New York State Urological Society, Inc.
Summer 2014 President’s Report from Claude Wolgel, M.D., President
I.Joint Advocacy Conference, Washington, D.D. – March 9-11, 2014
I, along with several members of the NYSUS Executive Committee attended this annual joint conference of the AACU and the AUA. This is a three day meeting providing "grass roots" lobbying training to politically interested urologists. It culminates in trips to the Hill with our elected officials to discuss issues that are important to urology. The presentations at this meeting are relative to the current and future healthcare and political environments. The speakers ranged from university professors to former White House officials, Senate staffers and elected officials. This year JAC organizers urged participating urologists to focus on four major areas when meeting with legislators.
The four major issues were:
1) Reform of graduate medical education to help address shortages in urology and specialtymedicine.
2) Preservation of the in-office ancillary services exception to the Stark law.
3) Payment reform specifically to achieve SGR repeal this year.
4) Reform of the USPSTF - US Preventative Services Task Force.
There were 171 registrants at the conference, and 325 meetings were scheduled on Capital Hill. I had the opportunity to personally communicate these issues to Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer, as well as Rep. Steve Israel [NY-3] and Rep. Peter King [NY-2]. Further, urologists were encouraged to meet and continue the dialogue with their senators and representatives in their home district offices. Attendance to future conferences was emphasized. Next year's JAC meeting will again take place in Washington D.C. in March 2015. It is well worth the effort to attend these informative and crucial conferences.
II.Assembly and Senate Bills to Watch
- NYS Assembly Bill 02675A-Gottfried
Requires health care providers (i.e., an entity licensed/certified under certain articles of the public health law or the mental hygiene law, a health care practitioner licensed/registered/certified under title eight of the education law, or a provider of pharmaceutical products/services or durable medical equipment) to disclose errors in diagnosis, treatment or other services that the provider knows has caused substantial harm or significant risk of substantial harm; provides there shall be a rebuttable presumption that the provider knew of the error and the harm or risk of harm if, under the circumstances, the provider reasonably should have had knowledge thereof; provides such disclosure shall be made within a reasonable period of time and be reasonably understandable. NYSUS Executive Commitee is opposed to this bill as it stands.
- NY Senate Bill 132-Sampson
Authorizes the commissioner of health, within fiscal year 2013-2014, to contract with high bidders to perform pilot projects to assess the feasibility of reducing medically unnecessary high cost radiological procedures and generalizing cost savings to the state through enhanced medical management and prior review of orders for diagnostic imaging. NYSUS Executive Committee is opposed to this bill as it stands.
- NY Senate Bill 7166-Hannon
Prohibits requiring health care providers to provide services under a qualified health plan in the health benefit exchange, unless such provider participates in the in-network portion of such plan. NYSUS Executive Committee is supportive of this bill.
- NY Senate Bill 7660-Hannon/NY Assembly Bill 1124/9878-Rosenthal
Authorizes the commissioner of health to establish standards, and review and implement requirements for the performance of continuing medical education on pain management, palliative care and addiction. NYSUS Executive Committee is opposed to these bills as they stand.
MSSNY is lobbying on many of these bills and NYSUS will remain updated so we can communicate back to the membership and to our legislators.
III.Health Insurance Company CEO’s Benefit from Affordable Care Act (ACA)
Healthcare.NOW!.org recently reported that CEO’s at Fortune 500 health insurance companies are emerging as one of the Affordable Care Act’s greatest beneficiaries despite their opposition to the new regs under the ACA. Financial reports show the average compensation for the top 9 CEO’s rose more than 19% in 2013. Mark Bertolini, Aetna’s CEO, came in as the highest, receiving a $30.7 million compensation package, which is a 131% increase over his 2012 compensation of $13.3 million.
Reported by: Claude Wolgel, M.D., President, NYSUS
6/21/14