Newly elected AUA President Sushil S. Lacy, MD, discusses the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead

Q What are the main issues or concerns that you see as important to the AUA and its membership over the next year?

A As you know, today's health care climate is nothing like it was in the past, and physicians in all specialties are facing significant challenges: prohibitive regulations, declining reimbursements, dwindling research dollars, and changes in education and certification. These are all very important issues facing not just urologists, but all physicians.

A This law is not in favor of urologists practicing good medicine. It defeats access to integrated care, which essentially provides patients with a "one-stop shop" for their medical care. I think the law that went into effect in Maryland, as well as similar laws being considered in Oregon and Florida, which would prohibit practices from referring a patient for imaging services to another physician in his or her group practice, need to be stopped.