Becoming a Urogyn Advocate: Advocacy Basics_OnDemand-Presentation Slides

Presentation Slides

Pdf Summary

The document "Becoming a Urogyn Advocate: Advocacy Basics," authored by Rachel Stauffer and Maddie News of McDermott, serves as a comprehensive guide for urogynecologists aiming to engage in advocacy to protect and advance their subspecialty. It outlines the current political landscape, key challenges, and actionable steps for advocacy involvement.<br /><br />Key political officials include HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, and NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, with focus areas on chronic disease management and healthcare deregulation impacting urogynecology. Congress, divided with slim Republican majorities in both chambers, plays a critical role in funding and legislation affecting Medicare physician payments and women's health research funding.<br /><br />Advocacy is emphasized as essential for educating policymakers on urogynecology’s importance, promoting research agendas, and fostering relationships with lawmakers and agency staff. Methods include Hill days (in-person or virtual), targeted outreach, meetings with agency officials, and public comments on policies.<br /><br />AUGS (American Urogynecologic Society) policy priorities focus on reforming the Medicare physician payment system, which has seen a 33% inflation-adjusted decline since 2001, causing financial strain for providers. Requests include establishing annual inflation-based updates and modernizing budget neutrality rules to prevent destabilizing cuts. Advocacy also seeks increased investment in the women’s health research workforce and dedicated funding for conditions affecting women across the lifespan, such as pelvic floor disorders (PFDs), which affect 25 million annually and cost over $12 billion per year.<br /><br />The document encourages members to engage through alerts, comment letters, NIH meetings, and fly-ins, with upcoming advocacy events planned for October 2025 and May 2026. It also invites members to join the AUGS UroGyn Advocacy Network to support the subspecialty’s goals.<br /><br />Overall, the guide underscores the critical role advocacy plays in shaping policies that sustain and grow urogynecologic care and research.

Keywords

Urogynecology advocacy

Medicare physician payment reform

Pelvic floor disorders

AUGS policy priorities

Healthcare deregulation

Women's health research funding

Chronic disease management

NIH funding for urogynecology

Legislative outreach strategies

UroGyn Advocacy Network