madman
Super Moderator
* “The bladder is a solitary organ we cannot transplant. Protecting it should be a national priority. If 1 in 3 men will suffer bladder consequences by age 65, bladder health screening is not optional. It is a public health responsibility,” Kuang says.
* Although the medical community has made significant strides in screening for other male health conditions, bladder disease resulting from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) remains a looming public health crisis that is systematically neglected.
* By age 65, one-third of the male population will suffer from moderate-to-severe consequences of BPH, including urgency, incontinence, emergency retention, or irreversible bladder failure. Without a pivot in policy, these men face a future of lifelong catheterization—a clinical failure that is often preventable with early intervention.
Kuang and the AACU assert that although the clinical dialogue should begin between the ages of 45 and 60, dialogue alone cannot solve the crisis without the infrastructure to support it.
The American Association of Clinical Urology (AACU), in a strategic partnership with Wayne Kuang, MD, and the Man vs Prostate initiative, is calling for immediate national action to address what we have termed the "silent epidemic" of male bladder health. Although the medical community has made significant strides in screening for other male health conditions, bladder disease resulting from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) remains a looming public health crisis that is systematically neglected.
The statistics regarding male health reveal a stark and dangerous disparity in how we prioritize screening and awareness, as follows:
• Colon cancer: Affects 1 in 23 men and has high screening awareness.
• Prostate cancer: Affects 1 in 8 men with similarly robust national screening initiatives.
• BPH symptoms: Affect 1 in 3 men, yet screening awareness remains minimal.
By age 65, one-third of the male population will suffer from moderate-to-severe consequences of BPH, including urgency, incontinence, emergency retention, or irreversible bladder failure. Without a pivot in policy, these men face a future of lifelong catheterization—a clinical failure that is often preventable with early intervention.
Kuang and the AACU assert that although the clinical dialogue should begin between the ages of 45 and 60, dialogue alone cannot solve the crisis without the infrastructure to support it. Currently, over 60% of US counties lack a practicing urologist, creating massive "urology deserts" where early screening is nearly impossible.
This lack of access is compounded by a reimbursement system that incentivizes the management of failure rather than the preservation of health. We must move beyond simply reacting to emergency retention and instead establish pathways that reward early detection.
“The bladder is a solitary organ we cannot transplant. Protecting it should be a national priority. If 1 in 3 men will suffer bladder consequences by age 65, bladder health screening is not optional. It is a public health responsibility,” Kuang says.
The AACU and Man vs Prostate are calling upon Congress and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to recognize bladder health as a major public health priority. Our joint policy stance urges CMS to engage with the urologic community to modernize coding structures and establish reimbursement pathways that incentivize early screenings.
“What Dr Kuang is doing is helping to break the glass on the silence that has led to too many catheter-dependent dads and grandads,” says Mark Jackson, MD, president of the AACU. “The AACU has been helping urologists ensure that their patients’ rights are voiced to policy makers since 1968. We are excited and able to stand up for bladder health.”
Both the AACU and Man vs Prostate are highly encouraged by the introduction of congressional legislation such as HR 7602, titled the State of Men’s Health Act. Sponsored by Representative Troy Carter (D-LA) and Representative Greg Murphy, MD (R-NC), this bill proposes several positive changes, as follows:
• Establishes an Office of Men's Health: It directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create a dedicated office to coordinate and promote programs focused on men's health concerns.
• Mandates a national study: The bill requires the secretary of HHS to conduct a comprehensive study and report to Congress on the current state of men's health, including mortality rates, the prevalence of chronic diseases (such as prostate cancer and diabetes), and mental health issues.
• Coordinates federal efforts: It aims to streamline existing federal programs and public awareness campaigns to better address the unique health risks and shorter average life expectancy faced by men.
By fostering federal oversight and targeted research, this legislation ensures that urologic conditions and men's wellness receive the national prioritization and resources necessary to improve patient outcomes.
We can use this as a tool to help create initiatives around bladder health within this new office and simultaneously advocate for both stabilizing the physician fee schedule and mitigating Medicare cuts. By doing this, Congress can help ensure that urology practices remain viable enough to provide the "infrastructure" necessary to screen the 1-in-3 men currently at risk.
We must bring bladder health into parity with other major health initiatives—clinically, financially, and legislatively. The time to stop reimbursing failure and start investing in the health of the American bladder is now.
* Although the medical community has made significant strides in screening for other male health conditions, bladder disease resulting from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) remains a looming public health crisis that is systematically neglected.
* By age 65, one-third of the male population will suffer from moderate-to-severe consequences of BPH, including urgency, incontinence, emergency retention, or irreversible bladder failure. Without a pivot in policy, these men face a future of lifelong catheterization—a clinical failure that is often preventable with early intervention.
Kuang and the AACU assert that although the clinical dialogue should begin between the ages of 45 and 60, dialogue alone cannot solve the crisis without the infrastructure to support it.
The American Association of Clinical Urology (AACU), in a strategic partnership with Wayne Kuang, MD, and the Man vs Prostate initiative, is calling for immediate national action to address what we have termed the "silent epidemic" of male bladder health. Although the medical community has made significant strides in screening for other male health conditions, bladder disease resulting from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) remains a looming public health crisis that is systematically neglected.
A disparity in awareness
The statistics regarding male health reveal a stark and dangerous disparity in how we prioritize screening and awareness, as follows:
• Colon cancer: Affects 1 in 23 men and has high screening awareness.
• Prostate cancer: Affects 1 in 8 men with similarly robust national screening initiatives.
• BPH symptoms: Affect 1 in 3 men, yet screening awareness remains minimal.
By age 65, one-third of the male population will suffer from moderate-to-severe consequences of BPH, including urgency, incontinence, emergency retention, or irreversible bladder failure. Without a pivot in policy, these men face a future of lifelong catheterization—a clinical failure that is often preventable with early intervention.
Infrastructure over intellect
Kuang and the AACU assert that although the clinical dialogue should begin between the ages of 45 and 60, dialogue alone cannot solve the crisis without the infrastructure to support it. Currently, over 60% of US counties lack a practicing urologist, creating massive "urology deserts" where early screening is nearly impossible.
This lack of access is compounded by a reimbursement system that incentivizes the management of failure rather than the preservation of health. We must move beyond simply reacting to emergency retention and instead establish pathways that reward early detection.
“The bladder is a solitary organ we cannot transplant. Protecting it should be a national priority. If 1 in 3 men will suffer bladder consequences by age 65, bladder health screening is not optional. It is a public health responsibility,” Kuang says.
A call for legislative parity
The AACU and Man vs Prostate are calling upon Congress and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to recognize bladder health as a major public health priority. Our joint policy stance urges CMS to engage with the urologic community to modernize coding structures and establish reimbursement pathways that incentivize early screenings.
“What Dr Kuang is doing is helping to break the glass on the silence that has led to too many catheter-dependent dads and grandads,” says Mark Jackson, MD, president of the AACU. “The AACU has been helping urologists ensure that their patients’ rights are voiced to policy makers since 1968. We are excited and able to stand up for bladder health.”
Both the AACU and Man vs Prostate are highly encouraged by the introduction of congressional legislation such as HR 7602, titled the State of Men’s Health Act. Sponsored by Representative Troy Carter (D-LA) and Representative Greg Murphy, MD (R-NC), this bill proposes several positive changes, as follows:
• Establishes an Office of Men's Health: It directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create a dedicated office to coordinate and promote programs focused on men's health concerns.
• Mandates a national study: The bill requires the secretary of HHS to conduct a comprehensive study and report to Congress on the current state of men's health, including mortality rates, the prevalence of chronic diseases (such as prostate cancer and diabetes), and mental health issues.
• Coordinates federal efforts: It aims to streamline existing federal programs and public awareness campaigns to better address the unique health risks and shorter average life expectancy faced by men.
By fostering federal oversight and targeted research, this legislation ensures that urologic conditions and men's wellness receive the national prioritization and resources necessary to improve patient outcomes.
We can use this as a tool to help create initiatives around bladder health within this new office and simultaneously advocate for both stabilizing the physician fee schedule and mitigating Medicare cuts. By doing this, Congress can help ensure that urology practices remain viable enough to provide the "infrastructure" necessary to screen the 1-in-3 men currently at risk.
We must bring bladder health into parity with other major health initiatives—clinically, financially, and legislatively. The time to stop reimbursing failure and start investing in the health of the American bladder is now.
