Eyeworld Daily News

4 | EYEWORLD DAILY NEWS | APRIL 22, 2022 ASCRS ANNUAL MEETING DAILY NEWS Dr. Hoffman: I will stay on the Execu- tive Committee functioning as the past president and helping the incoming president with the transition. After this, I will do whatever the organization requests of me. I have enjoyed contrib- uting to the functionality of ASCRS, including lecturing, contributing films, and participating on the Cataract Clin- ical Committee, Governing Board, and Executive Committee. It is a wonder- ful organization to be a part of, and I recommend ophthalmologists at any career stage, especially the younger ophthalmologists, look for ways that they can participate. EyeWorld: What are you most looking forward to at the Annual Meeting? Dr. Hoffman: I think the meeting this year will be a great success. This city offers a lot of activities for all to enjoy, including landmarks, museums, and great restaurants. I think many of us enjoy getting to see our colleagues face to face, interacting with lecturers, and having the ability to move from Exhibit Hall to lecture hall to symposium. The Tap Room has been improved and should be a great central location for conferencing and meeting with friends. It has been a great honor to serve as the president of ASCRS this last year. I appreciate the Executive Committee and leadership having the confidence to allow me this privilege. I want to encourage all of our members to contribute in any way they can. The thing that separates ASCRS from other organizations is the ease with which young ophthalmologists can contribute to the education of their colleagues and participate in improving the practice of ophthalmology for themselves and the rest of the community. Whether it is presenting a paper, submitting a film, or serving on one of the various committees, help us continue to grow one of the best ophthalmic societies in the world. EyeWorld: Did you have specific goals coming in as president and were you able to accomplish them? Dr. Hoffman: As incoming president of ASCRS, I had three soft goals. The first was to assist in fighting the various political battles that are going on regarding reimbursement and Aetna's prior authorization mandate for cataract surgery. The Aetna battle is still being waged, and I think we will ultimately be able to reverse this decision with a combination of oph- thalmic society pressure and grassroots efforts. There is strong support within Congress for passing legislation on prior authorization that will benefit our patients and reduce unnecessary work within our practices. ASCRS and the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) were successful in getting many of the cuts in cataract and combined cataract/glaucoma surgery reduced or postponed, however, I think this will be an ongoing battle with the sustain- ability of physician participation in Medicare at stake. My second goal was updating our current bylaws. Our bylaws were written in the 1980s, and many of the structures within our organization have changed. The structure of the organi- zation has grown immensely, and the bylaws should reflect what we are cur- rently doing within the organization. My third goal was to update the video library on the ASCRS website. I would like to use the video teach- ing skills of our talented members to enhance the video library and make it a major resource for any member wish- ing to learn new techniques or review older techniques. EyeWorld: What are some of the most important recent initiatives from ASCRS? Dr. Hoffman: The fight for maintaining our reimbursement and alleviating the need for prior authorizations has been important, and similar political issues will continue to arise in the future. I think the effort with AAO to organize a combined Eyecelerator meeting before each organization's annual meeting has helped to improve our association with industry. This endeavor has allowed physicians the opportunity to stay up to date with treatments of the future, in addition to connecting entrepreneurs, companies, and investors at the forefront of new pharmaceuticals and technologies. EyeWorld: What do you see as some of the biggest challenges facing ophthal- mology in the coming years? Dr. Hoffman: I think government and private insurance attempts to cut reimbursement and devalue our ser- vices will continue to be a major issue. ASCRS has a wonderful Government Relations Committee, and between them and the exceptional ASCRS staff, we will continue to advocate on behalf of ophthalmologists and patients. EyeWorld: Were there any particularly positive developments that stood out to you with ASCRS or ophthalmology? Dr. Hoffman: I have been excited by the cooperation between ASCRS and AAO in recent years. With the leader- ship of ASCRS Executive Director Steve Speares and AAO CEO David Parke, MD, there has been a spirit of cooper- ation with combined efforts where the two societies have mutual interests. I think this relationship will continue in the future and strengthen with each threat that presents itself. EyeWorld: What do you see as the future of ASCRS? Dr. Hoffman: ASCRS will continue to be the leading source of education for anterior segment surgeons. The facile nature of the organization, the talent- ed board members, and the incredibly dedicated staff will keep this organiza- tion at the cutting edge of technology, education, political advocacy, and do- mestic and international philanthropy. EyeWorld: How will you continue to be involved with the society after you pass on the presidency? continued from page 1

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