United Urology Group

With over 2 decades of experience, Edney reflects on how his passion for health policy and advocacy evolved alongside his clinical career.

Joy Maulik, CRNP, speaks with J. Brandon Arruda, APRN, AGNP-C, CUNP, about the evolving role of advanced practice providers in urology.

The Expert APProach: Conversations in Uro-Oncology, hosted by Joy Maulik, CRNP, is the latest multimedia program from Urology Times.

"Based on this proposal, some shifts may significantly impact the practice of urology," write Jonathan Rubenstein, MD, and Mark Painter.

Suzanne B. Merrill, MD, FACS, unpacks key findings from the CREST trial and outlines data of interest from the POTOMAC and PATAPSCO trials, which are set to read out later this year.

"It is common for a payer to request patient records when submitting for a service with a category III code," write Jonathan Rubenstein, MD, and Mark Painter.

"As with all medications and services, it is important to check with the patient’s insurer to determine their policy and whether the medication will be covered," write Jonathan Rubenstein, MD, and Mark Painter.

"As always, we encourage you to communicate among all team members and pay attention to your documentation," write Jonathan Rubenstein, MD, and Mark Painter.

Catch up on exclusive videos you may have missed from the first half of the year.

"We have received numerous complaints about the PA and predetermination process. We all wish we could answer this differently and definitively," write Jonathan Rubenstein, MD, and Mark Painter.

"We believe the confusion comes from the typical lexicon surgeons use when performing surgeries, rather than the actual code descriptor and the procedure performed," write Jonathan Rubenstein, MD, and Mark Painter.

Jonathan Rubenstein, MD, and Mark Painter tackle a coding question for treating stones.

“I truly think genetic testing should be incorporated as a part of daily care in prostate cancer,” says Joy Maulik, CRNP.

Merrill discusses the evolving non–muscle invasive bladder cancer treatment space.

Jonathan Rubenstein, MD, and Mark Painter answer a question regarding coding for use of the second-generation Calyxo CVAC system.

“I feel a lot of providers, with Antiva being available, have unfortunately reserved use of this great FDA-approved agent for BCG-unresponsive patients because of the supply issue with BCG," says Suzanne B. Merrill, MD, FACS.

"I'm all for this great effort by ImmunityBio to provide us with an alternative option,” says Suzanne B. Merrill, MD, FACS.

“One important aspect to get across…is that access to this EAP is pretty easy," says Suzanne B. Merrill, MD, FACS.

"The relaxation of the restrictions that started during COVID are critically important for continued access," says Mark T. Edney, MD.

"For telephone-only (audio only) visits, Medicare has officially stated that such a visit would be considered the same as an in-person visit, with a few qualifications," write Jonathan Rubenstein, MD, and Mark Painter.

"With the requirements for an E/M code as noted above, we agree with you that the supporting documentation, if appropriately documented, would support a level 3 outpatient visit for a visit regarding counseling for contraception or family planning," write Jonathan Rubenstein, MD, and Mark Painter.

"As we all know, Medicare rules do not always follow CPT directives. The same is true in this case," write Jonathan Rubenstein, MD, and Mark Painter.

"From a coding standpoint and from the work performed and valuation of the work and descriptors, it is appropriate to report the dilation (50436 without or 50437 with new access as appropriate) along with the nephrolithotomy codes (50080/50081) when both are performed at the same time by the same provider," write Jonathan Rubenstein, MD, and Mark Painter.

"Please note that although this starts out as a balloon rather than just the injection of a biodegradable product, this device is actually fully biodegradable and is absorbed within 6 months of insertion," write Jonathan Rubenstein, MD, and Mark Painter.

"There are far more people presenting to us for care than we have people able to provide it. The APPs are going to be a critical part of trying to solve that puzzle," says Mark T. Edney, MD.

“What creates job satisfaction are 3 principles: mastery, autonomy, and a sense of purpose,” says Mark T. Edney, MD.

“As long as APPs are properly supported, they will take off and they will change your practice,” says Mark T. Edney, MD.

"If a practice has determined in writing that there are insurers whose policies advised that they will not accept this code, it seems reasonable not to report that code to that insurer even when criteria are met," write Jonathan Rubenstein, MD, and Mark Painter.

"As a result of the changes and the programmed phase-in of the changes, the cystoscopy code total RVU for the office setting will be 8% lower in 2025 than the current value," write Jonathan Rubenstein, MD, and Mark Painter.

"The final rule for 2025 poses several challenges to urology. Lobbying efforts to preserve telehealth access and the CF will continue, perhaps dragging into 2025," write Jonathan Rubenstein, MD, and Mark Painter.