ABOUT ASCRO

ASCRO, the American Society of Clinical Radiation Oncology, is a non-profit organization dedicated to achieving the highest quality of care for cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy. Founded in February 2009, it is administered by a Board of Directors consisting of medical specialists who are volunteering their time and effort in this cause.

ASCRO’s primary focus is on providing clinical oncology physicists with the professional standing and means to accurately and optimally deliver therapeutic radiation to the patient. 

ASCRO's UNIQUE APPROACH

ASCRO recognizes that a close, collegial collaboration between clinical oncology physicists and radiation oncologists is paramount to achieving its goal. For that purpose, ASCRO provides for equal membership rights for radiation oncologists, and is the only medical physicist organization to do so. ASCRO also recognizes that a collegial relationship requires true professional standing of both medical specialties. Therefore, ASCRO’s immediate task is achieving provider status for clinical oncology physicists, a privilege that has been granted to all other medical specialists many years ago. ASCRO is equally dedicated to preserving the professional independence of radiation oncologists.

Provider Status

Definition of Provider Status

It is the privilege granted to medical professionals by Medicare Legislation to bill Medicare Beneficiaries and/or their insurance carriers directly for services provided. There are currently 50 entities having provider status, including hospitals, physicians, nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners and clinical social workers. Although provider status applies directly only to Medicare reimbursement, private insurance carriers typically follow suit.

Significance of Provider Status

Provider status gives medical professionals the degree of independence and authority that is necessary to perform their duties according to their best ability and conscience. They are typically not on the payroll of a hospital and thus free to spend time and effort as required for quality care. Health care workers who lack provider status, such as nurses, have their work assigned by administrators who are under pressure to reduce cost and maximize profits. However, because nurses work under the supervision of a professional, a provider, it is assumed that patient care is not jeopardized even if they are handling unreasonably high workloads.

Clinical oncology physicists are medical specialists

At one time, radiation oncologists with minimal consultation from pure academic physicists provided the medical physics services necessary for patient care, in addition to their traditional physician services. These included dose computations and equipment calibrations. Patients were billed for these services as part of the radiation oncologist’s professional charges. Over the years, the physical principals used to provide these services as well as the irradiation equipment and techniques used to deliver treatment became increasingly complex and sophisticated making it impossible for the radiation oncologist to continue in the capacity of “sole therapy professional”. Instead, clinical oncology physicists are now providing those services and bearing full responsibility for them. Qualified physicists are certified by the American Board of Radiology (ABR), the same specialty board that certifies radiation oncologists.

Medical Physicists are the only ABMS recognized specialists lacking Provider Status

Clinical oncology physicists are recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), as are radiation oncologists, neurosurgeons, clinical geneticists, and many others. Yet these physicists (and other subspecialties of medical physics) are the only ABMS listed medical specialists who lack provider status. At the same time, many non-listed medical professionals, including nurse practitioners and clinical social workers, are providers.