Health Law & Policy

We asked members of our editorial board what they hope to see in the world of urology in the coming year.

Recent developments in PSA screening point out why policy truly does matter to residents, writes Alan L. Kaplan, MD, in this blog post.

There was generally positive news for Medicare providers in the new 2-year budget agreement signed into law by President Obama Nov. 2 as well as the 2016 physician fee schedule just released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. But hospital-owned physician practices will take a hit under the budget deal, and urologists will see an ever-so-slight average decrease in payments for their services under the new fee schedule.

"Urologists are not a happy bunch, and many are looking to leave their practice or adapt to new practice models," writes Jeffrey Kaufman, MD.

"If defining quality is left only to payers, there is cause for alarm," writes the AACU's Ross E. Weber.

A new challenge to Obamacare has even its most ardent supporters nervous.

Proposed cuts by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in Medicare payments for radiation oncology services would force an estimated 30% of community-based radiation therapy centers to close their doors, according to a statement sent to CMS by the American Society of Radiation Oncology.

With the U.S. now spending nearly 18% of its gross domestic product on health care, Congress has targeted for drastic budget cuts the one agency of the government whose sole purpose is to improve the health care system.

“Value” is more than a buzzword in medicine. It’s the way of medicine’s world. Understanding just what it means and how to achieve it could make or break urology and other specialties.

Leaders of more than 30 organizations representing urologists and scores more attendees came away from the 2015 AACU state advocacy conference with a better understanding of the complicated socioeconomic issues facing the profession and a resolve to not stand idly by as public policies impacting their patients and practice are developed in Washington and state houses across the country. Learn more.

In this interview, David F. Penson, MD, MPH, discusses the ACA’s impact on urology, the pros and cons of a single-payer system, and why collecting and reporting outcomes data will be crucial going forward.

The first annual Medicare physician fee schedule rule in the post-sustainable growth rate era has been proposed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and includes several provisions of specific interest to urologists, including attention to certain services that are considered misvalued by the agency and some modifications to Stark law regulations.

Two federal bills, one recently passed by Congress and the other recently introduced in the House of Representatives, seek to address a common area of frustration among physicians: the federal government’s electric health records meaningful use requirements.

Urologist Kevin R. Loughlin, MD, MBA, considers the immediate and long-term implications of the Supreme Court’s decision in King v. Burwell.

In nearly every survey of physician sentiment, doctors cite administrative burdens associated with payer relations as distracting from patient care and the performance of their chosen profession.

Congress doesn’t appear to like very much President Obama’s FY 2016 budget proposal to eliminate funding for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention activities that are focused on education about prostate cancer screening and treatment, as well as tracking disease incidence and mortality data.

Urologist Stephen G. Weiss II, MD, FACS, explains why he is voluntarily relinquishing his American Board of Urology certificate.

In this interview, AUA President William F. Gee, MD, discusses current challenges facing the AUA and its members, possible solutions, and novel new AUA initiatives.

The Independent Payment Review Board appears to be headed out of existence, much to the pleasure of much of the provider community-including urologists.

The Affordable Care Act has survived its latest legal challenge. After reading the Supreme Court's recent decision in King v. Burwell, Dan Shaffer of the AACU discusses how the justices arrived at it and what it means to you.

Despite the common perception of Congress being filled with a bunch of politically obsessed do-nothings, there actually is a determined and dedicated group of lawmakers and staff assistants who are working practically 24-7 to develop a sweeping new initiative that would help speed drug and device approvals and increase funding for new drug innovation.

Urologists appear skeptical that the recent repeal of SGR will have a significant impact on their practice.

Dr. Kapoor, LUGPA’s chairman of health policy, explains the basis of his recent JAMA letter supporting the in-office ancillary services exception to the Stark law.

Having completed a well-deserved victory lap after the recent repeal of the SGR, it's time to tune up our engines and head right back to the race track to advance the specialty's remaining advocacy priorities.

Finally, I can stop writing about the Medicare SGR formula and efforts to reform it, and you can stop worrying about whether you’re going to get whacked with untenable payment cuts about this time every year.