April 18, 2018 -- Volume 7, Number 16
Take the ASRS Survey on Prior Authorization for Retina Pharmaceuticals
 
The ASRS is working to strengthen its advocacy efforts around increasingly problematic prior authorization issues and we need your input.

Click here to take a short survey. Please limit responses to one person per practice. The survey will close at noon on Monday, April 23. Your participation is deeply appreciated.
 
If you have any questions, contact Monica Horton at monica.horton@asrs.org
ASRS, Alliance Discuss Medicare Burdens with House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chairman
 
Last week the ASRS met with Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chairman Peter Roskam (R-Ill.) for a roundtable discussion with the Alliance of Specialty Medicine, a coalition ASRS joined in February. Roskam, the newly appointed Chairman, has been convening a number of recent roundtable discussions as part of the Medicare Red Tape Relief Project spearheaded by the Ways and Means Committee last year.
 
The Alliance outlined regulatory burdens in the Medicare Advantage program such as prior authorization/utilization management and narrow networks. ASRS highlighted problems retina specialists face when prescribing Part B drugs due to burdensome and sometimes unlawful measures by plans to delay or prevent the most appropriate medically necessary care to patients. Regarding the Medicare Quality Payment Program (QPP), among other recommendations to eliminate burdens and improve QPP, the Alliance urged the Subcommittee to oppose MedPAC’s recommendation to eliminate MIPS and move to Advanced APMs that are not available to most specialists. We urged the Subcommitte to maintain MIPS as a meaningful option and call on CMS to simplify MIPS scoring and reporting, improve transparency and address ongoing challenges with EHR interoperability, including problems registries and QCDRs have connecting to certified electronic health record technology (CEHRT).
 
The ASRS will continue to work with the Subcommittee to pursue legislation and direct CMS to work with physicians to reduce burdens associated with the Medicare Program and improve upon avenues for meaningful participation in QPP for retina specialists.
Tomorrow's Webinar: Retinal Coding 101 (AKA The Source of Gray Hairs)
 
Join us tomorrow, Thursday, April 19, 2018 at 7:30 PM (CT) for "Retinal Coding 101 (AKA the Source of Gray Hairs)," presented by Ankoor R. Shah, MD, and hosted by Mrinali Gupta, MD, and Aravinda K. Rao, MD. CME credit will be offered.
 
This webinar is part of a series designed by the ASRS Fellowship Directors Section to help supplement fellowship training curricula. This expert-led educational webinar is open to all ASRS members. Register now >>

MEDICAL EDUCATION CREDITS
The American Society of Retina Specialists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The American Society of Retina Specialists designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0  AMA PRA Category 1 Credits ™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Reminder: 2018 ASRS Membership Satisfaction Survey

On April 16th, you should have received an electronic survey through Survey Monkey entitled “2018 ASRS Membership Satisfaction Survey.” As a member of the American Society of Retina Specialists, we ask that you take a few minutes to complete this brief survey about the Society's resources and services so that we can strive to better meet your needs. Please complete the survey by April 27, 2018.
West Coast Hosts Needed for ASRS Observership Program         

The ASRS Observership Program offers members the opportunity to shadow at hosting institutions across the globe. With the Annual Meeting taking place July 20-25 in Vancouver, the hope is to offer international attendees observing opportunities on the west coast in the weeks before and after the meeting. Hosting an international colleague offers a valuable opportunity to discuss and compare how retina is practiced globally. If you're interested in hosting, visit the   ASRS Observership Program webpage  for more information and to complete the   hosting program application .
April 30 Deadline for Retina Image of the Year Nominations
There are two ways to nominate an image:
For complete details on the eligibility and nomination process visit the  ASRS website . The winner will be recognized at the 36th Annual Meeting

Don't miss the chance to have your images considered for the top prize.  Upload your best images  by April 30 for the chance to be considered. 
Image of the Week
Congratulations to  Jefferson R. Sousa , from Institute Suel Abujamra  in São Paulo , Brazil , w hose image Retinal Detachment has been selected as the Image of the Week. 
Website        |       Annual      |      Education      |      Patients      |      Contact Us
American Society of Retina Specialists | (312) 578-8760 | members@asrs.org | www.asrs.org