In a letter addressed to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Senator John Thune (R-SD) and Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), ASTRO encouraged legislators to act on priorities affecting radiation oncology and the people with cancer they treat. The letter is based on recommendations made by ASTRO's Government Relations Committee's Congressional Relations Subcommittee approved by the ASTRO Board of Directors.

Securing long-term physician payment stability remains a top priority for ASTRO membership and the Advocacy team continues to work for reintroduction of the Radiation Oncology Case Rate Value Based Program (ROCR) Act in the 119th Congress. ROCR will stabilize Medicare reimbursement for RO services, incentivize quality care, lower treatment barriers and save Medicare more than $200 million over ten years.

Despite garnering wide bipartisan lawmaker and stakeholder support, Medicare Advantage's burdensome prior authorization remains a top issue again this Congress. ASTRO urges Congress to reintroduce and pass the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act, implement common sense reforms and protect the doctor-patient relationship.

Lastly, ASTRO reiterated support for a robust federal investment in cancer research and encouraged a 7.5% increase in FY25 funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to keep up with rising demand for potentially life-saving research applications.