American Association of Clinical Urologists, Inc.

AACU News & Notes

AACU Represented as AMA Debates Contentious Issues

posted: June 21, 2018
From June 9 to June 13, Richard Pelman, MD, and Patrick McKenna, MD, FAAP, FACS, represented the AACU at the 2018 American Medical Association House of Delegates Meeting in Chicago, where hundreds... Read More

Multiple-Room Surgery Scrutinized by Policymakers, Institutions

posted: June 21, 2018
Overlapping scheduling is known to enhance access to surgical specialists, lower costs, and improve efficiency. Scientific literature supports overlapping surgery as a safe practice, but public... Read More

Congressional Retirements Promise to Make Waves

posted: May 31, 2018
Altogether, the number of U.S. lawmakers vacating their seats in 2018 has reached 51. While some of these individuals will be seeking a new office, a surprising number have opted to retire from... Read More

Mergers Raise Anticompetitive Concerns in Healthcare Industry

posted: May 31, 2018
If the potential Aetna-CVS merger is any indication, the deal between Cigna and Express Scripts is likely to draw scrutiny from policymakers on Capitol Hill. Read More

Health Plans Announce Drug Rebate Pass Through for Patients

posted: May 31, 2018
Increasing scrutiny of the pharmaceutical supply chain by the public and policymakers alike has prompted some major insurers to promise that a portion of rebates garnered from drug manufacturers... Read More

AACU Comments on California Price-Setting Legislation

posted: May 31, 2018
In correspondence dated May 21, 2018, the AACU commented on a California proposal to create government price controls for surgeries, hospital stays, doctor visits and other health care services (AB... Read More

UPDATE: AACU Comments on Certificate of Need Requirement for Dendritic Cell Therapies (Michigan)

posted: March 27, 2018
In correspondence dated March 27, 2018, the AACU commented on a Michigan Certificate of Need Commission proposal to add adoptive cell transfer therapies, including dendritic cell therapy, to the... Read More

Urologists Oppose Resolution Restricting Parental Rights (California)

posted: March 26, 2018
In correspondence dated March 26, 2018, the AACU joined several organizations in opposition to California Senate Concurrent Resolution 110, relative to sex characteristics.Signatories acknowledge... Read More

Government Funding Bill Advances (Developing)

posted: March 22, 2018
Congressional leaders released the long-awaited $1.3 trillion, two-year government funding bill after days of wrangling behind closed doors over contentious policies that included a plan to reverse... Read More

Lawmakers Take Divergent Paths on Referral Laws

posted: March 21, 2018
Alternative payment models. Integrated delivery systems. Provider and payer consolidation. Each of these trends reflect the evolution of our nation’s varied health care delivery and financing... 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...