Listen up! In this episode of the OBGYN Business Podcast, Dr. Nihira chats with urogynecologist Mitch Schuster about the importance of understanding how medical services are valued. As a member of the American Medical Association’s RUC (Relative Value Scale Update Committee), Dr. Schuster sheds light on the complexities of the healthcare system and the importance of understanding coding to capture the value of physicians’ work.
They emphasize the significance of physicians’ perspectives in decision-making around healthcare costs and innovation, particularly with CMS accounting for roughly 40% of all medical payments in the US.
If you want to know how doctors can negotiate for fair compensation and shape the future of healthcare, this podcast is a must-listen!
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Key highlights
- 00:00:46 – Introduction to Dr. Mitch Schuster
- 00:03:38 – What is RUC, and how is Mitch involved
- 00:07:30 – Explain the role of the RBRVS system and how it impacts physicians and patients
- 00:09:30 – Process of Valuation of a new procedure and what factors are considered in the evaluation and assessment process?
- 00:14:00 – Future of the RUC and its potential changes
- 00:16:40 – Advice for physicians on how to engage with the RUC and advocate for their specialty
- 00:17:45 – Valuation process for existing medical procedures, the role of surveys, and the impact on reimbursement rates!
Background of Dr. Mitch Schuster
Dr. Mitch Schuster is a distinguished obstetrician and gynecologist with an impressive record of service in his field. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and is board certified in his specialty. Dr. Schuster is also a Fellow of both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American College of Surgeons (ACS).
In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Schuster is actively involved in medical education and research. He serves as Chairman of the Coding Committee of the American Urogynecologic Society and as a Coding Committee and RUC practice expense advisor at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). He has also mentored and educated numerous medical students and residents in his specialty.
Dr. Schuster is interested in high-risk pregnancies, minimally invasive surgery, and urogynecology. His patients appreciate his compassionate and personalized approach to care and his dedication to their well-being. With his ongoing contributions to the field of OB-GYN, Dr. Schuster is highly respected by his peers in the medical community.
Dr. Mikio Nihira
Dr. Mikio Nihira is the Medical Director of SevenStar OB/GYN and a former Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of California at Riverside.
Dr. Nihira is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American College of Surgeons. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology as a subspecialist in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery. He is a member of the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons, the American Urogynecologic Society, and the National Association for Continence.
He has authored numerous scientific journal articles and textbook chapters in gynecology and urogynecology. He is a nationally recognized expert in female pelvic floor disorders and has been quoted in such publications as the Chicago Sun-Times, Dallas Morning News and Shape magazine.
He is passionate about improving patient care experiences through efforts such as Enhanced-Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) pathways. Critical to this effort is training physicians on how to minimize opioids to manage pain and identify and address substance abuse in patients.
Dr. Nihira is a highly respected and experienced physician, having been in practice for over two decades. His medical career began in 1994 when he graduated with a medical degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. He completed an obstetrics and gynecology residency at the University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center. To further specialize in the field, he finished an urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery fellowship at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center and the University of Maryland. A Southern California native, Dr. Nihira is dual-boarded in obstetrics/gynecology and female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Additionally, he serves on several national boards for his specialty and chairs UC Riverside’s institutional review board for research projects.
Dr. Nihira is a member of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American College of Surgeons. He is a Professor of OB/GYN in the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery at UC Riverside. He currently serves as an examiner for the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology as a subspecialty examiner for Urogynecologic surgeons.
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