SGS PRESIDENT'S CORNER

The decision by CMS to accept the recommendation by the National Correct Coding Initiative to bundle vaginal hysterectomy with pelvic reconstruction codes is by now not news to the SGS membership. SGS is actively working with AUGS and the other sister organizations to address this issue with CMS. We hope this effort will prove fruitful.

It is difficult not to be upset by this development. However, as we watch the process go forward, it is important to keep in mind why we do what we do – to strive to ensure that our patients receive the best care possible, to optimize the training of our residents and fellows so that they can continue this heritage, and to strive for continuing improvement of female pelvic surgery through quality research and advanced teaching methodology. Obviously, achieving these objectives is made more difficult because of reduced revenue and the consequent pressure to be “more productive”. As we are all aware, the practice of medicine is under pressure. Our response cannot be to bury our heads in the sand and hope it will blow over, but to look for innovative measures that will allow us to cope with this changing environment, while continuing to give the best care possible to our patients. This must continue to be our primary mission.