16 | EYEWORLD | WINTER 2026
ASCRS NEWS
GOVERNMENT RETIONS UPDATE
A message from Government Relations
Committee Chair Susanne Hewitt, MD
A
dvocacy for our
patients, practices,
and the profession
of ophthalmology
is a cornerstone of
ASCRS. Your ASCRS Govern-
ment Relations Committee is
involved in advocacy activities
year-round. For example, we participate in the
Alliance of Specialty Medicine Legislative Fly-In
each July where physicians from many different
specialties travel to Washington, D.C., to meet
with their representatives and senators and
advocate for different pieces of legislation that
affect ophthalmology patients and practices.
This year, there were important conversations
regarding improvement of Medicare physician
payment, as well as reducing the burden on
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practices due to prior authorization. The Im-
proving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act was
advanced out of committee while ASCRS mem-
bers were there advocating for its passage. This
is a huge step toward this bill finally becoming
law and reducing administrative burdens on
practices.
In addition to the Fly-In, ASCRS Govern-
ment Relations Committee members are active
at policy-making events, such as the AMA House
of Delegates and the RUC and CPT meetings
that make recommendations to CMS regarding
physician payment. We are there to advocate for
what is best for patients and to help maintain
quality care by compensating physicians fairly.
In September, ASCRS submitted comments
on the 2027 Proposed Rules by CMS regarding
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