Eyeworld

by Tami O'Brien ASCRS Manager of PAC and Grassroots Members who are interested in attending next year or getting involved in grassroots advocacy efforts should contact Tami O'Brien, ASCRS manager of PAC and grassroots, at tobrien@ascrs.org or 703-591-2220. Nick Mamalis, MD The Fly-In is a great example of ASCRS advo- cacy efforts for its members. It is critical that our voices be heard in Washington regarding issues important to our specialty. Members of Congress from both parties spoke to attendees during the conference, and more importantly, they answered our questions. We then met with our individual representatives and senators and their healthcare staffers to discuss issues important to ophthalmology, such as preserva- tion of a fee-for-service option and relief from prior authorization. These meetings are critical to advocate for our profession. I n July, more than 40 ASCRS and ASOA members representing 25 states attended the 2019 Alliance of Specialty Medicine Legislative Fly-In and directly engaged in one of the three pillars of the ASCRS mission: advocacy. The annual conference brings together 15 national medical special- ty societies that make up the Alliance to Wash- ington, D.C., to lobby for key policy priorities. Attendees meet with their senators and repre- sentatives on Capitol Hill to outline important issues and ask them to take action. This year's Fly-In included five ASCRS residents who attended via the fourth annual ASCRS Young Eye Surgeons (YES) Legisla- tive Fly-In Scholarship Program, designed to enhance residents' understanding of issues af- fecting ophthalmology and provide networking opportunities with established ASCRS mem- bers, including leadership. Attendees included ASCRS President Nick Mamalis, MD, ASCRS Vice President/President-Elect Terry Kim, MD, and ASOA President-Elect Deborah Davis, COE. This year's lobbying priorities included urging Congress to maintain a viable fee-for- service option in Medicare Part B; extending positive physician payment updates to the Medicare physician payment conversion factor, as well as 5% bonus payments for participation in advanced APMs; improving the Quality Pay- ment Program to ensure opportunities and ad- equate incentives for specialists; and addressing various barriers to specialty care, including prior authorization and step therapy. During meetings with legislators and their aides, Fly-In attendees outlined these issues and shared personal anec- dotes to illustrate how healthcare policy affects their practices and patients. Fly-In attendees also heard from an impres- sive line-up of speakers, including Reps. Raul Ruiz, MD (D-CA), Ami Bera, MD (D-CA), Lauren Underwood, MSN, (D-IL), John Joyce, MD (R-PA), Mark Green, MD (R-TN), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Sens. Rand Paul, MD (R-KY), and Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA), and Chris Wallace, award-winning journalist and host of Fox News Sunday. Legislative Fly-In participants weigh in on the importance of advocacy From left: Dr. Mamalis, Sen. Rand Paul, MD (R-KY), and ASCRS Government Relations Committee Chair Parag Parekh, MD continued on page 16 SEPTEMBER 2019 | EYEWORLD | 15 For more pictures from the 2019 Alliance of Specialty Medicine Legislative Fly-In, be sure to check out EyeWorld on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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