Eyeworld

28 | EYEWORLD | JULY 2021 Building a relationship on Capitol Hill and with the medical community While ASCRS is now very involved on Capitol Hill, Ms. McCann said there was virtually no consistent presence when she started. The orga- nization didn't regularly lobby or participate in the regulatory process, and it wasn't involved in any coalitions. But as Ms. McCann began to develop relationships on the Hill and within the med- ical community, including with the American Academy of Ophthalmology, this involvement grew. Ms. McCann began regularly going to Capitol Hill, became familiar with key members of Congress and staff, and brought important in- formation about the society and ophthalmology, in particular cataract surgery, to their attention. "There was a misconception that it was a quick and easy procedure," Ms. McCann said. It was important to explain the complexities of the procedure and even demonstrate cases in the OR where Hill staff could get an appreciation of the difficulty of the surgery as well as the equip- ment and supplies that were necessary. This was at the same time the resource-based relative value scale was implemented, and surgical reimbursement was slated to go down. In 1993, Bill Clinton was president, and healthcare reform was a major issue. The majority of physicians were not involved in the political process at that time. "I think they got a wakeup call, and I saw a real difference in physicians understanding the need to be more involved in the political process," she said. Over time, more physicians began to run for Congress, Ms. McCann said. Now there's a Doctors Caucus in the House, she said, adding there is one ophthalmologist in the Senate, Rand Paul, MD, (R-KY), and there have been several ophthalmologists serving in the House, currently Mariannette Miller-Meeks, MD (R-IA). Ms. McCann developed an ASCRS grass- roots program and members became involved. eyePAC, the first PAC in ophthalmology, had already been established by ASCRS, but Ms. McCann and her team made sure that focused contributions were made to key congressional ASCRS NEWS ASCRS Director of Government Relations looks back on nearly 30-year career N ancey McCann served as ASCRS director of Government Relations for 28 years. After retiring from the role at the end of March, Ms. McCann remains a consultant for ASCRS, working on several key initiatives. Ms. McCann reflected on some of the major issues ophthalmology and ASCRS faced during her career serving the society and how ASCRS came to have a seat at the table in legislative and regulatory matters. Prior to ASCRS, Ms. McCann worked at sev- eral trade associations, always in a government relations capacity. In 1993, ASCRS created a new position, director of Government Relations. "The feeling of the leadership at the time was that they needed a dedicated person to represent anterior segment surgeons," she said, noting that the society had a Government Relations Committee when she came on board. Through the years, she's worked with many chairs of this committee, including Jack Dodick, MD, John Hunkeler, MD, Paul Arnold, MD, Priscilla Arnold, MD, Brock Bakewell, MD, and Parag Parekh, MD. Ms. McCann with Sen. Rand Paul Source: Nancey McCann

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