New York State Radiological Society
Radiation Oncology Committee Report
October 15, 1999
Karen Fountain, M.D., Chairperson
Dr. Steven R. Zeider chaired the CARROS Caucus at the ACR annual meeting in Washington, D.C. this year. After remarks from Dr. John Knote, Speaker, ACR Council, and Dr. Max Cloud, Chair ACR Board of Chancellors, Dr. J. Frank Wilson summarized his report on the ACR Commission of Radiation Oncology. The RTOG now has 45 clinical trials open to its 240 member institutions. The Patterns of Care Study was awarded a new NCI grant. The application proposed a new set of Process and Outcome Surveys for prostate, breast, cervix, esophageal, and lung cancer. A collaborative study with the American College of Surgeons on breast cancer is planned, as well as studies on prostate implants and care received by minority patients.
The Radiation Oncology Economics Committee is comparing the cost of radiation therapy with the cost of alternative treatments for cancer. Data have been obtained from HCFA, NCI, and SEER for analysis. Disease sites likely to have priority include prostate cancer, breast cancer, and bone metastases. Drs. Mark Litwin and Roy Correa from the American Urological Association are also involved in the project.
Dr. John Earle presented an update on Government Relations. Dr. Steve Leibel chairs the Expert Panel on Radiation Oncology for the Task Force on Appropriateness Criteria. Dr. Paul Wallner (ASTRO), Dr. Michael L. Steinberg (ACRO) and Dr. Theodore J. Brickner, Jr. (ACR) were successful in maintaining a budget neutral value of 3.31 for the new single treatment management code to be implemented on January 1, 2000. Dr. Wallner was also selected from the American Radium Society by the College Nominationg Committee to serve a first three-year term on the ACR Board of Chancellors.
The 1995 ACR Standard for Radiation Oncology was updated and a new Standard for Communications for Radiology Oncology was adopted. Standards to be considered for 2000 include a draft standard for Transperineal Prostate Brachytherapy and updates for High-Dose-Rate and Low-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy, Performance of Therapy with Unsealed Radionuclide Source, and two Brachytherapy Physics standards.
Over the summer, many radiation oncology practices in New York have been going through the State- or City-mandated accreditation process. At some point, practices accredited by the ACR will be published on their website.
Radiation oncologists are encouraged to join RadPac and to write legislators about issues which may affect our patients. Copies should be sent to Tom Wolfe, Senior Director of ACR Governmental Relations at FAX (703) 262-9312 or e-mail: tomw@acr.org. Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Sue Kelly (R-NY) were elected Co-Chairs of the Congressional Women’s Caucus for the 106th Congress. They are interested in a wide assortment of women’s health issues.
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