Blogs

Join the AUA in Supporting Continued Access to Telemedicine!

By Policy and Advocacy Brief
To expand the availability of Medicare telehealth services after the public health emergency (PHE) concludes, the AUA urges you to contact your members of Congress and request a committee hearing from your Senators and cosponsors from your House member on the bipartisan CONNECT for Health Act (S. 1512 and H.R. 2903). This bill expands access to telehealth services by eliminating the geographic area and originating site requirements and also provides broad authority to HHS to waive all statutory restrictions on the use of telehealth in Medicare. In addition, this bill provides healthcare providers and patients in underserved communities with the support they need ...
0 comments

AMA House of Delegates Recap – June 15-16

By Policy and Advocacy Brief
The American Urological Association’s Delegates – Drs. Terry Grimm and Hans Arora, and Alternate Delegates Drs. James Gilbaugh and Jason Jameson – have joined hundreds of physicians at the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates (HoD) 2021 Annual Meeting (virtual) to consider resolutions and reports covering clinical practice, payment, medical education, and public health topics. Top issues include various physician workforce challenges such as scope of practice and caring for patients in a pandemic and post-pandemic environment – particularly as it relates to telehealth. View our updates from the previous days of the meeting. On June 15-16, ...
0 comments

Insurance Updates: June 16

By Policy and Advocacy Brief
Insurance Updates:  June 16, 2021 Each week, the AUA publishes weekly updates on the latest insurance issues pertaining to urology. This week’s update includes the release of policy updates such as Biomarkers to Risk-Stratify Patients at Increased Risk for Prostate Cancer and Evaluation and Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction Policies. CGS Administrators CGS Administrators announced a new collaborative open meeting for Kentucky and Ohio jurisdiction 15 regarding Draft/Revised LCD discussion which will take place July 13 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. EDT via teleconference/webinar. Topics that will be discussed include DL38997 – MolDX: Biomarkers to Risk-Stratify ...
0 comments

AMA House of Delegates Recap – June 14

By Policy and Advocacy Brief
The American Urological Association’s Delegates – Drs. Terry Grimm and Hans Arora, and Alternate Delegates Drs. James Gilbaugh and Jason Jameson – continued working with hundreds of physicians at the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates (HoD) 2021 Annual Meeting (virtual) to consider resolutions and reports covering clinical practice, payment, medical education, and public health topics. View our previous updates from the meeting. On June 14, the AUA delegates spent the day in the general session where the House debated and voted on resolutions. Here are some of the reports and resolutions of interest:  Council on Medical Service Report ...
0 comments

State Advocacy Update 6/15

By Policy and Advocacy Brief
State Advocacy Update 6/15: Connecticut Enacts Cost Sharing Law; Maine, Nevada, and Texas Enact Telehealth Laws; Pennsylvania Introduces Telehealth Bill; Nevada Enacts Pelvic Exam and Step-Therapy Laws; New York Adopts Intersex Resolution Making October 26 Intersex Awareness Day; Pennsylvania Introduces Bills to Amend the Definition of Physician Assistant in the Medical and Osteopathic Practice Acts; Texas Joins Interstate Medical Licensure Compact.   The AUA is joining the American Medical Association (AMA) and other national physician organizations (e.g., American College of Emergency Physicians, American Academy of Family Physicians, American ...
0 comments

AUA, Prostate Cancer Foundation Identify 2021 Advocacy Priorities and Collaboration Opportunities

By Policy and Advocacy Brief
The AUA met with the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) this week to establish advocacy goals for 2021 and discuss opportunities for future partnership and collaboration. In 2021, PCF is working on health equity, increasing veteran’s access to care, and would like to partner with the AUA on our telehealth initiatives. PCF is the world’s leading philanthropic organization dedicated to funding life-saving prostate cancer research and they have served as a long-time advocacy partner of the AUA as well as a longstanding member of the Prostate Cancer Impact Alliance. Follow them on Twitter  here. As background, the AUA meets and partners with other advocacy organizations ...
0 comments

AUA, Alliance of Specialty Medicine Support Coronavirus Provider Protection Act of 2021

By Policy and Advocacy Brief
On June 7, the AUA joined the Alliance of Specialty Medicine in support of the Coronavirus Provider Protection Act of 2021 , which provides liability protection to health care providers for damages with respect to harm caused by an act or omission in the course of arranging for or providing healthcare services during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). The bill maintains important patient protections for those harmed as a result of gross negligence or misconduct.   The letter offers support for the bipartisan legislation that provides liability protection to physicians who act in good faith and abide by government guidelines while caring for their ...
0 comments

AUA Participates in Meeting with Arizona Congressional Candidate

By Policy and Advocacy Brief
On June 9, the AUA participated in a meet and greet hosted by the Medical and Dental Political Action Committees (MaDPAC) coalition with State Representative Randy Friese, MD, FACS. He is running to fill Arizona’s second congressional district, where the incumbent, Representative Ann Kilpatrick, is retiring from Congress in 2022. Dr. Friese is a trauma surgeon and veteran of the U.S. Navy Medical Corps, who helped treat former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords after being shot in 2011. Dr. Friese has served in Democratic leadership during his four terms in the state House and is the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee. During the meeting, numerous healthcare ...
0 comments

AUAPAC Supports Senior House Appropriator

By Policy and Advocacy Brief
On June 8, AUAPAC participated in a fundraiser for Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03). She serves as Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, which overseas our nation’s investment in biomedical research at agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the continued funding of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) Prostate Cancer Research Program and Kidney Cancer Research Program. During the event, AUAPAC raised the issue of proportionate funding across the NIH, as urologic conditions are present in many disease states where NIH research is conducted. As a reminder, promoting and protecting funding for urologic ...
0 comments

AUA Mobilizes Support for CONNECT for Health Act

By Policy and Advocacy Brief
On June 10, the AUA launched a Phone2Action campaign in support of the CONNECT for Health Act (S. 1512 and H.R. 2903). This bill expands access to telehealth services by eliminating the geographic area and originating site requirements and providing broad authority to the Department of Health and Human Services to waive all statutory restrictions on the use of telehealth in Medicare. This bill enables healthcare providers and patients in underserved communities with the ability to access the same telehealth services they have utilized during the public health emergency. The AUA urges members to participate in the Phone2Action campaign to request a Senate ...
0 comments

AMA House of Delegates Recap

By Policy and Advocacy Brief
The American Urological Association’s Delegates – Drs. Terry Grimm and Hans Arora, and Alternate Delegates Drs. James Gilbaugh and Jason Jameson – have joined hundreds of physicians at the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates (HoD) 2021 Annual Meeting (virtual) to consider resolutions and reports covering clinical practice, payment, medical education, and public health topics. Top issues include various physician workforce challenges such as scope of practice and caring for patients in a pandemic and post-pandemic environment – particularly as it relates to telehealth.   Last weekend (June 5-6), AUA delegates participated in a variety of ...
0 comments

Insurance Updates:  June 9

By Policy and Advocacy Brief
Insurance Updates:  June 9, 2021 Each week, the AUA publishes weekly updates on the latest insurance issues pertaining to urology. This week’s update includes the release of policy updates such as CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Free-handed Transperineal Biopsy of the Prostate with a Transperineal Access System (PrecisionPoint) Policy. National Insurance Carriers/MACs Updates : CareFirst BCBS CareFirst BCBS reviewed its Free-handed Transperineal Biopsy of the Prostate with a Transperineal Access System (PrecisionPoint) Policy stating the PrecisionPoint system may be considered medically necessary when criteria are met. Read the update. ...
0 comments

Patient Voices Guide Improvement to Urologic Care Delivery

By Amanda Burns
Patient Voices Guide Improvement to Urologic Care Delivery For more than 30 years, the Urology Care Foundation has been a leader in improving health care for urologic patients worldwide by supporting research, providing education and advancing humanitarian initiatives. The Foundation’s official website, UrologyHealth.org , contains the largest repository of urologic patient education materials, with hundreds of pieces, ranging from simple facts sheets to detailed patient guides to videos and podcasts. These resources, covering a variety of urologic conditions and diseases affecting both men and women, are designed to help educate patients about their ...
0 comments

June 2 Insurance Updates

By Policy and Advocacy Brief
Each week, the AUA publishes weekly updates on the latest insurance issues pertaining to urology. Due to the volume of insurance policy updates, we are focusing our updates on the Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) and the major commercial insurance companies. This week’s update includes the release of policy updates on issues such as biomarkers to risk stratify patients at increased risk for prostate cancer. Read the full update.
0 comments

State Advocacy Update

By Policy and Advocacy Brief
Legislative session ended for:  Arizona (May 30); Illinois (May 30); Kansas (May 30); Nevada (May 31); Oklahoma (May 28); and Texas (May 31). Delaware Seeks to Expand Scope of Nurse Practitioners; Join Nursing Compact; Governor Pritzker Signs Onerous Illinois Liability Bill; Louisiana Enacts Coverage for Genetic Cancer Testing; Introduces Prostate Cancer Awareness Campaign Along with Resolution Proclaiming September Prostate Cancer Awareness Month; Maine Enacts Real-time Authorization Tool for Prescription Drugs Requirement; Massachusetts Introduces Pelvic Exam, Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, and Balance Billing Measures; Nebraska Enacts ...
0 comments

AUA Attends Friends of AHRQ Briefing on Proposed FY22 Budget

By Policy and Advocacy Brief
Last week, the AUA attended a briefing for the Friends of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (FoAHRQ) regarding the implications of the Biden Administration’s proposed FY22 budget. As background, the AHRQ is the federal agency that supports research to improve healthcare quality, reduce costs, advance patient safety, decrease medical errors, and broaden access to essential services. During the briefing, AHRQ’s Acting Director David Meyers discussed the Biden Administration’s budget proposal and AHRQ priorities for the year. AHRQ’s priorities and interests in 2021 include advancing investments in equity through research, resource development, and organizational ...
0 comments

Annual Urology Advocacy Summit Includes Agency Visits to Promote Strong Dialogue and Potential Wins on Key Issues

By Policy and Advocacy Brief
The AUA will meet with several federal agencies in conjunction with this year’s Annual Urology Advocacy Summit. The AUA has worked to build partnerships with key agencies in support of the important research needed to help patients with urologic diseases and conditions.  Key takeaways from past meetings include insights about urologic research grants, new funding allocations specific to urologic research taking place within each agency, and open dialogue on administrative burdens and problems with access to care for urology patients with the current category classifications of drugs. This year, agency meetings will take place throughout the months of July and ...
0 comments

AUA Supports Private Contracting in Medicare Bills

By Policy and Advocacy Brief
On June 3, the AUA joined its colleagues in the Alliance of Specialty Medicine to support the reintroduction of the Medicare Patient Empowerment Act (H.R. 3322/S. 826). The bill would establish a Medicare payment option for patients and eligible professionals to freely contract, without penalty, for Medicare fee-for-service items and services, while allowing Medicare beneficiaries to use their Medicare benefits. The attached endorsement letters were sent to the corresponding bill sponsors, Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX-17) and Sens. Rand Paul, MD (R-KY) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). 06_04_2021_PPC_Weekly_Update_ASM_HR_3322_Medicare_Patient_Empowerment_Act_June_2021.pdf ...
0 comments

American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates (HoD): AUA Physicians Participating in Upcoming Virtual Annual Meeting

By Policy and Advocacy Brief
Workforce challenges and caring for patients in a pandemic and post-pandemic environment headline the many clinical practice, payment, medical education, and public health topics under discussion for the June 11-15 AMA virtual HoD Annual Meeting. Delegates Drs. Terry Grimm and Hans Arora; and Alternate Delegates Drs. Jason Jameson and James Gilbaugh are representing the AUA during the upcoming meeting. To date, the AUA delegation has agreed to cosponsor one specific resolution for the Annual Meeting. Resolution 007, “Nonconsensual Audio/Video Recording at Medical Encounters” establishes new AMA policy encouraging that any audio or video recording made during ...
0 comments

Insurance Updates: June 2, 2021

By Policy and Advocacy Brief
Insurance Updates:  June 2, 2021 Each week, the AUA publishes weekly updates on the latest insurance issues pertaining to urology. This week’s update includes the release of newsletters and policy updates. Noridian is hosting an open meeting to discuss biomarkers to risk stratify patients at increased risk for prostate cancer. National Insurance Carriers/MACs Updates : Noridian Noridian published its JE Open Public Meeting Advisory Meeting Document announcing a new Open meeting, which will take place June 24, via teleconference from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. MolDX: Biomarkers to Risk-Stratify Patients at Increased Risk for Prostate Cancer ...
0 comments