Meet face-to-face with Lawmakers to Discuss Physician Payment, Children’s Vision and NEI Funding

WASHINGTON—More than 300 ophthalmologists met with members of Congress and their staffs last week during the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Congressional Advocacy Day. This annual event brings ophthalmologists from around the county to the nation’s capital to discuss issues that affect their patients and the profession.

A top priority this year includes the future of physician payment and fixing the flawed sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula, with a 10 percent cut projected for 2008. Last year, medicine fought to derail the 5 percent cut to medicine when ophthalmology faced an 8 percent cut. In an effort to provide efficient and quality services and preserve access to care, Eye M.D.s are asking Congress to reform the system or replace it with a permanent alternative.

“Fixing the SGR is critical because it impacts ophthalmology’s ability to treat Medicare patients,” said Michael X. Repka, Academy’s secretariat for Federal Affairs. “Without a solution, the aging American population will not continue to have access to high quality and cutting edge treatment including eye disease such as glaucoma, AMD and diabetic retinopathy.”

Ophthalmologists also discussed legislation that would expand the list of procedures that can be performed in Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs). The Ambulatory Surgery Centers Act of 2007 (H.R. 1823) reintroduced in the House earlier this month by Reps. Kendrick Meek, D-Fla., and Wally Herger, R-Calif., would reform the current regulatory framework, allowing surgeons to perform and ASCs to receive Medicare facility payment for any surgical service – except CMS would also be mandated to tie ASCs payments to that of hospital outpatient department (HOPD) rates at 75 percent, while saving money for Medicare program and beneficiary co-payments.

Eye M.D.s are still very involved in the fight for children’s eye care and are asking lawmakers to co-sponsor the Vision Care for Kids Act of 2007(H.R 507/S.1117 ), which provides federal funding in the form of state grants for eye examinations and treatment for uninsured children who have been identified as having a vision problem. The bill was introduced in the Senate last week by Senators Kit Bond, R-Mo., and Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., and introduced in the House earlier this year. Ophthalmologists also requested additional funding for the National Institutes of Health and the National Eye Institute for FY2008 for continued treatments and therapies to slow the progression of vision loss. Eye M.D.s encouraged members to support legislation that would increase funding for FY 2008 6.7 percent to $711 million. Increased funding allow for research opportunities and developments for diseases such as AMD and diabetic retinopathy.

As part of Congressional Advocacy Day, the Academy welcomed 74 residents and fellows who participated in its Advocacy Ambassador’s Program. This program, now in its fourth year, is a collaborative effort between the Academy, state societies, subspecialty societies and training programs to include members-in-training in Congressional Advocacy Day as well as in the Mid-Year Forum sessions and as special guests at the Council meeting. The California Academy of Ophthalmology received the Platinum Participation Award for sponsoring six residents.