Advocacy News

The Academy submitted comments to regional Medicare contractors last week defending coverage of MIGS, cataract surgery, and botulinum toxin injections.  

Eligible clinicians can preview their 2023 Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) final performance scores now that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has opened them for review. Final scores determine clinicians’ 2025 payment adjustments.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a final rule which includes a significant penalty on Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) for providers found to knowingly commit information blocking.

Academy member physicians presented coverage recommendations this week to medical directors for the CGS, NGS, and Palmetto Medicare jurisdictions for both minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) and medical botulinum toxin injections.

Blurb: Regional Medicare contractor WPS released a new draft policy for cataract procedure alongside last week’s proposals for MIGS coverage. The Academy is working with ASCRS to ensure that ophthalmologists’ perspective is reflected in the final policy.

Regional Medicare administrators CGS, NGS, Noridian, Palmetto, and WPS today proposed new MIGS coverage policies, which build upon last year’s intense advocacy campaign for patient access The Academy is working with AGS, ASCRS, and OOSS to ensure that Ophthalmology’s perspective is reflected in the final policies.

Regional Medicare administrators CGS, NGS, Noridian, Palmetto, and WPS today proposed new coverage policies for medical Botox injections, including injections for treatment of blepharospasm, strabismus, and hemifacial spasm. We are deeply concerned about the proposal to put impractical dosing guidelines on treating blepharospasm with Botox. The Academy is working with ASOPRS and NANOS to ensure patient access to medically necessary treatments.

The Academy’s clinical data registry again helped our profession deliver quality care and avoid payment penalties.

Practices facing difficulties meeting MIPS program requirements due to circumstances outside of their control, such as the Change Healthcare cyberattack, can now apply for a hardship exception for 2024.

Hundreds of ophthalmologists met with members of Congress and their staff last week to build and strengthen the relationships crucial to the Academy’s advocacy efforts, while introducing a new generation of eye surgeons to the important work of engaging on behalf of their patients and profession.