AAPM Government Affairs

AAPM is deeply engaged in advocacy, continuously working to represent the interests of our profession with dedicated AAPM staff, expert consultants, and lobbyists actively monitoring, responding to, and leading initiatives that affect medical physicists.

(July 15, 2026)

NRC Proposes Major Changes to Radiation Protection Rules

In response to Executive Order 14300, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued a proposed rule that would substantially revise the federal radiation protection framework. The proposal would remove references to the “as low as is reasonably achievable,” or ALARA, principle from NRC regulations and replace it with a graded approach to dose management. Under the proposed framework, progressively stronger radiation protection measures would apply as anticipated or actual doses approach regulatory limits.

The rule includes several provisions directly relevant to medical physics practice. These include changes to occupational and public dose management, patient-release requirements, caregiver exposure limits, radiation protection recordkeeping, and the use of modern dosimetry methods. For radiopharmaceutical therapy, the NRC proposes evaluating exposure to members of the public over an entire administration regimen rather than separately for each administration. The proposal would also establish distinct dose provisions for individuals designated as caregivers.

AAPM subject matter experts are reviewing the proposed rule and associated draft guidance to assess its implications for clinical practice and radiation safety programs. AAPM’s review is focusing on the graded dose-management framework, patient release for multi-administration therapies, caregiver exposure, occupational dose histories, and implementation by NRC Agreement States.

Comments are due to the NRC by August 31, 2026. AAPM plans to submit organizational comments and will continue to update members as its review develops.

AAPM Submits Comments on the OMB Proposed Federal Grant Rule

AAPM submitted comments to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regarding proposed revisions to the government-wide requirements governing federal grants and other forms of federal financial assistance. The proposal could affect how federal research awards are reviewed, issued, administered, suspended, and terminated across agencies including the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, and other federal research funders.

AAPM urged OMB to withdraw the proposed rule as written or substantially revise it before finalization. The comments emphasized the importance of preserving expert scientific peer review and agency scientific expertise as the central basis for research funding decisions. AAPM also called for protections for active multi-year awards and greater clarity regarding the circumstances under which federal agencies could suspend or terminate funding.

AAPM further urged OMB to preserve the allowability of reasonable expenses associated with scientific publication, professional society participation, conferences, collaboration, training, mentoring, and research communication. The comments warned that broadly written restrictions and additional administrative requirements could disproportionately affect trainees, early-career investigators, smaller institutions, and clinically embedded research programs.

AAPM will continue to monitor OMB’s consideration of the proposed rule and its potential effects on federally funded medical physics research.

NIH Request for Information: Proposed Cap on Simultaneous Research Project Grants per Investigator

On June 8, the NIH issued a Request for Information (NOT-OD-26-086) seeking public input on a proposed policy that would cap the number of Research Project Grants (RPGs) an individual can hold simultaneously as Principal Investigator (PI) or Multi-Principal Investigator (MPI). The RPG definition covers most major NIH award mechanisms, including R01, R21, R35, P01, U01, and UM1 awards. NIH is considering a cap of two, three, or four simultaneous awards; according to the notice, 10.7% of PIs held three or more simultaneous RPGs in FY2025.

This proposal has direct implications for AAPM members. Medical physicists commonly serve as MPIs on collaborative, multi-disciplinary, and multi-site research projects, and MPI roles would count fully toward the cap under the proposed policy. Investigators over the cap would be required to relinquish awards or transfer PI responsibilities before accepting new or renewed grants. Depending on where the cap is set and how it is implemented, the policy could reshape participation in large team science initiatives, while potentially freeing funds to support additional investigators, including early-career researchers.

NIH is requesting input on: the pros and cons of the policy; the optimal cap level (2, 3, or 4); the strengths and weaknesses of the proposed implementation strategies; and possible unintended consequences or policy loopholes. AAPM strongly encourages members, particularly those with NIH funding experience as PI or MPI, to submit individual comments describing how this policy would affect their research programs.

Comments must be submitted electronically via the NIH RFI submission webpage no later than August 3, 2026. Submit Your Comments

Please contact Lauren DePutter, AAPM’s Director of Government Affairs and External Relations, with any questions or concerns.

How you can help!

Your voice and participation strengthen our advocacy efforts. Numerous opportunities exist for AAPM members to advocate by lending their voices, experiences and collective expertise.

Become a state champion through CHAMPS and CHAMPWG
Take action through the AAPM Advocacy Action Center to contact lawmakers and support key policy priorities affecting medical physics
Volunteer on key committees including GRAC, ECON or through subcommittees and working groups: WGPVAC, CRCPDS, JMPLSC, and GRPSC

How AAPM is Actively Advocating:

Monitoring and Engagement: Our staff and dedicated volunteers closely track news, policy actions, and communications from peer and partner organizations. This ensures we are informed and responsive, supporting relevant initiatives beneficial to our members.
Informing Membership: Stay updated through the AAPM Newsletter, e-News, association emails, committee updates, meeting sessions, social media, and by direct contact with staff and volunteers.
Working Collaboratively: AAPM has worked to establish a close and cooperative working relationships with numerous government bodies, organizations and key federal agencies, such as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), along with a range of medical providers, corporation, suppliers and peer professional societies. AAPM recently spearheaded a joint response to the July 17, 2025 Federal Register notice regarding proposed changes to the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR) Program, with 5 peer societies adding their support. Read the response HERE.

Together, we can ensure the voice of medical physicists remains strong, informed, and influential.

Activities

Highlights of Recent Activities (2025):

AAPM recently spearheaded a joint response to the July 17, 2025 Federal Register notice regarding proposed changes to the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR) Program, with 5 peer societies adding their support. Read the response HERE.
Supported multiple coalition letters advocating for robust federal funding of NIH and NSF research programs.
Endorsed ASTRO’s ROCR bill aimed at enhancing radiation oncology reimbursement.
Initiated a "Take-Action" campaign opposing indirect funding caps at NIH, successfully mobilizing over 90 advocacy messages to Congressional offices.
AAPM leadership approved an official Advocacy Agenda, a strategic roadmap to guide our government relations efforts moving forward.
AAPM’s inaugural Advocacy Day (Hill Day) scheduled for Thursday, July 31, 2025 immediately following our Annual Meeting.
Launched CHAMPS, a state-level grassroots advocacy program:
- The Steering Subcommittee is actively recruiting and training state volunteers.
- This program sets targeted advocacy goals and provides training resources to enhance state-level advocacy.
Strengthened partnerships and provided training through CRCPDS, enhancing our relationships with federal and state radiation programs.
ECON Committee diligently monitors and prepares for annual CMS rule cycles, offering training to members and submitting formal comments on behalf of medical physicists.
Through WGPVAC, we proactively engaged for the Veterans Affairs Hospitals—the nation’s largest healthcare system—to safeguard medical physics contracts crucial for patient care. AAPM previously facilitated the introduction of HR6800 to address hiring and retention challenges for therapy physicists within the VA, and we’re actively pursuing its reintroduction and expansion to diagnostic physicists.

Government Affairs