New ASTRO Academy courses and discount, ASTRO Town Hall, Reimbursement changes

February 26, 2025

ASTRO Town Hall on Medicare changes, ROCR Act

On March 13, from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, ASTRO will host a live Town Hall on Medicare payment developments and the ROCR Act, featuring new information and discussion with ASTRO physician leaders on upcoming Medicare coding changes and the latest legislative activity on the Radiation Oncology Case Rate Act. ASTRO commends the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and RCCS Revenue Cycle Coding Strategies as the most recent organizations to officially support the ROCR Act. Submit questions in advance for the Town Hall and register to attend. The Town Hall will be recorded.

 

Major changes coming to radiation oncology reimbursement

New radiation treatment delivery and image guidance coding, as well as the revaluation of practice expense across all medical specialties, could significantly impact reimbursement rates, practice financial stability and patient access to care in 2026. With ongoing Medicare payment cuts and increased practice expenses, the financial stability of radiation oncology practices is at stake. Understanding these changes is essential, as well as the need to engage in advocacy. ASTRO and ACRO are actively advocating for stabilized payments via ROCR to protect access to high-quality treatment. Read the joint ASTRO/ACRO blog to learn more about these changes.

 

ASTRO joins statement opposing NIH cuts

ASTRO joined 32 other organizations in a statement opposing recent layoffs and funding cuts at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The statement highlighted the potential negative impacts of recent executive actions on biomedical research, medical labs and access to new cancer treatments. See more at What’s Happening in Washington.

 

Explore the updated ASTRO Academy and save 25%

Finding educational opportunities at ASTRO just got a whole lot easier. After listening to our members, we're thrilled to announce the launch of our completely redesigned ASTRO Academy and astro.org online learning web pages. Find courses for a particular disease site, a list of what’s new in the Academy or check out the different types of education ASTRO has to offer. To celebrate, we’re offering 25% off Academy courses. Redeem this one-time use code, SAVE25IN2025, by March 31 to receive the discount on your entire cart.

 

New! eContouring for Primary Hepatobiliary Tumors Webinar – Free to Members-in-Training

Registration is open for the eContouring for Primary Hepatobiliary Tumors Webinar. This webinar will take place on March 28, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time and will be led by Jennifer Wo, MD. This ASTRO Academy webinar offers access to hands-on contouring practice on real cases in addition to a live webinar with time for Q&A. ASTRO members receive a discount and members-in-training and international members-in-training can register for free. Free registration for residents is supported by the Radiation Oncology Institute’s Juan A. del Regato Fund.

 

2025 ASTRO Mentorship Awards – Nominations open!

Submit your nominations for the ASTRO Mentorship Awards, which recognize outstanding mentors in radiation oncology who have made a lasting impact on the next generation of clinicians, educators and researchers. Awardees will be recognized at the ASTRO Annual Meeting in San Francisco and receive an award plaque, public recognition and exclusive benefits. Learn more details and submit your nomination before the March 21 deadline.

 

Reminder: Submit candidate suggestions for ASTRO elections

ASTRO’s Nominating Committee will soon begin the process of selecting candidates for the 2025 elections for the following positions: President-elect Secretary/Treasurer-elect Vice-chair of the Health Policy Council Vice-chair of the Science Council To recommend a colleague or yourself for one of the above positions, review the Criteria for Elected Positions, send the name of the nominee, the position you would like the nominee to be considered for and the reason for your recommendation by email to the ASTRO Nominating Committee by 5:00 p.m. Eastern time, Friday, March 7.

 

Spread the word! Explore Your Future: Live Medical Student Q&A

Please help us encourage medical students to attend ASTRO’s upcoming live Zoom Q&A session on Wednesday, March 5, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern time. The session is designed just for medical students! Whether at the start of your journey or preparing for residency, this is a chance to connect with experts and explore exciting opportunities in radiation oncology. Students, bring your burning questions and join the conversation! Sign up today to secure your spot!