Eyeworld

1990s–2000s SUPPLEMENT TO EYEWORLD | 37 When Ms. McCann began the ASCRS Government Relations department, it was a solo effort for several years. Initially, she had the lobbying firm as a resource but dismissed them early on. e first staff person she hired was a manager for the political action committee, eyePAC. eyePAC was the first ophthalmic PAC, started as a voluntary, nonpartisan political action committee representing the needs of ophthalmic surgeons by sup- porting candidates for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives who fight for the issues important to ophthalmologists and their patients. Later, Ms. McCann recognized the need for additional help on regulatory is- sues and hired staff to cover the FDA, CMS, CPT, and the RUC. ASCRS' advocacy efforts have expanded beyond cat- aract surgery to all anterior segment surgery and other procedures, including RUC reviews and revaluations targeting glaucoma and retina codes. Several years ago, aer not accepting the RUC recommended values, which ASCRS and the ophthalmic community sup- ported, CMS proposed and implemented huge cuts to these codes. anks to ASCRS advocacy and working with Congress in conjunction with the ophthalmic community, Ms. McCann said the original RUC recom- mendations for these codes were reinstated retroactively. is was a huge win and a collaborative effort with the AAO, the American Glaucoma Society, and Congress. "I always like to say we punch above our weight in ad- vocacy. … We're the only organization representing the ophthalmic surgeon … especially the cataract surgeon," Dr. Lindstrom said. "But now we've been very engaged in helping the glaucoma surgeon as well as the struggle with reimbursement in the MIGS field, and we've really stepped up to the plate," Dr. Lindstrom said. e ASCRS Government Relations department has also championed a legislative fly-in for ASCRS mem- bers with the Alliance of Specialty Medicine, a coalition of 16 medical specialty societies of which ASCRS is a founding member. "Typically, ASCRS has more par- ticipants than any other members in the alliance," Ms. McCann said, explaining that it's an opportunity to meet with and talk about key issues impacting specialty care with members of Congress and regulators. Over the years, Ms. McCann has seen more physicians get involved in advocating their needs to lawmakers but also get involved directly. "When I first started, there were hardly any physicians in Congress," Ms. McCann said. Now, there are many physicians, nurses, and providers serving in Congress, and there is also a House Doc Caucus. "It's important to get that physician perspective, and the physicians in Congress have been helpful on a myriad of health- care-related issues, including all the years we face cuts; they intervene on a bipartisan [basis]," she said. Attendees at the annual eyePAC reception during the ASCRS Annual Meeting through the years. Source: ASCRS

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