A cross the country, independent urologists within integrated practices are navigating the way forward in our rapidly changing healthcare landscape. Although declining reimbursements is an ever-present pressure upon physician practices—forcing some physicians to move from private practice to hospital employment¹—recent data suggest that independent, integrated medicine is thriving, providing patients with higher quality, cost-effective care, as well as physician employment flexibility and opportunity.²

LUGPA, a professional association representing nearly 25% of the nation's urologists, is committed to providing member practices the necessary resources to continue advancing independent, integrated care. Thanks to LUGPAs unwavering commitment to high-quality, cost-effective, value-based medicine, the association has expanded impressively since its founding 7 years ago. Until recently, however, this growth had been limited to large groups of 10 or more physician colleagues. Of note, as the association successfully expanded, it became clear to the leadership that advancing member practices’ model of care had less to do with group size, and more to do with regulatory and market forces that have historically challenged the existence of healthcare delivered within the independent setting.

LUGPA has thus modified its bylaws and now welcomes membership from physician colleagues with five or more physicians, so that more urologists are able to benefit from the growing LUGPA network. With the revised membership criteria, these additional practices will be able to access resources vital to the sustainability of independent urology, including the following:

• Practice administration support
• Leadership development and change management
• Business and clinical benchmarking
• Unique legislative health policy insights

Because every independent urology practice is only as good as the care it provides, LUGPA collects state-of-the-art data on physician decision making, practice management benchmarking, and clinical data integration to communicate value to patients, vendors, third-party payors, and regulatory agencies.

As LUGPA's membership and national presence expand, the association is also dedicated to helping practices grow within their communities, thus engaging both existing and prospective patients. LUGPA assists member practices in reaching these patients through a variety of communication channels, from brochures in physician offices to social media awareness campaigns. For example, LUGPA's ongoing Your Numbers Matter³ campaign uses online resources as well as hard-copy materials to encourage physician-patient conversations and shared decision making, thereby raising awareness of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, active surveillance, and risk stratification for patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer. By associating PSA number with other important health information and metrics, participating member practices have increased their engagement with patients on important health decisions and treatments.

Advancing independent, integrated urologic care does not stop with engaging member practices and patients—it extends to the highest levels of the federal government. LUGPA has established itself as a respected and reliable authority on Capitol Hill and in key regulatory agencies such as the Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, the Government Accountability Office, and the Congressional Budget Office. In doing so, LUGPA's health policy team continuously engages policymakers to discuss the value of independent, integrated healthcare.

Our membership has become increasingly engaged in these policy efforts as the network grows, and LUGPA disseminates regular health policy email updates, as well as weekly media monitor briefings that include health policy news relevant to LUGPA urologists. Most recently, member practices banded together to send thousands of letters and make thousands of phone calls to Capitol Hill in support of legislation to reform the deeply flawed Sustainable Growth Rate formula that has plagued physicians and Medicare beneficiaries for years. As a result, after years of kicking the can down the road, Congress finally acted, with landslide repeal votes in both the Senate and House of Representatives.

LUGPA sees great value in extending membership to the growing number of independent urology practices which, regardless of varying size, are steadfastly committed to advancing independent medicine and preserving a model of care that demonstrates clinical, economic, and personalized patient value. 

References

1. Adamopoulos H. 6 top reasons physicians move from private practice to hospital employment. Becker’s Hospital Review website. http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/hospital-physician-relationships/6-top-reasons-physicians-move-from-private-practice-to-hospital-employment.html. Published December 11, 2013. Accessed May 17, 2015.
2. McWilliams JM, Chernew ME, Zaslavsky AM, et al. Delivery system integration and health care spending and quality for medicare beneficiaries. JAMA Intern Med. 2013;173:1447-1456.
3. National Prostate Health Month underscores importance of knowing your numbers. LUGPA and ZERO urge men to man up and go to the doctor. LUGPA website. http://lugpa.org/latest-news/national-prostate-health-month-underscores-importance-of-knowing-your-numbers/. Accessed May 17, 2015.