Retina FYI 05.09.18 - The Latest News and Information From ASRS

May 9, 2018 -- Volume 7, Number 19

ASRS Challenges Policy by First Coast Service Options that Fails Patients Needing Frequent OCTs

First Coast Service Options (FCSO), the Medicare Administrative Contractor for Florida, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, notified ASRS that it would not change its policy ( L33751 ) restricting payment to one optical coherence tomography (OCT) per month. Twice, ASRS voiced strong concern that the policy is detrimental to patients, especially those receiving bilateral injections on alternating time schedules, such as every four weeks in one eye and once every six weeks in the other eye. FCSO insists that these cases are rare and that providers who clearly document circumstances that justify more than one exam per month can resubmit claims using its redetermination process.

Read both letters here:

We encourage you to contact FCSO Medical Director, Juan Schaening, MD, to voice your concerns about LCD L33751, “Scanning Computerized Ophthalmic Diagnostic Imaging (SCODI).”

Juan L. Schaening, MD

First Coast Service Options

P.O. Box 2078

Jacksonville, FL 32231-0048

Telephone: 904-791-0161

[email protected]

Closure of Chronic Traumatic Macular Hole Using Reduced-Size Retinal Graft and Flower Petal ILM Peel

This video shows closure of a chronic traumatic macular hole using heads-up, 3D surgery, which helped with refinements in the previous technique, such as peeling the ILM in a “flower petal” pattern, to permit using a smaller graft which was harvested after injecting a subretinal bubble to minimize trauma to the underlying RPE and choroid. The graft was then placed into the hole under PFO and the ILM petals were used to cover the graft host interface. A silicone oil-PFO exchange was then performed. Watch now.

Join us at 7:30 PM (CT) on May 23 for a journal club on Gene Therapy - A New Hope. Dr. Mark Pennesi will be discussing the latest developments in the field through a seminal paper on adenoviral-RPE65 gene therapy for Leber Congenital Amaurosis that led to the landmark approval by the FDA of gene therapy for this inherited retinal degeneration. Visit the Journal Club webpage for more information and to register.

CONTINUING 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.

Need an ARVO Recap?

ASRS is pleased to bring you Updates from the Field from ARVO 2018 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Our thanks to Christina Weng, MD, MBA, and Nathan Steinle, MD, for these reports featuring compelling research findings and pearls for retina practice. Click here to view reports

Challenge the Masters

How often do you have the chance to present a great case to an audience of your peers and engage them in lively case-related discussion?

Don't miss the chance to present your most compelling case at the "Challenge the Masters" course, Friday, July 20 from 1:00 to 2:15 PM at the Vancouver Convention Centre in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Please be sure to check your availability before submitting a case!

If you're interested, please email Calvin Mein, MD , a short summary of the case by May 30. The meeting schedule will allow time for 10 cases, so we ask that presentations be no more than 4 minutes to allow for 5 minutes of discussion. Cases will be selected based on their potential for stimulating lively conversation among our audience of retina "Masters."

Selected case presenters will be notified on June 11 and will receive instructions on how to upload their final presentation -- due by July 5 for peer review.

Enter the Winning Pitch Challenge

Pitch your innovative solution to a retina problem to win $10,000 and expert guidance!

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: June 11, 2018

**Submissions are advanced to Round 2/ paired with Mentors on a rolling basis!**

Submit now to ensure access to a Mentor!

Sunday, July 22, 2018

2018 ASRS Annual Meeting

BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATION:

$10,000 1st Place prize
$5,000 2nd Place prize
Defray some of your IP expenses!
Valuable feedback from Judges and Advisory Board members
Exposure to potential investors
Access to Advisory Board mentorship program
Network with other innovative retina specialists
Contribute to innovation in retina!

Obtain more information and apply at: www.WinningPitchChallenge.net

or contact: John Pollack, MD or David Williams, MD.

Enter today!

Image of the Week

Congratulations to Mohamed Tawfik, MD, from Al Ferdaws Eye Hospital in Zagazig, Eygpt , w hose image Valsalva Retinopathy has been selected as the Image of the Week.