ASTRO publishes new policy model for proton therapy beam
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has released a new model policy for by proton beam therapy (PBT) that details which cancer diagnoses meet standards based on ASTRO data and should be covered by private insurers and Medicare. Developed by leading radiation oncologists and medical physicists, including the significant contribution of expert representatives in proton therapy, this model policy supports PBT cover for appropriate patients and identifies areas where coverage with the development of evidence and further research is needed.
PBT is neither a new nor an experimental technology for treating cancer with radiation. It uses proton particle radiation to deliver radiotherapy highly conformal to a specific target area of the tumor while giving a much lower dose in normal tissue in the path of the input and output proton beam. reduced radiation dose to healthy tissue PBT is attractive because it can reduce side effects for patients, potentially increasing their quality of life. To date, the scientific evidence exists confirming that PBT is particularly useful in a number of pediatric cancers, especially those in the brain, as well as certain adult cancers such as ocular melanoma. Further research on other sites of disease cancer, such as breast, prostate and lung, is underway with the NCI clinical trials currently supported from patients in three sites of disease in the centers therapy treatment over 14 protons across the country. PBT has attracted much attention because of its relative cost, which may be considerably more than traditional therapy to external beam radiotherapy because of the heavy load of the construction and maintenance of proton therapy centers.
"proton therapy beam (PBT) is demonstrating promise in our ongoing efforts to improve survival and cure rates for cancer patients while reducing side effects," said Colleen AF Lawton, MD, Fastro, president of the board of ASTRO. "as leading experts in radiation oncology, it is important for ASTRO to provide guidelines based on evidence-balanced payers which ensures access to PBT for . cancer patients while being wise stewards of our nation and the financial resources of our patients "
This model policy recommends two cover groups for PBT: 1) patients with specific diagnoses for which PBT been proven to be effective; and 2) patients with a diagnosis of cancer where the evidence of the effectiveness of PBT is still emerging, and thus cover the development of evidence is recommended for patients s they are enrolled in clinical trials or multi-institutional registry to collect data and to inform a consensus on the role of proton therapy. This model policy is consistent with the previous reporting ASTRO on the use of PBT for prostate cancer, as well as ASTRO Choose wisely published last September list. In addition, ASTRO urges private insurers and Medicare to cover PBT for cancer patients with difficult to treat, rare or very complex for which the PBT characteristics offers advantages over other forms of treatment .
ASTRO Model Policies are developed to communicate this ASTRO believes are correct coverage policies for radiation oncology. The model ASTRO policies do not serve as clinical guidelines and are subject to review and periodic review. The ASTRO model policy may be reproduced and distributed without modification for non-commercial purposes. ASTRO has already issued political models on the cover for brachytherapy, intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), stereotactic radiotherapy body (SBRT) and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and are available online at www.astro.org/ModelPolicies .
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