Chairs: Louise P. King

Faculty: Louise P. King, Asha B. McClurg, Vrunda Bhavsar Desai

Description: Structural discrimination is apparent in all gynecologic surgery reimbursement. Procedures performed on female bodies bill 28% less per procedure on average compared to male bodies. While many Urogyn and MIGS surgeons have training and volume matching or exceeding urologists, they are paid significantly less. Obstetrics is also underfunded yet still bills better than gynecology. Overall salaries for specialists in general obgyn make on average 100k more than those specialized in benign gynecologic surgery. MIGS surgeons, who routinely have higher volume and better outcomes than lower volume surgeons are penalized for focusing on surgery and achieving those better outcomes. Double discrimination exists such that both women physicians and patients benefit less from current reimbursement. Change is difficult to achieve as only 2% of CPT codes are reviewed annually. Surgeons can help achieve change by gaining knowledge about reimbursement and structural discrimination and learning how to utilize innovation to overcome system faults.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this course, the participant will be able to:

1. Objective Identify structural discrimination within reimbursement practices
2. Objective Understand and identify double discrimination in healthcare
3. Objective Recognize and utilize available tools and innovative strategies to advocate for and achieve equitable reimbursement

Course Outline

11:00 AM Welcome, Introduction and Course Overview

L. King

11:05 AM Structural Discrimination - Ethical Concerns, Legal Solutions

L. King

11:20 AM How to Maximize Billing and Create Equitable Change in Billing Structures with Innovation and Tech

A. McClurg

11:35 AM How Industry Can Partner With Us to Create Equity in Billing

V. Desai

11:50 AM Discussion Questions & Answers

11:00 AM Adjourn