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Government Relations and Advocacy
As the challenges to our profession continue to escalate, so will the need for urology to more actively advocate and raise its profile. The annual three-day Urologic Joint Advocacy Conference co-sponsored with the American Association of Clinical Urologists (AACU) in Washington, DC includes training seminars on grass-roots advocacy and lobbying opportunities to enable participants to quickly grasp the impact that Congress has on both the everyday practice and research agenda of urology.
Regulatory, Reimbursement and Quality
Obtaining fair reimbursement for your services is essential to maintaining and growing your practice. Working closely with experienced AUA volunteer physicians, our staff ensure that urologic procedures are valued appropriately and that new Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) codes are introduced when needed through representation to the national organizations charged with responsibility for establishment of CPT codes—the AMA’s CPT Panel and RUC. In addition, commercial insurers have become increasingly aggressive in their willingness to reduce or terminate payment for established and effective urologic procedures. To counter this growing threat, AUA staff and physicians meet with the national medical directors of different insurance companies, providing them with both research evidence and clinical knowledge that can often change their initial stance.
Click here to review Key Terms in Healthcare Reform.
The AUA's Health Policy Department also works actively to ensure that growing public and private payer demands for quality performance measures applicable to urology are met with measures developed and sanctioned by urologists.
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