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Advocacy News

News and views on the regulatory, legislative, and political issues impacting ophthalmology in Washington, D.C., and around the United States

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New Hampshire State House
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Featured News

For the third straight year, New Hampshire ophthalmologists have successfully defended safe eye surgery.

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August 13, 2025
Academy Members Respond to Call to Get Involved
Anjali Tapadia, MD, Vivienne Hau, MD, PhD and ophthalmologist in training Stephanie Martinez answered the call from Academy President Michael X. Repka, MD, MBA, by meeting with Representative Young Kim (R-Calif.) to champion critical ophthalmology priorities.
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August 6, 2025
CMS Ignores Global Surgical Post-Op Visit Payment Parity, Focuses on Global Surgical Packages

The Academy plans to comment on this payment inequity that unfairly underpays physicians for post-operative evaluation and management visits bundled in global surgical codes.

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House Representative and ophthalmologist Mariannette Miller-Meeks speaks on the House floor
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August 6, 2025
Ophthalmologist Lawmaker Miller-Meeks Faces Tight 2026 Reelection Race

The only ophthalmologist in the House of Representatives spoke with us about her reelection campaign. You can support her through OPHTHPAC Direct.

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July 30, 2025
NGS to Cover Split Vials of Botulinum Toxin

The Medicare contractor updated its botulinum toxin injection coverage policy to clarify that single-dose vials may be split between multiple patients.

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A damaged road with a roadblock sign that reads "emergency vehicles only"
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July 30, 2025
CMS Will Apply Automatic MIPS Exceptions for Practices Following Texas Storms

CMS will automatically apply exceptions from Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) reporting for clinicians affected by the strong winds and flooding during severe storms in Texas.

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July 28, 2025
CMS Proposes Problematic -2.5% Efficiency Adjustment for 2026
The proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule includes an unprecedented -2.5% efficiency adjustment. We have serious concerns. Here’s why.
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July 23, 2025
Academy to Congress: Don’t Dismantle the National Eye Institute
The proposed NIH reorganization threatens sight-saving research — and the future of ophthalmology itself.
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July 16, 2025
CMS Proposes 2.4% Pay Increase for Hospital Outpatient Departments, ASCs for 2026
The proposed rule could affect about 3,500 hospital outpatient departments and 6,100 ambulatory surgical centers (ASC).
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July 16, 2025
Alaska Prior Authorization Reform Becomes Law
The law streamlines the prior authorization process through electronic systems, reducing delays and administrative burdens for Alaska physicians and patients.
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Cover image of the 2023 Quality Payment Program Experience Report
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July 9, 2025
IRIS Registry Continues to Help Ophthalmologists Succeed in MIPS, Report Confirms

The Academy’s clinical data registry again helped our profession maximize scores in the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System.