Eyeworld

18 | EYEWORLD | SUMMER 2024 ASCRS NEWS GOVERNMENT RETIONS UPDATE by Parag Parekh, MD, MPA ASCRS Government Relations Committee Chair ASCRS has always been able to "punch above its weight" in terms of its ability to influ- ence policy and shape the debate. This is due to the sharp focus on those issues that impact anterior segment surgery and our members' practices. Utilizing our full-time professional government relations staff as well as mobiliz- ing our members to reach out to their legisla- tors through grassroots efforts, we ensure the decision makers in Washington understand the consequences for physicians and patients of their proposals. At the 2024 ASCRS Annual Meeting, the Government Relations Symposium featured a presentation by longtime political observer and campaign expert Charlie Cook highlighting the importance of advocacy and political involve- ment for ASCRS members. Mr. Cook pointed out that Congress can make doctors' lives easier or more difficult, so it's important to pay attention to what they are doing. ASCRS, advocacy, and you: shaping healthcare policy I n 2023 into early 2024, glaucoma surgeons were facing a potentially disastrous reim- bursement situation when five Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) pro- posed and finalized limiting coverage of several MIGS procedures in their Local Cover- age Determinations (LCDs). These LCDs would have gone into effect at the end of January, but because of extensive advocacy efforts from ASCRS, working with the American Glaucoma Society (AGS) and the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), the LCDs were retired, and it was announced that there would be no change in the coverage for now. This is just one example of the government relations activities ASCRS undertakes on behalf of its members. ASCRS government relations staff, along with 24 ASCRS members who serve on the Government Relations Committee, monitor legislative and regulatory actions in Washington, D.C., and craft the ASCRS response when issues impacting the practice of medicine arise. these people, and they are some of the most in need." Just this spring, Dr. Kao saw a patient on Medi-Cal who had white cataracts in both eyes. For Dr. Kao, being recognized as the 2024 Operation Sight Volunteer of the Year was meaningful because he is looking for any platform to spotlight these patients. He added that his area is a huge exporter of agriculture products, and many of his patients are farm workers who are underinsured or uninsured. If they can't work, they can't provide for their families, and many of these patients live under the poverty line, he said. "For us to be able to provide a program like Operation Sight to help these patients and help our local economy, being able to spotlight these patients is what's meaningful to me." Dr. Kao said he thinks Operation Sight is a great, centralized program where it's easy to apply, and they help with the logistical issues. "I think we all have that desire to help peo- ple. I think that's why most of us went into med- icine," Dr. Kao said. "Operation Sight provides the way for us to do that easily. Operation Sight does a lot of legwork that might be a barrier to volunteering." They find the patients and match them with the surgeons, so the surgeons can use their expertise to do the actual cataract surgery. For those surgeons looking to get involved with Operation Sight, Dr. Kao said to "just get started." Go to the website and learn more about the program. It's easy to sign up as a vol- unteer and talk to the Operation Sight Program Manager. They make it easy for us to volunteer as surgeons, he said. Dr. Kao will continue his involvement in Operation Sight and humanitarian eyecare as he takes on a new role as Operation Sight's Medical Liaison. As Medical Liaison, Dr. Kao will share ideas, collaborate with other surgeons, and help spread the word to physicians and the industry about its value. continued from page 16

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