Celeste Kirschner, CAE, MHSA, on current issues facing independent urology practices

In an interview at the 2025 LUGPA Annual Meeting, LUGPA CEO Celeste Kirschner, CAE, MHSA, sat down with Urology Times® to outline the biggest challenges facing independent urology practices today. Specifically, he touched on physician payment, PBM reform, and emerging tools and technologies.

Kirschner began the discussion by highlighting 2 pressing issues facing urology practices: declining physician payment rates amid rising inflation and the need for PBM reform. She noted that advocates are continuing to press Congress for sustainable solutions, including PBM reform, as part of potential year-end legislative packages.

Beyond advocacy, Kirschner also discussed how urology groups are leveraging data analytics and exploring emerging technologies like artificial intelligence to improve practice efficiency and patient care. She pointed to initiatives such as the LUGPA playbook and practice data projects, which are helping members understand how best to use these tools in clinical practice.