Todd Scarbrough: Random thoughts and observations from the ASTRO Supervision Town Hall

Todd Scarbrough, Radiation Oncologist at Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center, shared a post on X:

“Various random thoughts and observations from the ASTRO Supervision Town Hall Today

1) ASTRO is in favor of rescinding the permanent direct-to-general change for all hospitals that occurred Jan 1, 2020(!!)
2) ASTRO believes the direct-to-general supervision change by CMS was unsafe(!)
3) ASTRO Chair Jeff Michalski believes residents do not, or ever, provide supervision(!)
4) ASTRO’s position is that direct supervision only equates to ‘immediately available’… it does not equate to ‘in the office suite.’ This would go direct against CMS guidance.
5) It was stated in the town hall by the discussants that virtual supervision may result in less need for radiation oncology MDs (possible anti-trust violation occurred in discussing this?)
6) New word entered into the rad onc lexicon today, AFAIK: ‘tele-radiation oncology’
7) Many conflate seeing a patient for a side effect and direct supervision… this confuses the discussion more often than not
8) Many are angry/disappointed that the CMS letter was sent first, and a discussion happened next (should have been other way ’round)
9) ASTRO has, since the letter was sent, expressed to CMSGov than many rad oncs were unhappy with the letter (but no record of what was ‘re-discussed’ has been given!)
10) Howard Sandler is a quiet fellow re: supervision
11) Tonya Kuhn and Mudit Chowdhary are incredibly well spoken!”

Source: Todd Scarbrough/X