The the American College of Radiation Oncology

The the American College of Radiation Oncology (ACRO)

The following is a message from the American College of Radiation Oncology's Government Relations & Economics Committee (GREC): © stock.adobe.com.

Yesterday, the 2026 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Final Rule was 

. Due to errors contained in certain addenda in the 2026 PFS Final Rule pre-publication last Friday, ACRO is issuing the following statement notwithstanding that we still await the publication of the 2026 Hospital Outpatient PPS (HOPPS) Final Rule.

Importantly, we do know from the 2026 PFS Final Rule that CMS believes “the use of OPPS APC relative weights to establish the relative relationship of PE RVUs for radiation treatment delivery services is more suited for capital-intensive services.” However, in the 2026 HOPPS Proposed Rule, CMS placed the new treatment delivery codes (77402, 77407, and 77412) into inappropriately low ambulatory payment classifications (APCs), which carried over to the 2026 PFS Proposed Rule rates for these same treatment delivery codes in the freestanding setting.

 in the 2026 HOPPS Final Rule and, while the HOPPS Final Rule has not been published, it appears by inference that a correction did occur based on the rates in the 2026 PFS Final Rule. ACRO estimates that this correction results in an smaller cut in 2026 rates for radiation treatment delivery services in comparison to 2025 from -10% in the 2026 PFS Proposed Rule to -3.8% in the 2026 PFS Final Rule. Separately, the Indirect Practice Expense (IPE) policy in the 2026 PFS Final Rule increases rates for non-treatment delivery codes by 5.2%, which offsets these reductions in the treatment delivery codes.

In addition, the efficiency adjustment policy (2.5% decrease in work RVUs) also is maintained in the 2026 PFS Final Rule. ACRO will work with other stakeholders to advocate for changes to the efficiency adjustment during upcoming healthcare legislative deliberations in the Congress.

support radiation oncology case rate legislation

 as part of a broader effort to remove high-cost equipment and supplies from the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. The College appreciates CMS’ acknowledgement that the PFS does not properly value medical supplies and equipment and reiterates that the 

Physician Fee Schedule was not built for high-cost supplies and equipment

. ACRO urges Congress to work with CMS to enact legislation to provide permanent stability to providers of radiation oncology services.

ACRO will provide further information on the new treatment delivery codes in the weeks ahead.

Articles

The 2026 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Final Rule was published, revealing CMS's stance on using OPPS APC relative weights for radiation treatment delivery services. Errors in the pre-publication addenda prompted ACRO to issue a statement, noting a correction in the 2026 HOPPS Final Rule that reduced the proposed rate cut for radiation treatment delivery services from -10% to -3.8%. The Indirect Practice Expense policy increases rates for non-treatment delivery codes by 5.2%. ACRO advocates for legislative changes to address inefficiencies and stabilize radiation oncology service providers.

The following is a message from the American College of Radiation Oncology's Government Relations & Economics Committee (GREC):

ACRO Statement on 2026 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule

ACRO announced that the Special Distinction in Stereotactic Radiotherapy will be made available to radiation oncology practices accredited through ACR®: © stock.adobe.com.

The American College of Radiation Oncology (ACRO), the professional society for the practice of radiation oncology, and the Radiosurgery Society (RSS), a non-profit medical society dedicated to advancing the science and clinical practice of radiosurgery, today announced that the Special Distinction in Stereotactic Radiotherapy (SRT) will be made available to radiation oncology practices accredited through the American College of Radiology® (ACR®).

Through this agreement, ACR-accredited radiation oncology practices will now be eligible to apply for the SRT Distinction: an advanced quality recognition program jointly developed by ACRO and RSS. Previously, the distinction was available exclusively to ACRO-accredited practices.

“This distinction allows ACR ROPA sites to enhance their stereotactic programs -- not only adding another layer of quality and safety -- but showing their patients that they are going above and beyond to excel in patient care," said David C. Beyer, MD, FACR, chair of the American College of Radiology Commission on Radiation Oncology. “As the indications, techniques, and technologies for stereotactic radiation grow, this affiliation between ACRO, RSS and ACR will recognize those programs that truly maintain the state of the art in SRS/SBRT.”

In 2022, recognizing the rapidly changing landscape of radiation therapy with a growing number of radiation centers and patients receiving stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), the RSS and ACRO determined that a comprehensive accreditation program specific to SRS/SBRT clinical practice and physics quality assurance was necessary. Together the two organizations launched the SRT Distinction.

According to Jarek Hepel, MD, FACRO, ACRO Accreditation Medical Director, "ACRO-RSS Distinction in Stereotactic Radiation Therapy is a unique offering for this highly specialized treatment modality. With this agreement, we are very excited to be able to provide this distinction to a larger number of practices across the country."

The SRT Distinction is the only SRS/SBRT-dedicated accreditation review by a professional medical society that focuses on practice standards, patient management, and medical physics aspects unique to SRS/SBRT treatment.

"The field of SRS/SBRT has grown tremendously in the last decade and the availability of an accreditation program specific to its unique requirements becomes very important. The RSS-ACRO Distinction in Stereotactic Radiotherapy Accreditation Program offers independent evaluation using criteria specific to SRS/SBRT, including quality assurance practices, expert reviewers and disease site teams," said Simon Lo, MD, ChB, FACR, FASTRO, Medical Director of the Distinction in Stereotactic Radiotherapy Program. "We are glad that we are now able to extend the availability to ACR-accredited radiation oncology practices who seek SRT Distinction, which will benefit centers by showcasing their expertise and will help patients and caregivers identify centers of excellence.”

The program was designed by professional peers with extensive experience treating patients with SRS/SBRT, with the aim to identify standards indicative of a quality practice in the field of SRS/SBRT. The SRT Distinction currently focuses on SRS/SBRT treatments within six disease sites: CNS, spine, liver, lung, pancreas, and prostate.

The review consists of a minimum of five charts with a minimum of two charts per disease site, and peer reviewers evaluating cases within their area of expertise. In addition to the medical chart review, a physics survey process was developed by medical physicists with research development backgrounds and clinical expertise in stereotactic radiotherapy using a wide range of delivery technologies. Areas of evaluation include machinery, quality assurance, staff and training, and dose constraints specific to the delivery of SRS and SBRT treatment.

Centers interested in applying for the Special Distinction in Stereotactic Radiotherapy can contact Valerie Guth.

The American College of Radiation Oncology (ACRO) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to support radiation oncology professionals by providing opportunities for career development and practice improvement to enhance patient care. In 1995, ACRO recognized the essential need to help practices provide state-of-the-art radiation therapy with the highest quality and safety standards in a landscape of rapidly evolving technological advances. In response, the College developed a radiation oncology-specific accreditation program. Accreditation is a voluntary process in which professional peers identify standards indicative of a quality practice, and an audit is conducted to assure that these standards are followed. Practices may choose between a three- or four-year accreditation term, and the virtual accreditation process offers flexibility to practices without compromise to its high standards.

ACRO is the only ISO 9001:2015 certified accreditation program for radiation oncology, and has held this distinction since 2014. Learn more at 

The Radiosurgery Society (RSS) – a non-profit, independent, multi-disciplinary organization of surgeons, radiation oncologists, physicists, and allied professionals, who are dedicated to advancing the science and clinical practice of radiosurgery. Originally formed in 2002 and becoming 501(c)(6) in 2008, the Radiosurgery Society (

) today represents members who perform stereotactic body radiotherapy and radiosurgery in hospitals and freestanding centers throughout the world.

About the ACR Radiation Oncology Practice Accreditation (ROPA) Program

The American College of Radiology (ACR) Radiation Oncology Practice Accreditation (ROPA) Program, established in 1986, promotes quality and safety in radiation oncology through peer-reviewed evaluations by board-certified radiation oncologists and medical physicists. The program assesses quality control and assessment activities, equipment, treatment planning and records, and patient safety protocols based on nationally recognized ACR Practice Parameters and Technical Standards, American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Technical Standards, and AAPM Task Group Reports and Practice Guidelines. ROPA provides practices with a comprehensive report of this impartial, third-party assessment to support continuous quality and safety improvement. Learn more at: 

acr.org/Accreditation/Modalities/Radiation-Oncology

The American College of Radiology (ACR), founded in 1924, is a 42,000-member medical association that advances the practice and science of radiological care through advocacy, quality standards, research and education. 

The American College of Radiation Oncology (ACRO) and the Radiosurgery Society (RSS) have expanded the Special Distinction in Stereotactic Radiotherapy (SRT) to include radiation oncology practices accredited by the American College of Radiology (ACR). This distinction, previously exclusive to ACRO-accredited practices, recognizes excellence in stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). The program evaluates practices based on quality assurance, patient management, and medical physics, focusing on six disease sites. This initiative aims to enhance the quality and safety of SRS/SBRT treatments across more practices.

ACRO announced that the Special Distinction in Stereotactic Radiotherapy will be made available to radiation oncology practices accredited through ACR®.

Special Distinction in SRT Now Available Through ACR

Last week, the American College of Radiation Oncology submitted comments to CMS on the CY 2026 Physician Fee Schedule and Hospital Outpatient PPS: © stock.adobe.com.

Last week, the American College of Radiation Oncology submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the proposed rule for the CY 2026 Physician Fee Schedule (CMS-1832-P), as well as the CY 2026 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule (CMS-1834-P).

 offers comments and recommendations on the following issues:

Appropriate APC Placement for Treatment Delivery Codes (77402, 77407, 77412)

Updates to the Indirect Practice Expense (PE) Methodology

Removal of 77427 from the Telehealth List

Undervaluation of conversion factor due to G2211 Assumption

Valuation of Imaging Guidance for Proton Beam Treatment Delivery (CPT codes 77520, 77522, 77523, and 77525)

As noted in the letters, “ACRO’s comments seek to ensure ongoing access to high-quality, state-of-the-art radiation oncology services. Maintaining patient access is crucial to quality healthcare delivery since most of our patients require services five days a week for many weeks of life-saving therapy. Patient accessibility and continuity through a complete course of therapy are key components of the care continuum. We hope our comments highlight our sincere interest in making radiation oncology services cost-effective, fairly reimbursed, and readily accessible to cancer patients. We look forward to continuing to work with CMS to guarantee quality oncology services can be provided by our specialty to every Medicare patient.”

The American College of Radiation Oncology (ACRO) recently submitted feedback to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the proposed CY 2026 Physician Fee Schedule and Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System. ACRO's comments focus on ensuring access to high-quality radiation oncology services, addressing issues like APC placement, practice expense methodology, and telehealth list updates. The organization emphasizes the importance of patient access and continuity in therapy, aiming for cost-effective, fair reimbursement and accessibility of oncology services. ACRO is committed to collaborating with CMS to maintain quality care for Medicare patients.

Last week, the American College of Radiation Oncology submitted comments to CMS on the CY 2026 Physician Fee Schedule and Hospital Outpatient PPS.

ACRO Submits Comments to CMS on Proposed Rules

ACRO Accreditation is the only U.S. radiation oncology accrediting body to acieve ISO 9001:2015 Certification: © stock.adobe.com.

The American College of Radiation Oncology is pleased to announce that the ACRO Accreditation Program, under the direction of Dr. Jarek Hepel, has 

completed and passed its annual surveillance

 by the International Standards Organization (ISO).

ACRO Accreditation is the only U.S. radiation oncology accrediting body to acieve ISO 9001:2015 Certification

The ISO is a highly regarded international certification body which evaluates an organization’s processes and procedures. The program undergoes a comprehensive yearly review of its quality objectives, operations, and structure.

This annual survey is invaluable and ensures that we maintain high quality procedures and incorporate the very latest concepts and tools into our quality management processes. ACRO Accreditation has been ISO-certified since 2014.

The American College of Radiation Oncology's Accreditation Program, led by Dr. Jarek Hepel, successfully completed its annual ISO surveillance, maintaining its ISO 9001:2015 Certification. This makes it the only U.S. radiation oncology accrediting body with such certification. The ISO, a respected international certification body, conducts a thorough yearly review of the program's quality objectives, operations, and structure. This annual evaluation is crucial for maintaining high-quality procedures and integrating the latest concepts and tools into quality management processes. ACRO Accreditation has held ISO certification since 2014.

ACRO Accreditation is the only U.S. radiation oncology accrediting body to acieve ISO 9001:2015 Certification.

The the American College of Radiation Oncology (ACRO)

ACRO Statement on 2026 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule

Special Distinction in SRT Now Available Through ACR

ACRO Submits Comments to CMS on Proposed Rules

ACRO Accreditation Achieves ISO:9001 2015 Certification for 2025

Latest News