News :: American Association of Clinical Urologists, Inc.

AACU News & Notes

Respected Urologists Honored with Inaugural Sohn Award for Excellence in Advocacy

posted: October 23, 2019
Since its founding, the American Association of Clinical Urologists (AACU) has counted amongst its membership urologists who are active, engaged, and influential as physicians and advocates... Read More

Urology Times: Medicare Payment Proposal Shows Room for Improvement

posted: October 18, 2019
The agency proposes to add and re-value codes that account for complex care, expand reimbursement for telemedicine services, and simplify performance reporting requirements. Read More

Executive Order to Improve Medicare

posted: October 10, 2019
Ensure fee-for-service is not “advantaged or promoted”President Trump signed an executive order Oct. 4 to strengthen Medicare. Asserting that Medicare for All proposals are a &ldquo... Read More

AACU Comments on CMS 2020 Payment Rules & Fee Schedule

posted: September 27, 2019
AACU submitted a comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on September 27 in response to the agency’s proposed rules for the CY 2020 Medicare Physician Fee... Read More

AACU Calls for Comprehensive Approach to PA Reform

posted: September 20, 2019
The AACU signed onto a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) calling on the agency to adopt a comprehensive strategy for addressing the various concerns related to prior... Read More

Urology Times: Transition to Value-Based Care Requires MACRA Reform

posted: September 11, 2019
Congress must eliminate the scheduled 6-year payment freeze and make additional adjustments to MACRA to ensure physicians have the support they need to transition into the program, and so that... Read More

AACU Opposes Payment Limits on Provider-Administered Drugs

posted: September 10, 2019
The AACU signed onto a letter to the Senate Finance Committee urging them to drop a provision in the Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act of 2019 (PDPRA) that would establish $1,000 as the... Read More

AACU Urges Congress to Reduce Prior Authorization Burdens

posted: September 10, 2019
The AACU signed onto a letter asking all members of the U.S. House to cosponsor the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (H.R. 3107), which would require the Centers for Medicare &... Read More

CMS 2020 Payment Rules Released

posted: August 15, 2019
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently released proposed rules for the 2020 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), which includes updates to the Quality Payment Program, Open... Read More

AACU Comments on CMS Initiative to Cut Regulatory Burdens

posted: August 14, 2019
The AACU submitted a comment letter this week to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in response to a Request for Information on ways to cut regulatory burden as part of its... Read More

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@TheAACU

Advocacy Priorities

Prostate Cancer Screening and Awareness

Eliminating Misdiagnosis and Reducing Wasteful Medicare SpendingEvery 20 minutes an American man dies from prostate cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that 161,360 men were told they have prostate cancer in 2017. Early detection is critical because research shows the five-year survival...
IPAB Repeal

IPAB permanently repealed in a major victory for the AACU and urology communityThe AACU is pleased to report that the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (H.R. 1892) included provisions to repeal the Independent Physicians Advisory Board (IPAB), a 15-member panel of unelected officials that had the...
Graduate Medical Education and Physician Workforce Shortage

Ensuring a Well-Trained Physician Workforce Increase Federally Funded Physician Training ProgramsRequestUrologists urge Congress to acknowledge the importance of specialty medicine and address urological workforce shortages that jeopardize patient access to care. We urge lawmakers to support...
The Impact of Pharmacy Benefit Managers on Access to Affordable Treatment

Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) have a significant impact on prescription drug costs and the ability of patients to obtain the medications they need in a timely and affordable manner, and yet very little is known about their role. The AACU is dedicated to working with policymakers at both the...
Improve Preventive Task Force Recommendations, Preserve Access to Prostate Cancer Screening

The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) plays a critical role in preventive care because its recommendations dictate what preventive services many health plans must provide without cost sharing. Currently, however, the USPSTF has little accountability. Task Force members are...
Medical Liability Reform: Protect Physician Volunteers During National Disasters

Protection for Physician Disaster VolunteersClinical urologists urge support for the Good Samaritan Health Professionals Act of 2017, introduced in the House by Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-7) and in the Senate by Sen. Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA). This crucial legislation seeks to shield medical...
Modernize Law Restricting Coordinated Care (“Stark Law”)

When Congress enacted the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act, it replaced a fundamentally flawed reimbursement framework with a program promoting value-based care delivery. Value-based care, as measured by the new Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and alternative payment...
Patients Over Paperwork: Reducing the Burden of Medicare Red Tape

Urologists across the country treat a high volume of Medicare patients and therefore deal with the program’s numerous requirements and complex payment structures on a near daily basis. The AACU is dedicated to working with legislators and policymakers to identify ways to simplify and...

State Advocacy

Fair Contracting and Medical Practice Freedom

Where We Stand Ensure openness and fairness in health care provider contacts. Prevent third-party payors from changing the terms of their provider contract without notice to the provider and without the consent of the provider. Ensure that physician licensure is based upon a physician's...
Medical Liability Reform — Expert Witness Qualifications

Strengthen expert witness standards Ensure that expert witness is from the same specialty as the defendant physician Prevent frivolous lawsuits Improve the practice environment for physicians in your stateWhenever a physician’s conduct is being called into question, it is only fair...
Prostate Cancer Awareness & Assessment

Where We Stand Continue the progress that has been made in the reduction of prostate cancer morbidity and mortality with the appropriate use of prostate cancer testing. Ensure that third-party payors provide for the reimbursement of prostate cancer testing when the patient and his physician...
Uniform Prior Authorization for Prescriptions and Health Services

Where We Stand Prior authorizations cost the health system $728 million in 2012. Prior authorization requests must use a single form, no more than two pages in length. Forms must available for both access and submission electronically. Requests are deemed approved if no response is...
Work Force — Scope of Practice

Where We Stand Allow the maximum patient-to-physician ratio to increase based on the number of physician assistants in a practice. Expand the ability of nurse practitioners and physician assistants to supervise medical assistants when doctors aren’t on the premises.Proactive Physician...