About RPA

RPA...the Advocate for Excellence in Nephrology Practice

What is the Renal Physicians Association?
Organized in 1973, the RPA is a national medical specialty association with a membership comprised of healthcare providers in the subspecialty area of internal medicine known as nephrology. RPA’s members are engaged in diverse activities including the practice of medicine, teaching, research and all are committed to improving the care of patients with renal disease and related disorders.

RPA's purpose is to represent nephrologists, practice managers, advanced practice nurses and physician assistants in their pursuit and delivery of quality renal health care.

What Are RPA's Focus Areas?

Business Education & Resources
Gain access to tools, advice, meetings and workshops to improve your practice, including:

• Practice Management Center--providing FREE advice on business issues
• Discounts on RPA Books, Publications and Tools, including: Renal Physicians Guide to Nephrology Practice and Nephrology Benchmarking Survey
• CME & Networking Opportunities at RPA Annual Meeting
• Health Management Certificate
• Access to RPA's Legal Counsel
• Renal Fellows Workshop: Transition from Training Into Nephrology Practice
• Software Resource Inventory--providing FREE assistance in choosing office software packages

Coding & Billing Resources

RPA lends assistance and resources to resolve your coding and reimbursement problems with:

• Books, Publications and Tools: ICD-9 Coding Pamphlet; Nephrology CPT Reference Codes and Documentation Guidelines; Monthly Capitation Payment (MCP) Documentation Principles & Tool; Medical Director Documentation Template; Coding of Procedures in Interventional Nephrology
• Regional Seminars
• Toll-free number & email for quick access to information
• Rapid response to member inquiries through our Web Site FAQ

Public Policy Advocacy

RPA is recognized as the organization that represents nephrologists as we:

• Work closely with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) staff on regulatory policies affecting nephrology practice
• Represent the discipline of nephrology in the AMA House of Delegates and on AMA committees to obtain appropriate work values and CPT codes for nephrology services
• Develop relevant Position/White Papers spanning Clinical Practice, Health Care Payment, Physician Accountability, Quality Patient Care and Scope of Practice
• Provide regular updates on nephrology practice regulatory and legislative issues, including, but not limited to reimbursement, coverage, coding and practice management
• Influence local coverage policies through the Nephrology Coverage Advisory Panel (NCAP)
• Organize visits among RPA leaders and key legislators on Capitol Hill
• Provide an Online Legislative Grassroots Program
• Advocate for nephrology legislative priorities through RPA's Political Action Committee (RPA PAC)

Quality Patient Care

RPA is committed to ensuring quality care for patients with kidney disease through:

• ESRD Patient Safety Initiative
• Quality Improvement Tools
• Clinical Practice Guidelines
• Clinical Performance Measures

Liaisons and Coalitions
RPA leaders represent the subspecialty of nephrology as members of the House of Delegates of the AMA and the Council of Subspecialty Societies of the American College of Physicians. RPA actively participates with other nephrology organizations as a member of  Kidney Care Partners, the National Renal Coalition and of the Council of American Kidney Societies.

Professional Development
RPA sponsors an annual meeting that focuses on current health care issues that affect nephrology practice. During the meeting nephrologists and members of the renal care team participate in interactive workshops designed to provide attendees with the tools they need to be effective practitioners.

RPA conducts 2 workshops for renal fellows each year: one in conjunction with the RPA Annual Meeting and one in the Fall. The objective of this workshop is to help fellows get started in nephrology practice by covering the basics of solo and group, multispecialty and single specialty, and various settings including private practice, hospital or academic institution. The workshop further educates fellows on billing and coding procedures, finding jobs and using professional associations like the RPA as resources.

RPA sponsors educational sessions for nurse practitioners and physician assistants to enable them to maximize their roles as critical members of collaborative practice teams in the nephrologists' pratices.

RPA's billing and coding seminars provide continuing education to nephrologists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and practice managers.  Topics covered during these seminars that are held throughout the country include:

• compliance
• office-based electronic medical systems
• business benchmarking
• use of mid-level practitioners
• collaborative practice models
• billing/coding

In addition, RPA plans and presents seminars at meetings sponsored by the American Society of Nephrology, the National Kidney Foundation, and other regional nephrology organizations including the ESRD networks. Visit the RPA Web site at www.renalmd.org to view the nephrology calendar of events.

How is RPA Organized?
RPA members vote by mail ballot for 15 individuals who serve rotating three-year terms on the association's board of directors. RPA officers are elected by the board.

Regional leaders are located throughout the country and serve as resources to members on state and regional issues. RPA members are encouraged to volunteer to serve as leaders in their regions.

RPA members participate in working committees that meet face to face twice a year and via conference call several times a year to assess needs and develop policies and position papers on quality patient care, health care payment, workforce and scope of practice issues. Members may sign up for committee service by contacting RPA at rpa@renalmd.org or by going to http://www.renalmd.org/about/committees.cfm.

Who is Eligible for Membership?
Nephrologists who are licensed to practice medicine in the U.S., engaged in the treatment of patients with kidney disease, involved in research activities involving kidney disease, or involved in educational activities related to kidney disease, are eligible to apply for membership.

Renal fellows in training are eligible for associate membership which is free during their training. Once training has been completed, fellows are eligible to apply for active membership.

Nephrology practice managers, advanced practice nurses and physician assistants who are employed by nephrologists who are members of RPA are also eligible to join RPA.

Annual dues are established by the Board of Directors. Dues range from $0 to $375.00, depending on the membership category. Membership applications are available on the RPA web site http://www.renalmd.org/membership/index.cfm or by contacting RPA at rpa@renalmd.org or (301) 468-3515.

What is the Value of RPA Membership?

• Effective representation before the U.S. Congress and Administration on regulations/legislation important to renal physicians and their patients.
• Legislative Action through RPA’s portal on CapWiz that allows you to influence lawmakers on issues important to nephrology practice.
• Committees working on your behalf to develop position papers, documentation tools (free to members) and templates to assist nephrologists in delivering the highest quality renal care to patients.
• Current, cutting edge information via RPA News, our bimonthly newsletter. The RPA News provides information on issues affecting renal physicians, practices and RPA activities.
• Montly email updates with important news you need for your practice.
• Instant and easy access to over 2,000 experts (in the nephrology field) , legislative and regulatory updates, meeting registration, clinical practice opportunity advertisements, and more via the members only section of the RPA web site.
• Access to a toll-free 800 telephone number staffed by individuals who can answer questions and problems related to nephrologists' practices.
• Discounts of up to 40% on RPA publications and up to 65% discount on annual meeting registration fees; access to RPA Legal Counsel (fees apply).
• Practice Management Center that provides timely information to succeed in today’s health care environment. Guides to help improve practice efficiency, HIPAA compliance tools, practice management tools and personalized advice to help improve practice performance.
• Assistance to build your own practice web site. RPA has a personalized nephrology practice web site that you may use as your template.
• Coding seminars across the country to provide you with the latest information on billing, coding and documentation requirements for nephrology.
• Discounted subscription to Hypertension, Dialysis and Clinical Nephrology (HDCN), an electronic journal that provides up-to-date, selected information on renal disorders and their treatment, hypertension, dialysis and clinical nephrology topics. (20% savings off the regular price.)
• Mortgage financing for new home purchases.

If you are a nephrologist, practice manager, advanced practice nurse or physician assistant, you are invited to join today! Click here for a membership application.