UROPAC Members Meet with U.S.
Representatives
While Congress was home this
August for the summer district work period, urologists representing UROPAC took
the opportunity to meet with several federal legislators in a variety of
settings.
On August 22, Dr. Kevin J.
Barlog, AACU’s Northeastern Section Chair, attended a picnic fundraiser for
Rep. Brian Higgins (NY-26) who sits on the House Ways & Means Committee, a
committee with significant jurisdiction over health care policy and the
revenue-related aspects of Medicare.
Led by Dr. Donald Griffith, a
group of five urologists practicing at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in
Houston, met with Rep. Kevin Brady (TX-8), the lead Republican on the House
Ways & Means Committee. Dr. Griffith and his colleagues briefed the
congressman on Coordinated Community Care at the VA, the need for “pre-clinic”
standardized education and preparation, and new technologies that could reduce
or even prevent Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI).
Finally, UROPAC members had the
opportunity to meet one-on-one with two federal legislators who have
backgrounds in medicine. Dr. David Duchene discussed issues affecting the
practice of urology with Rep. Roger Marshall (KS-1), a former obstetrician, and
Dr. Jack M. Amie will meet with Rep. Buddy Carter (GA-1), the only pharmacist serving
in Congress and the current co-chair of the Community Pharmacy Caucus at the end of the month.
