EyeWorld is the official news magazine of the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.
Issue link: https://digital.eyeworld.org/i/831102
UPDATE 13 that involvement in the political process is important to the future of their profession and their patients. Like other eyeContacts, they are developing relationships with their elected officials. Volunteering to hand-deliver an eyePAC check to a senator or representative is just one O n March 31, ASCRS past president Robert Cionni, MD, and his practice man- ager, ASOA president-elect Karen Bachman, COE, welcomed Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) to The Eye Institute of Utah, Salt Lake City, where they presented him with a check on behalf of eyePAC, the non-partisan political action committee representing ASCRS members. Sen. Hatch, who is up for re-election in 2018, is chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over health programs like Medicare and Medic- aid. During the meeting, Dr. Cionni took the opportunity to discuss ASCRS' legislative priorities, includ- ing the repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board, MACRA implementation, and regulatory relief. Sen. Hatch then took the time to tour the clinic, seeing an ophthal- mology practice in action, as well as how policies and regulations can affect doctors, staff, and patients. According to Ms. Bachman, the senator was "gracious and friendly," sharing many personal and political stories during his visit. Dr. Cionni and Ms. Bachman are both ASCRS•ASOA eyeContacts who regularly participate in the societies' grassroots advocacy efforts, including attending the annual Alliance of Specialty Medicine Legislative Fly-In, held each summer on Capitol Hill. They are among a group of members who understand Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch visits practice of ASCRS past president, ASOA vice president Sen. Hatch (center) with Dr. Cionni (left) and Ms. Bachman (right) Source: The Eye Institute of Utah eyeContacts in action ASCRS.org/Center-for-Learning way to do that. Some eyeContacts respond to action alerts and surveys when asked, while others host fund- raisers in their states for key can- didates who support ASCRS•ASOA issues. If you would like to join ASCRS members like Dr. Cionni and Ms. Bachman and become an eyeCon- tact, visit www.ASCRSgrassroots. org or contact Tami O'Brien, ASCRS manager of PAC and grassroots. EW Contact information O'Brien: tobrien@ascrs.org