detailing the six Councils and makeup of the Board of Directors, and shares a brief history of the Society. Learn more. |
| ASTRO bylaws amendments have been approved |
| ASTRO members voted on bylaws changes including revising the Affiliate Member Category description to make it for non-radiation oncologists; limiting the number of Board members from one institution serving on the Board at the same time; and increasing the number of supporting signatures needed for member nominations to be included on the ballot for elections to make it proportional with the number of members. The changes were presented to members at ASTRO's Annual Business Meeting, October 1, 2024, in Washington, DC. Voting was open from October 23, 2024, through November 22, 2024, and members voted to approve the revised bylaws. |
| Applications now being accepted for the 2025 Medical Student Fellowship and Mentor Awards |
| The application period for the 2025 ASTRO Medical Student Fellowship (MSF) and Mentor Awards is now open! The MSF Award introduces medical students from backgrounds that are underrepresented in medicine to the discipline of radiation oncology early in their medical education. Medical students will be exposed to clinical, basic and translational research questions in radiation oncology, receive expert advice from dedicated mentors, build professional networks with peers and radiation oncology professionals, and gain skills that will help them advance in their careers.
Medical students in all years are encouraged to apply, although preference will be given to first- and second-year students. The application period is December 4, 2024 – February 13, 2025. |
| Celebrating 12 Days of gRADitude with ROI – The ASTRO Foundation |
| From Monday, December 2 through Friday, December 13, ROI is celebrating the 12 days of gRADitude! Follow along on social media: ROI on X, ROI on Facebook, or ROI on LinkedIn, and on the ASTROblog. Each day, the ROI will share an amazing milestone from the past year and invites you to amplify radiation therapy’s impact by making a tax-deductible donation. |
