Charles Bankhead

AQUA has partnered with the software development company FIGmd to produce a program that can automate the process of figuring out data directly from the electronic medical record (EMR) to minimize the data entry burden. Urology is the third specialty to launch a registry based on the FIGmd platform, after cardiology and ophthalmology. Read More ›

From 2007 to 2013, the incidence of metastatic prostate cancer increased by 7.1% annually, resulting in a cumulative increase of 72% compared with 2004. Read More ›

Healthcare reform and associated economic pressures “have changed the rules” for virtually all healthcare providers, and providers must reinvent strategic approaches and care delivery models in response to these changes, said Max Reiboldt, CPA, President and Chief Executive Officer, the Coker Group.

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During her presentation at the 2016 AUA Practice Management Conference, Ms Maldonado reviewed some of the problem areas that have come to the attention of coding consultants for the AUA coding hotline.

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Smartphone applications and online telehealth services have already proved popular in primary care, and their expansion into urology and other specialties is imminent. Some payers have begun to include telehealth requirements in contracts with hospitals and other providers, and studies have shown that telehealth reduces costs and can help to reduce hospital admission and readmission rates.

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“The ultimate goal is to develop a viable strategy that incorporates aspects of traditional and contemporary approaches to meet the needs of the shifting healthcare landscape,” said Max Reiboldt, CPA, President and Chief Executive Officer, Coker Group, Alpharetta, GA.

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Successful contract negotiation comprises a process involving a realistic self-assessment, an evaluation of your counterpart, and the development of a negotiating strategy, according to John M. Murphy, MD, MBA, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Medical Officer, Delaware Valley Urology, Mount Laurel, NJ.

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Patients with previously treated metastatic urothelial bladder cancer had response rates that exceeded historical standards when treated with an investigational immunotherapeutic agent, updated results of a large phase 2 clinical trial showed. Treatment with the PD-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor atezolizumab led to an overall response rate of 15% in 311 patients, including a 26% rate among patients who had the highest levels of PD-L1 expression. Historical data have demon­strated response rates of about 10% for second-line therapy and beyond. Read More ›

Increased levels of physical activity after a diagnosis of prostate cancer are associated with significantly better survival, according to the results of a new, large prospective cohort study. Read More ›

Effective revenue cycle management begins with recognizing it is a process, and understanding the process and its key components, said Jeffrey T. Gorke, MBA, Senior Vice President of the Coker Group. Read More ›

Discussions of site-neutrality reimbursement for oncology services have centered on flawed comparisons of Medicare reimbursement methodologies that would deprive patients of the best available care, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) policy statement (ASCO. J Clin Oncol. 2015 Oct 26. Epub ahead of print). Read More ›

“No individual raindrop considers itself responsible for the flood. Responsibility, teamwork, and defined processes are the first steps toward improving the billing and collection process.” Read More ›

Urologists who are not part of hospital-owned practices face a “perfect storm” of economic pressures that require effective marketing strategies to maintain competitiveness, a medical marketing and advertising specialist advised attendees at the 2015 American Urological Association annual meeting. Read More ›

The move toward a value-based payment system will reward providers for resource utilization tied to superior outcomes and will encourage directing low- and moderate-risk patients to advanced practice providers (APPs), according to Rick Rutherford, CMPE, CHA, Director of Practice Management for the American Urological Association (AUA). Read More ›

Patients who have not had meaningful discussions with clinicians about end-of-life care—including chemotherapy, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and referral for hospice care—have an increased likelihood of receiving inappropriate, aggressive care at the end of life. Read More ›

Burnout among oncology providers hinders thriving and development at the individual level and delivery of value at the system level, said 2 experts during a practice management session at the 2015 American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting. Read More ›

Although still evolving, oncology medical homes have demonstrated the ability to improve patient care, outcomes, and satisfaction while saving money, agreed speakers at a practice management session at the 2015 American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting. Read More ›

The skillful integration of advanced practice providers (APPs) into urology practices can help address issues related to the dwindling urologist workforce shortage and the aging of practicing urologists. Read More ›

Urology practices must have a plan in place to transition to the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) by October 1, 2015, and should not expect any further delays in implementation, according to the American Urological Association (AUA). Read More ›

A winning approach to preauthorization begins with providers and payers “dancing in sync,” said Kenneth T. Hertz, FACMPE, Medical Practice Consultant, Medical Group Management Association, Alexandria, LA, at the 2015 American Urological Association (AUA) annual meeting. Read More ›

Despite substantially higher costs, specialty drugs can offer value comparable with that of traditional medications under certain circumstances, according to a recent cost-effectiveness analysis covering 12 years of FDA drug approvals. Read More ›

Prostate cancer screening with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests should focus on men aged 55 to 69 years, the group that is the most likely to benefit from screening. Read More ›