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AAO 2004 advocacy agenda focuses on reimbursement, patient safety
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Reimbursement and safety issues will be a focus of the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s advocacy agenda for 2004, the AAO announced.
According to the organization, the AAO plans to work toward improving and protecting ophthalmology codes during an upcoming five-year review of work values, which will be performed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. During the review, the AAO will identify undervalued codes and establish new codes for repayment. It will also work with the Outpatient Ophthalmic Surgery Society to develop a Medicare payment policy for ambulatory surgery centers.
The AAO also noted it will continue to support H.R. 3473, the Veterans Eye Treatment Safety Act, which would provide that eye surgery be performed only by surgeons. Also, it continues to work with the American Medical Association on medical liability reform.
Also on the agenda are efforts for enhanced regulation of corrective and noncorrective contact lenses, as well as enhanced access to eye services for uninsured children who fail vision screenings.