Advocacy News

 As part of the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act (ELSA) Week of Action, the Academy and American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS), in partnership with the ELSA Coalition, are contacting members of Congress and encouraging action in support of ELSA.

The Academy will be advocating against a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' proposal on evaluation and management (E/M) visits that inappropriately reduces reimbursement and puts patient care and practice viability at risk. 

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) proposed 2027 rule would sunset Traditional MIPS, mandate MVP reporting, and add a core measure requirement. Here's what you need to know.

This new bill, introduced by physician lawmakers, starts an important conversation on how to avoid proposed cuts to Medicare reimbursement in 2027 and provides a great opportunity for ophthalmology to weigh in and influence future legislation. 

Thanks to Academy advocacy and leadership, and the voices of members like you, the Seniors’ Act cleared a major hurdle in reforming prior authorization in Medicare Advantage. Let’s keep pushing until it becomes law.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released its proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for 2027. Here are the highlights based on the Academy’s analysis. The Academy will work with our advocacy partners to ensure finalized policies support our members and their patients.

Leading the profession's response, the Academy united ophthalmic societies to formally oppose Medicare's proposed restrictions on intraocular drug-delivery implant coverage.

The broad cuts to ASC facility reimbursement for most ophthalmology services could erect barriers to patient access.

At the AMA Annual Meeting, ophthalmology helped shape national policy.

Ignoring patient safety concerns, Vermont lawmakers passed S.64, authorizing optometrists to perform surgical and laser procedures. The Academy remains committed to patient safety and will continue to fight in the states for physician-led surgical eyecare.