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2014-04-09 (1) AAO MidYear Form-Day1

Wed., April 9 (Washington, DC) -- ISEPS Wins Award from Academy…  Six residents and several ISEPS leaders attended the Academy's "Advocacy Day Briefing" this evening.  In addition to learning about key public policy issues to be presented to members of Congress -- including pressing for a permanent fix to the SGR formula -- there was a special surprise for the Illinois delegation.  ISEPS won a 2014 Special Recognition Award for the highest per-member contribution to the Surgical Scope Fund among the large states.

2014-04-10 AAO MidYear Form-Day2

Thurs., April 10 (morning) -- Illinois ophthalmologists attended the constituent coffee hosted by US Senators Dick Durbin and Mark Kirk.  This came on the day after the Medicare physician data was released, so this was an issue on everybody's mind.  We were immediately recognized by Senator Durbin who was very sympathetic to physicians and actually defended the doctors who were portrayed in a somewhat unflattering light in the news media.  Drs. Sohail Hasan and Mat MacCumber took a lead in explaining some of the intricacies of the issue to the Senators, including addressing the issues of high costs of medications, as well as office overhead.  (click on blog entry title to view the a photo)

2014-04-10 (1) AAO MidYear Form-Day2-midday

Thurs., April 10 (noon) -- Illinois ophthalmologists and Resident Ambassadors met with Senators Dick Durbin and Mark Kirk during the AAO's Advocacy Day.  Later, the delegation met privately with Senator Durbin's legislative assistant who was among the most knowledgable we've every met with.  He told the group that he spends about half his time now working on the SGR "fix" legislation.  (Click on the blog entry link to view a photo of the group with our US Senators.) 

2014-04-09 Illinois EyeMDs Take On Washington

Thurs., April 09, 2014 (Washington, DC) -- More than a dozen Illinois ophthalmologists are in the Nation's Capital to bring members of Congress their message relating to quality, cost effective medical and surgical eye care.  Included in the delegation are six residents in training from each of the Chicago area residency programs.  The "Resident Ambassadors" are helping to represent the state and to learn about major policy issues that will be presented this weekend during the American Academy of Ophthalmology MidYear Forum.  Come back to the blog soon to see updates and photos from the event as it unfolds.