Advocacy News

HHS and MedPAC Reports Encourage Significant Changes to Part B Drug Payment The Academy is monitoring congressional reaction to these reports given that the recommendations would impact ophthalmologists.

The latest meeting to challenge payment of global period post-operative visits stressed the complexity of medical decision-making.

This unusual move by MedPAC, which advises Congress, signals growing awareness of the need for Medicare payment reform.  

We pushed CMS to release the rule, which would reduce the cost of this important bill to entice Senate action by the end of the year.  

We shared several ideas on how to reform physician payment to address both the growing number of annual cuts you face and long-term stability for the Medicare system.  

In a 50-plus-page letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services administrator, we urged the agency to engage with Congress to ensure appropriate physician reimbursement and reform of the Medicare payment system.

The Academy will raise scope concerns over CMS’ plan to create a combined new ophthalmology and optometry specialty set under the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System, a concept the agency unveiled in its 2023 proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.    

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services proposed rule for Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System includes a 2.7% payment boost for 2023.  

The Academy has joined 120 state medical and national specialty societies to help develop and endorse the American Medical Association’s Characteristics of a Rational Medicare Physician Payment System.  

The Academy has joined the AMA and other medical groups in an effort to change the Medicare physician payment system to improve the financial viability of physician practices and ease their administrative burdens.