Advocacy News

Congress has passed a partial government funding bill March 8 that includes policies to address cuts to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) that went into effect on Jan. 1.   

In separate letters to Senate leaders, a bipartisan group of senators and representatives are calling on a Medicare payment fix in any upcoming government funding legislation.

Military veterans’ eye care, physician payment reform, reducing practice burdens, ensuring patients’ timely access to needed treatments, and increasing member engagement will drive the Academy’s 2024 advocacy efforts on behalf of ophthalmology patients and practices.

A new round of floor speeches highlighted the bipartisan agreement among members of the House of Representatives that there is urgent need for Medicare payment relief.

Our Congressional champions urged their colleagues to provide short-term relief and long-term stability for the system. Join their call by using our advocacy tool to contact your members of Congress.

Hundreds of your colleagues have already told legislators to include payment relief in any bill that addresses the Jan. 19 government funding deadline. Add your voice and help protect patient access to care.

Committee action in the House and Senate this week focused on Medicare, with hearings on Academy priorities to improve patient access to care, including policies to reform prior authorization and update the Medicare physician payment system.

As policymakers look to drive new payment models, the Academy outlined how we believe the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services can make new payment models accessible to medical specialties like ophthalmology.

About 3,500 hospitals and 6,000 ambulatory surgical centers (ASC) that perform ophthalmic procedures would be affected by the proposed pay hike.  

HHS and MedPAC Reports Encourage Significant Changes to Part B Drug Payment The Academy is monitoring congressional reaction to these reports given that the recommendations would impact ophthalmologists.