ASTRO announced support of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Therapeutic Medical Physicist (TMP) Pay Cap Relief Act, introduced by Reps. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) and Jen Kiggans (R-VA). If enacted, the bill would allow the VA to pay TMPs more competitively, allowing the VA to retain current staff and hire more TMPs, and would ensure our nation’s veterans receive the safest, most effective cancer care possible.

“The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) supports eliminating the pay cap for VA TMPs. Radiation oncologists work closely with TMPs to ensure that complex cancer treatments using radiation are properly tailored for each patient. Our nation’s veterans deserve the safest, most effective cancer care possible, and high-quality TMP support is critical to achieving that goal. ASTRO believes that this legislation will allow the VA to compete for and retain these important members of the radiation oncology treatment team,” Jeff Michalski, MD, MBA, FASTRO, Chair, ASTRO Board of Directors said.