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According to statistics provided by the AUA, 385 medical students and other applicants were matched across 148 urology residency training programs nationwide.

"Continuing certification is not merely a bureaucratic process; it is a commitment to staying abreast of advancements in urology and maintaining competencies," writes J. Stuart Wolf Jr, MD, FACS.

The investigators at DSUI developed 4 recommended actions for urologists based on the findings from the survey: drive multidisciplinary collaboration, leverage technology excellence, bridge patient-urologist perspectives, and foster collaboration with general practitioners.

"Creating a year-to-year plan can ensure you are staying on track to accomplish your short-term and long-term goals," writes Jeff Witz, CFP.

There are several new CPT codes for 2024, including Category III codes for tibial nerve stimulation and other changes to codes in the treatment of urinary incontinence.

"Without interoperability, electronic insurance billing would be nearly impossible. Insurance payers, healthcare providers and claim clearinghouses all rely on interoperability at their core," writes Lisa Taylor.

"Specialty providers can take three steps now to succeed with MIPS while prioritizing caring for their patients," writes Wayne Singer.

"The mental toll of excessive screen time is a pressing concern in health care," writes Neil Baum, MD.

"The future of quality measurement is multiple different inputs to give us the best picture possible of the care we provide," says Timothy D. Lyon, MD, FACS.

"All participants in the process must recognize that telehealth is a resource for rendering health care and not a different type of practicing medicine," writes Richard Cahill, JD.

"Based on the definitions from the ASA and coverage rules for Medicare, the use of nitrous oxide for urology procedures is a noncovered service," write Jonathan Rubenstein, MD, and Mark Painter.

As 2023 comes to a close, we revisit some of this year’s top content on coding in urology.

Expert advice for physicians seeking new coverage.

“Physician recipients of peer support reported improved well-being, decreased negative emotions and stigma, and perceived positive cultural changes within their departments,” the authors wrote.

The median number of harms criteria reported in RCTs in urology increased from 5.3 in 2012 to 7.2 in 2020.

The survey highlights the challenges and opportunities physicians encounter in hospital- and corporate-owned settings.

Leading West Michigan practice now affiliated with nation’s largest urological healthcare management company

"The conversion factor is slated to undergo a reduction of approximately 3.37% for 2024, decreasing from $33.89 in 2023 to $32.74," write Jonathan Rubenstein, MD, and Mark Painter.

Technology may save health care professionals’ time and help reduce burnout.

"As more patients become interested in remote patient monitoring and case studies continue to show improved patient outcomes, practices must seek ways to integrate these tools into their workflows," writes Lucienne Marie Ide, MD, PhD.

Although traditional payment and communication methods remain relevant, the survey highlights a paradigm shift in patients' billing expectations overall.

"The end of the year presents a good opportunity to regroup, close out 2023 in the strongest position possible, and ready yourself for 2024," writes Jeff Witz, CFP.

AI scribe solutions are one of the easiest technologies to deploy into existing workflows, writes Vadim Khazan.

“As private equity firms increasingly engage in urology, key stakeholders, including policymakers and urologists, need to ensure that the quality of care is not compromised with the structural changes implemented after acquisition," write the authors.

"Many of the new codes are CPT Category III codes, which will require additional research for both coverage and payment rates, especially with private payers," write Jonathan Rubenstein, MD, and Mark Painter.

Patients fear their personal data could be compromised, with 63% concerned increasing use of artificial intelligence will put their health information at risk.

Artificial intelligence can help curate, decipher, and contextualize the enormous and growing amount of digital data that now comprises a patient’s electronic health record, writes Nele Jessel, MD.

In this installment, Christopher E. Ramsey, MD, FACS, and Rachel Vann, MSN, RN, NP-C, highlight Tennessee Urology, an affiliate of United Urology Group.

"Make the proper beneficiary designation adjustments when warranted and review these annually with your adviser to ensure they remain up-to-date and make financial sense given your current situation," writes Jeff Witz, CFP.