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Ophthalmologists, legislators assemble to discuss eye care urgencies during AAO's Congressional Advocacy Day
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WASHINGTON — A delegation of more than 300 ophthalmologists met with members of Congress last week during the American Academy of Ophthalmology's annual Congressional Advocacy Day to discuss the most critical issues in eye care, according to a press release from the AAO.
During the event, the advocacy group urged legislators to permanently adjust Medicare's sustainable growth rate formula for physician repayment in order to stop the scheduled 40% pay cuts from going into effect. They also pushed for legislators to sign a letter penned by Reps. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., and Mark Kirk, R-Ill., calling on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Republican leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, to act now to halt the planned 21.5% Medicare physician payment cut scheduled to go into effect in 2010, the release said.
The delegation discussed the need for Congress to pass the Vision Care for Kids Act of 2009, legislation that would provide grants for comprehensive eye exams and treatment for uninsured or otherwise uncovered children. The group also urged Congress to increase funding of the National Eye Institute by a minimum of 7% during fiscal 2010 to offset an 18% loss of purchasing power the organization has experienced during the past six funding cycles.
In addition, ophthalmologists asked legislators to include $6.8 million in its year 2010 Defense Appropriations Act for the newly formed joint Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense Vision Center of Excellence — a facility devoted to preventing, diagnosing and treating military eye injuries.
"Health care issues are front and center in Congress this year, which made Advocacy Day especially important," David W. Parke II, MD, executive vice president and chief executive officer of the AAO, said in the release. "The strong turnout underscores the high level of awareness among ophthalmologists of the need to participate in the national debate on health care issues."