Eyeworld Daily News

EW SHOW DAILY 10 ASCRS News Sunday, April 15, 2018 by Liz Hillman EyeWorld Staff Writer initiatives by signing up to be an EyeContact for grassroots efforts or attending the Legislative Fly-in. Dr. Bakewell pointed to a cou- ple of specific advocacy successes ASCRS has had on the legislative and regulatory front, including the elimination of the Independent Pay- ment Advisory Board, flexibility in MIPS implementation, and support of MACRA technical corrections to remove Part B drugs from payment adjustments and eligibility require- ments. Dr. Bakewell, after serving for nearly 10 years as chair of the ASCRS Government Relations Committee and 19 years on the committee in general, is passing the torch to Parag Parekh, MD, Brookville, Pennsyl- vania. "It's been an honor and a privilege to be involved in a special- ty that I love, that we all love, and I would recommend that everyone get involved at some level, whether that be giving their time or making a donation to eyePAC," Dr. Bakewell said. Dr. Parekh said he has been in- terested in legislative and regulatory advocacy since medical school and has been on the ASCRS Government Relations Committee since 2009. "I've always been interested in it because government and insurers are so involved in the doctor-pa- tient relationship," he said, adding that it's important to "advocate for what's right for patients and for our profession." "Events like [the eyePAC Re- ception] are important for obvious reasons, but it's also fun to be in a venue where you've got like-minded doctors who feel very passionately about this," Dr. Parekh said. "When you're having these 'fights' with the insurer or the government, it can feel isolating, so it's rejuvenating to see so many other people who feel just as strongly as you do, and they're happy to contact their con- gressman, happy to donate, and are equally as tireless as you are. You go back at the end of the meeting, and you're ready to fight the good fight again." EW Editors' note: The sources in this article have no financial interests related to their comments. Supporters see value in advocacy at the legislative and regulatory level T he ASCRS eyePAC Recep- tion on Friday drew a crowd of more than 300 attendees who were treated to an eve- ning in the stunning Smith- sonian National Portrait Gallery. The reception for supporters of the ASCRS nonpartisan political action committee was held in the gallery's third-floor Luce Foundation Center and the Great Hall, which was the site of President Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural ball. Guests enjoyed private access to some of the building's portraits and other art collections. Brock Bakewell, MD, chairman of the ASCRS Government Relations Committee, Tucson, Arizona, said the historic venue was certainly a draw, but on the whole, eyePAC has been increasing its membership and political involvement. "People are feeling a responsibil- ity to be more politically active," Dr. Bakewell said. Monetary donations to eye- PAC go into a fund to help support legislators who support Medicare reform, regulatory relief projects, and ophthalmology's interests as a whole, Dr. Bakewell explained. Sander Cohen, MD, Moorestown, New Jersey, has sup- ported eyePAC for 30 years, feeling that it and the ASCRS Government Relations Committee have honestly represented ophthalmology in the regulatory and political sphere. "They've done a lot to fight for appropriate billing practices in oph- thalmology," Dr. Cohen said of one of the efforts he has appreciated. First time eyePAC Reception attendee Morgan Micheletti, MD, a fourth-year resident who will be entering practice in Houston, said he thinks supporting the work of eyePAC is important to further oph- thalmologists' goals as well as the goals of their patients. "We are the voice of our patients on a more national scale for how Washington sees, so we advocate for our patients when they can't," Dr. Micheletti said, adding that the venue for this year's recep- tion was "beautiful, gorgeous." Kathryn Hatch, MD, Boston, also a first time eyePAC supporter, said she appreciates how the ASCRS Government Relations Committee values eye surgeons and is "trying to preserve the specific area that only eye surgeons can provide to patients." In addition to monetary do- nations, people can support these eyePAC Reception at Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery draws crowd The ASCRS eyePAC Reception on Friday was held in the stunning Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. " People are feeling a responsibility to be more politically active. " —Brock Bakewell, MD

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