AACU State Advocacy Conference Informs, Engages

Online, October 3, 2011 (Newswire.com) - The American Association of Clinical Urologists (AACU) convened a record number of urologists, including more than 20 presidents of urology state societies, to promote engagement in state-level advocacy and public policy. The fourth annual conference proved to be the most successful to date, not only in the number of attendees, but also the quality and maturity of the program.

AACU State Society Network Advocacy Conference chair Mark S. Austenfeld, MD, and co-Chair Arthur Tarantino, MD, invited highly-regarded physicians and experts to speak on state-level implementation of federal health care reform, the role of non-physician providers in urologic practice, legal challenges to medical liability reform and effective legislative advocacy. Participants also took home recommendations on fundraising for on-the-ground surveillance of government activity and engagement of patients and industry partners in mutually beneficial advocacy campaigns.

"Urologists cannot do it alone," Dr. Tarantino said. "By linking physicians to patient advocacy groups and industry's local public policy staff, our ability to influence policymakers will be greatly enhanced."

The presidents of organized urology's three largest national organizations kicked off the conference with an assessment of how each envisions his association's role in state-level advocacy and support of state societies. AACU President B. Thomas Brown, MD, MBA; Large Urology Group Practice Association President Raoul S. Concepcion, MD, and American Urological Association President Sushil S. Lacy, MD, asserted each organization's strengths in this area, while assuring the urologic community that ongoing collaboration on myriad initiatives promotes universal success.

Two featured presentations challenged attendees to consider another perspective as it relates to federal health care reform. AACU Past President Thomas C. Fenter, MD, shared the private insurer's view in light of his role as corporate medical advisor for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Miss. David Morales, Steward Health Care's Vice President of Public Policy and former Mass. Health Finance Commissioner, offered eight "Opportunities in a Time of Reform" that focused on "Total Medical Expense", global payments and practice integration.

"These 'opportunities' may not naturally occur to AACU urologists, but we must consider how to make them work to benefit our patients and practices," according to Dr. Austenfeld. "As a key author of the law used as a template for federal health reform, David Morales is a national expert on these issues and provides a glimpse into how the policy-making process works at the highest level."

Wash. State Senator Randi Becker, a former medical practice administrator, honored the AACU with her acceptance of its inaugural Distinguished Leadership Award. In her address, Senator Becker encouraged every urologist to reach out to their elected representatives well before legislative sessions convene, asking them "What do you need from me?", essentially offering one's self as an advisor on issues that impact the practice of medicine. U.S. Representative Robert Dold (R-IL) generously attended the event's annual dinner and provided a rousing speech on the prospects for full and/or limited appeal of the federal health reform law, as well as debt and deficit reduction.

During the Sept. 24-25, 2011, conference, the AACU engaged state urology society presidents at an unprecedented level. Under the leadership of President Tarantino and President-elect Austenfeld, this outreach will grow. What's more, the AACU State Society Network will continue to utilize its network of physician representatives to promote grassroots advocacy in capitols across the country.