In this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Aditya Begrodia interviews Dr. Mara Holton, a urologist and healthcare policy expert, on the recent healthcare policy changes that have affected the field of urology.

First, Dr. Holton shares her educational journey, which included healthcare policy lobbying even before she started medical school. She eventually became involved in leadership positions within the Maryland Patient Care and Access Coalition and the Large Urology Group Practice Association (LUGPA). The discussion then turns to challenges surrounding health policies, such as the persistent use of fee-for-service reimbursement guidelines despite the benefits of value-based care. Dr. Holton also highlights the critical issue of workforce shortages, particularly the need for urologists within rural areas and the impact of healthcare policy on patient access. She ends the episode by emphasizing the necessity for urologists to participate in policy advocacy efforts.

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SHOW NOTES

00:00 - Introduction

04:58 - The Impact and Complexities of Healthcare Policies

07:27 - Success Stories in Healthcare Policy Advocacy

12:37 - The Impact of Prior Authorization Rules

14:27 - The Role of Pharmacy Benefit Managers in Healthcare

21:18 - The Challenges of Value-Based Care

32:48 - The Importance of Patient Access in Healthcare

41:24 - The Importance of Advocacy in Health Policy

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RESOURCES

LUGPA website

https://www.lugpa.org/

Episode 82: Advocacy Basics for the Urologist: From Your Clinic to Capitol Hill with Dr. Ruchika Talwar

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0hcLrKuf5QU7TZCHSErs4Z?si=f4d06ffe6cff4cc4