Ep. 154 Navigating Healthcare Reform: Lessons from Urology Advocacy with Dr. Mara Holton

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. --- 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 --- 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