United Spinal Launches Urology Coalition: Increasing Access to Vital Medical Technology and Supplies for People with Disabilities

. @UnitedSpinal forms Urology Coalition to increase access to vital Med Tech & Supplies for People w/ # Disabilities

NEW YORK, March 5, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- United Spinal Association today announced the formation of the Urology Coalition to help achieve high quality healthcare for people with disabilities that will lead to improved health outcomes and increased independence.

The Urology Coalition mission is to counter restricted consumer access to medical supplies under Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance.

The coalition will consist of urological medical technology suppliers and manufacturers, as well as consumer and disability advocates, clinician and physician groups.

The coalition is concerned about the negative impact on people with disabilities' access to medically necessary products and supplies that are currently included in the Competitive Bidding Program and future expansion of the program to prosthetic supplies categories such as urologicals.

Therefore, it will also closely monitor the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program, and lobby against expansion of the program to include urological supplies.

The Urology Coalition will act on health policy matters that:

• Are in the best interests of high quality healthcare that maximize function and independent living for people with disabilities
• Provide people with disabilities with their choice of, and access to, the prescribed and medically appropriate urological medical technology and supplies
• Ensure appropriate coding, coverage and payment.

Working closely with consumer and disability advocates, providers and manufacturers of continence care products and the physician and clinical communities, the coalition has agreed to work within the regulatory and/or legislative framework to address coverage, coding and payment policy changes as they relate to urological medical technology and supplies, medical documentation improvements and standards of care.

In order to develop a set of principles about urological medical technology and supplies that can provide consumers with disabilities with their choice of and access to the medically appropriate urological medical technology and supplies, the coalition will promote reform in the following areas:

• Expansion of coverage for urological medical technology and supplies
• Expansion of the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code set to provide more granular HCPCS coding descriptions of specific urological medical technology and supplies
• Measurement of clinical and financial outcomes resulting from the use of prescribed urological medical technology and supplies versus the clinical and financial impact of non-use
• Reasonable reimbursement by payers for urological medical technology and supplies and related services

Some of the Urology Coalition's objectives for 2014 include:

• Create a clinical consensus statement on the issues of self-management protocols and improved documentation and standards of care
• Craft an issue paper and education materials for use on Capitol Hill and with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services by coalition members and consumer and disability advocates
• Develop an educational campaign for the consumer and disability, clinician and physician communities through webinar presentations, articles posted in medical trade and consumer publications as well as national and local media

Urology Coalition Members

Manufacturers/Providers
ABC Home Medical
Adapta Medical
CR Bard
Coloplast
Convatec
Cure Medical 
Hollister
McKesson
Teleflex Medical
UroMed
Wellspect Healthcare

Consumer Groups
Simon Foundation for Continence
United Spinal Association

About United Spinal Association
United Spinal is a national 501(c) (3) nonprofit membership organization formed in 1946 by paralyzed veterans and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all Americans with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D), including multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, ALS and post-polio. It played a significant role in writing the Americans with Disabilities Act, and made important contributions to the Fair Housing Amendments Act and the Air Carrier Access Act. Membership is free and is open to all individuals with SCI/D. United Spinal was instrumental in getting New York City to create sidewalk curb ramps and accessible public transportation that has been used as a model for many United States cities.

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link.
Alexandra Bennewith, MPA
http://www.profnetconnect.com/Alexandra_BennewithMPA

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Media contact:
Ahvi Spindell                                                                  
Media Relations Services
United Spinal Association                                              
(212) 580-4567                                                                   
[email protected]
Twitter @ahvispin

SOURCE United Spinal Association