ASCRS News: Government Relations Update
Summer 2024
by Parag Parekh, MD, MPA
ASCRS Government Relations Committee Chair
In 2023 into early 2024, glaucoma surgeons were facing a potentially disastrous reimbursement situation when five Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) proposed and finalized limiting coverage of several MIGS procedures in their Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs). These LCDs would have gone into effect at the end of January, but because of extensive advocacy efforts from ASCRS, working with the American Glaucoma Society (AGS) and the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), the LCDs were retired, and it was announced that there would be no change in the coverage for now. It is highly likely the MACs will examine MIGS again in the future, so we need to be ready to make the same effort again.
This is just one example of the government relations activities ASCRS undertakes on behalf of its members. ASCRS government relations staff, along with 24 ASCRS members who serve on the Government Relations Committee, monitor legislative and regulatory actions in Washington, D.C., and craft the ASCRS response when issues impacting the practice of medicine arise.
ASCRS has always been able to “punch above its weight” in terms of its ability to influence policy and shape the debate. This is due to the sharp focus on those issues that impact anterior segment surgery and our members’ practices. Utilizing our full-time professional government relations staff as well as mobilizing our members to reach out to their legislators through grassroots efforts, we ensure the decision makers in Washington understand the consequences for physicians and patients of their proposals.
At the 2024 ASCRS Annual Meeting, the Government Relations Symposium featured a presentation by longtime political observer and campaign expert Charlie Cook highlighting the importance of advocacy and political involvement for ASCRS members. Mr. Cook pointed out that Congress can make doctors’ lives easier or more difficult, so it’s important to pay attention to what they are doing.
It’s vitally important for ASCRS members to stay informed, to speak with their legislators, and to build relationships with them. Our members are our best advocates. ASCRS members at all levels of their careers are sometimes hesitant to participate in advocacy activities because they think they do not have an adequate enough understanding of healthcare policy to be effective, so their efforts will not make a difference. However, personal stories and experiences in practice are often the most powerful motivators for legislative action. Remember, physicians are highly regarded in the community, not to mention that a physician’s practice is an important small business and employer in the district. If there’s an issue that might cause a local employer to go out of business or lay off workers, you can bet that the legislator will be very interested to hear about it. Physicians and their administrators who must comply with federal regulations are best equipped to demonstrate the impacts of those policies and speak for the patients they ultimately affect.
I want to stress that you don’t have to travel all the way to Washington to make a difference. In fact, I would argue that it is more effective to meet with your legislators when they are back home in their legislative district or state. The legislator feels more at home there and is therefore more relaxed, less pressed for time, more open to discussion and new ideas, etc. In addition, a local visit is much easier for us as physicians—less time away from the office, less cost in terms of travel, etc.
It’s vitally important for ASCRS members to stay informed, to speak with their legislators, and to build relationships with them. Our members are our best advocates.
Parag Parekh, MD, MPA
Inviting your legislator to visit your practice is also a great way to let them know about your practice and your patients. It’s incredibly compelling for a member to come to your office, meet the people you employ, and see how you go out of your way to provide compassionate care to your patients. That’s a great way to build a relationship and amplify the efforts ASCRS makes in Washington.
Given the extreme polarization in Washington, it is fortunate for us that most of our issues are not so political or polarizing, and therefore, there is a lot we can influence. We work with both political parties to address our key issues such as reforming the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule to provide an annual inflationary update for physician payments, modifying budget neutrality requirements under Medicare that result in payment reductions, working toward equity to 10- and 90-day global surgical codes, and addressing problems with prior authorization with both private payers and Medicare Advantage.
To be involved effectively, physicians need to be informed. ASCRS provides you with several ways to stay informed and get involved. I encourage you to sign up to receive the Washington Watch Weekly, which highlights congressional and regulatory activities taking place in Washington. I encourage you to learn more about the ASCRS political action committee, eyePAC, another vital tool ASCRS uses to reach key legislators who can influence healthcare policy. We elect our friends to Congress. Two of our greatest friends are Mariannette Miller-Meeks, MD, and Rand Paul, MD, in the House and Senate, respectively. This is not about being conservative or liberal; it is about who helps us and our patients. If we have more friends in Congress, those elected officials can put pressure on CMS, on the FDA, and hold hearings on the issues you care about.
The best place to start getting involved is by visiting the Advocacy page on the ASCRS website. Once there, you can learn about our key issues as well as contact your legislators through our grassroots portal. With your help, ASCRS will continue to fight for you, your patients, and the future of anterior segment surgery.
Contact
Parekh: parag2020@gmail.com
