The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) was honored to participate recently in the third annual Nephrology Business Leadership University 2018 in Dallas, TX, at the headquarters of U.S. Renal Care (USRC) and hosted by USRC, the Dallas Renal Group, and UC San Diego. The NBLU unique weeklong program for second year nephrology fellows allows them to drill down with a diverse faculty of practicing nephrologists from private practices and academia, hospital and dialysis executives, and other professionals who will share their insights on leadership, the business of nephrology, and the evolving healthcare landscape.

ASN specialists from the ASN Policy and Public Affairs Department engaged the nephrology fellows in a session on “Public Policy for the Next Generation Nephrologist” and throughout the week. ASN presenters were Zachary Kribs, Government Affairs Specialist, and David White, Policy and Advocacy Specialist. The “Public Policy” session focused on developments on both Capitol Hill and regulatory proposals by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Systems (CMS). In particular, fellows wanted to know how to become active, participate in congressional outreach, and to voice concerns regarding pending proposed revisions to the Evaluation and Management (E/M) codes. ASN is currently completing its comments on E/M coding now.

“The goal of NBLU is to provide a place for fellows from across the country to come together in an intimate setting to learn the economics of healthcare and  acquire the skills to be strong leaders,” said Louise Jacobson, Senior Director Physician Relations at USRC, and one of the organizers of NBLU.  

Jacobson described the approach of the program as “by utilizing unique, interactive teaching methods, industry leaders immerse the fellows in marketing, alternative roles in nephrology, value based care, policy and advocacy, billing & coding, social media, and much more.  Fellows leave better prepared to find the right career path with the tools they need to get there.”