Eyeworld

ASCRS NEWS self, there's a feeling that "someone else will take care of it." Once my wife and I became "empty nesters," I started attending the Fly-In and quickly realized how, in many ways, having a group that advocates for concerns specific to ASCRS members is probably the most import- ant benefit of my ASCRS membership. For those who participate in ASCRS' legislative en- deavors, the support and training you receive to lobby on behalf of anterior segment surgeons on Capitol Hill is incredible. For those who do not participate, the advocacy ASCRS continu- ally does on your behalf alone is worth two to three times the cost of a yearly membership. When you combine this with the other bene- fits, it's clear that membership in ASCRS is the best thing that all practicing anterior segment surgeons can do to ensure the ongoing success of their practice. Don Serafano, MD This was my fourth Fly-In, and every year, I become more comfortable with the agenda and how to navigate the territory. It is important to meet with our senators and representatives to ensure proper patient care options remain available to all patients and preserve a fee-for-service option along with alternative payment models. Our experience as doctors can help ensure that government interventions do not lead to unintended con- sequences. We can help educate our members of Congress. They need and want us to inform Richard Tipperman, MD I've been a proud member of ASCRS for more than 25 years, and I never realized how valuable the advocacy portion and the Fly-In are for ASCRS members. I always knew about the Fly-In, but for reasons many are familiar with— family, time away from work—I didn't partici- pate. I think everyone realizes that with all the changes occurring in healthcare, being involved in advocacy is critical, but for many, like my- continued from page 15 From left: Dr. Serafano, Chris Wallace, journalist and host of Fox News Sunday, and ASCRS Government Relations Committee member Ken Rosenthal, MD From left: Dr. Tipperman, Dr. Mamalis, two MDs from other specialties, Government Relations Committee Chair Parag Parekh, MD, and ASCRS member Bennett Chotiner, MD 16 | EYEWORLD | SEPTEMBER 2019

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