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As the year comes to an end, federal lawmakers still have much to address with Obamacare’s problematic launch and time running out to pass a repeal of the fundamentally flawed Medicare sustainable growth rate by the end of the year.

An investigational minimally invasive device was found safe and effective in limiting rapid pressure changes within the bladder to reduce symptoms of stress urinary incontinence, the authors of a recently published trial reported.

It appears that Congress is finally determined to provide a permanent solution to the annual Medicare fee payment crisis, and there is a possibility that the process also could reduce pressure to end an exception to the Stark self-referral law upon which many urologists have come to rely.

Renacidin Irrigation (Citric Acid, Glucono delta-Lactone, and Magnesium Carbonate) is once again available after a series of manufacturing issues resulted in the product being unavailable for over a year, according to United-Guardian, Inc., the product’s marketer.

The American College of Surgeons, in collaboration with the AUA and 14 other specialty surgical organizations, has jointly published and released the seventh edition of a report that provides guidance on how often an operation might require the use of a physician as an assistant.

Of top concern to urologists are declining reimbursement (88%), increasing government regulations (86%), Obamacare (73%), and increasing overhead (71%). This finding-from the most recent Urology Times State of the Specialty survey-was consistent for all ages, practice types, and practice sizes.

Among patients with kidney stones, shared medical appointments decrease appointment wait times, increase patient knowledge about stone prevention, and lead to high levels of patient satisfaction, researchers from the University of Wisconsin, Madison reported.

Urology drugs and devices in the pipeline from AltheRx Pharmaceuticals, TARIS Biomedical, AstraZeneca, NxThera, NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, and OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals.

Energized by recent legislative victories from Tallahassee to Olympia, urologists looked to the future as they gathered for the 6th annual AACU State Society Network Advocacy Conference. Taking place just days after the Oct. 1 launch of open enrollment for health insurance exchange plans, the event focused on the role of urologists and their professional associations in a transformed health care delivery system.

The latest products and services from SuperSonic Imagine, Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, VIVUS, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Innovus Pharmaceuticals, Buffalo Filter, KRS Global Biotechnology, Demos Health, and Ethicon Endo-Surgery.

A phase III trial of enzalutamide (Xtandi) in chemotherapy-naïve patients with advanced prostate cancer has met both of its primary endpoints in an interim analysis, and the trial will be stopped early due to the drug’s benefit.