Eyeworld

UPDATE ASCRS programming The ASCRS program features a broad offering of educational sessions and engaging, interactive learning formats. Attendees won't want to miss the Opening General Session featuring the renowned Binkhorst Lecture and the induction ceremo- ny for the ASCRS Ophthalmology Hall of Fame; the Sunday Summit featuring the ASCRS Lecture on Sci- ence, Medicine and Technology; the ASCRS Innovators Session featuring the Charles D. Kelman Innovator's Lecture; the Best of ASCRS 2018 General Session; and much more. by Denise Monasterio ASCRS Communications Manager attendees can tailor their meeting experience for a truly unique and personalized event. The meeting offers specialized education for every member of an ophthalmic practice, as well as cross-functional learning opportuni- ties where practice teams can learn side by side with one another. Attendees also learn directly from the world's thought leaders in ophthalmology and return with practical information they can apply immediately in their practice. T he 2018 ASCRS•ASOA An- nual Meeting—the largest U.S. meeting for anterior segment specialists, practice managers, and ophthalmic technicians and nurses—is coming to the nation's capital, April 13–17, 2018, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The ASCRS•ASOA Annual Meeting is the most unique meeting of its kind, offering the opportunity for attendees to make it their own. With the ability to freely choose which educational offerings to join, ASCRS•ASOA Annual Meeting coming to the nation's capital in 2018 ASOA programming ASOA will offer various education- al sessions and specialty programs for attendees. These include an Opening General Session, Certi- fied Ophthalmic Executive (COE) luncheon, Administrator Beginner's Circle (ABC) luncheon, and option- al fee-based workshops. ASOA will also offer networking opportunities through ASOA roundtables and the Consultants on Call program. Techs and Nurses programming The Technicians and Nurses pro- gram will feature courses focused on clinical/medical and surgical/ ASC topics. Attendees will have the option to register for additional pro- gramming at the meeting, including the popular T&N Tech Talks and the Association of Technical Personnel in Ophthalmology (ATPO) "Train the Trainer" course. Subspecialty days Attendees will have the opportunity to register for the popular pre-meet- ing subspecialty day programming being held on Friday, April 13. ASCRS Refractive Day, spon- sored by the ASCRS Refractive Clinical Committee, provides a comprehensive overview of all the advances in refractive surgery need- ed to improve outcomes. ASCRS provides comments on 2018 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule I n comments on the CY 2018 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) proposed rule, ASCRS, joined by the Outpatient Ophthalmic Surgery So- ciety (OOSS), thanked the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for proposals that would reduce reporting requirements for the 2016 Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) and Value-Based Payment Modifier (VBPM) to avoid 2018 penalties, and requested that the agency modify their proposals further to ensure more physicians avoid penalties. CMS is proposing to reduce the required number of measures submit- ted for the 2016 PQRS from nine to six and not require participants to meet certain domains or submit a cross-cutting measure. However, ASCRS recommended that CMS hold any physician who attempted to submit any data in 2016 harmless from the PQRS penalty. CMS is also proposing to hold physicians harmless from downward payment adjustments from 2016 VBPM quality tiering, if they satisfy the requirements for PQRS. ASCRS and OOSS support that proposal and reiterated that CMS should consider any physician who attempted to submit quality data in 2016 as satisfying PQRS, and therefore not subject to downward payment adjustments from quality tiering under the VBPM. ASCRS also recommended CMS create an "administrative burden" hardship exemption for 2016 Meaningful Use. ASCRS thanked CMS for its efforts to reduce the regulatory burden on physicians and practices as they transition to the new MIPS program. In regard to other provisions of the proposed rule, ASCRS offered support for CMS' proposal to accept most Relative Value Scale Update Com- mittee recommendations for code revaluations. ASCRS supported CMS' proposal to make reporting patient relationship modifiers voluntary in 2018 and requested CMS provide additional information on how they will be included in cost measure attribution. Finally, ASCRS requested that CMS rethink its policy to collect postoperative visit data on certain high-volume 10- and 90-day global codes in certain states. ASCRS is also joining in comments on the proposed rule with the Alliance of Specialty Medicine. The final rule is expected in late October or early November. EW

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