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Physicians need unity to weather health care reform
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 William L. Rich III |
CHICAGO — Ophthalmology and the wider physician community must form a united front to survive and thrive amid sweeping health care reforms, a speaker said at the joint meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Middle East Africa Council of Ophthalmology here.
"We have to work as a team going forward," William L. Rich III, MD, AAO medical director of health policy, said. "But if we're willing to be measured, we're going to do fine. Frankly, we can focus our brand of quality. We're going to do great long-term. I think that's where we start."
The physician community was fractured by personal and political differences during health care reform deliberations, Dr. Rich said.
However, with value- and outcome-based physician payment methodologies slated to take effect in 2016, physicians have ample time to ensure that their interests are served.
"Frankly, this is just a start," Dr. Rich said. "People look at this as a finished product. We have a chance to right our political ship. ... Frankly, we will never be united unless we can get physicians to sit down and agree on a common focus. Until that happens, we will never be successful in Washington."
Physician advocates need to exclude lobbyists from the dialogue in order to protect their interests and patients' needs, Dr. Rich said.
"Am I optimistic? Yes," he said.