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ADVOCACY Do you want to help shape the policies and regulations that affect your patients' safety and your profession? Do you already have a change in mind? Advocacy isn't just defensive - it's proactive. You can push for smarter, more practical regulations. Even light involvement ensures your voice is heard before decisions are made. Advocacy is about building relationships that matter. A few hours each month can build strong ties with legislators, agencies, and other associations. These connections open doors when you really need them. It's a small investment with a big return. Even 1-2 hours a month will keep you informed and give you a voice. Are you ready to get started? Email us at info@paeyemds.org. No pressure, we'll let you know when we meet next. |
PAO Advocating for You
Medical Waste Legislation
House Bill 446 (Rep Sanchez)
The goal of this 2025 legislation is to avoid wastage of medication opened for care that are also prescribed for home use for acute, chronic, or post-surgical care.
House Bill 446 relieves regulatory barriers to sending drops home with Ambulatory Surgical Center patients. It requires hospitalized patients to be offered partially
empty bottles upon discharge if prescribed for home. The language specifically addresses drops, ointments, and nasal sprays.
If passed this legislation would reduce:
Plastic waste
Medicine waste
Cost to patients
Inconvenience of pharmacy visits for patients and families.
We hope to see this legislation make progress through the House of Representatives this year.
PAO Finds $1.65 Million Medicaid Increases for Ophthalmology In 2024, the PAO set out to help ensure Medicaid patients have access to the ophthalmology services they deserve! In order to do this, the PAO had advocated for increases to the Fee-for-Services fee schedule for ophthalmic services. Through this advocacy, the PAO met with countless staff in the Governor's office and the PA Department of Health & Human Services. After months of advocacy, we were informed that reimbursements would increase for multiple codes. Below are the links to the specific codes being increased. 54 Pa.B. 3850 - Saturday, July 6, 2024 54 Pa.B. 5919 - Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024 The increases are all effective as of September 15, 2024. A total of 37 CPT codes were updated with an average of 76% increase in reimbursement. These include eye examinations, FA, VF, EOG, ERG, EMG, OCT, and color vision testing codes among others. These codes were selected to specifically address the shortages of pediatric and neuro-ophthalmologists in our state, The state estimates $1.655 million yearly increase in payments, most of which will directly benefit PA ophthalmologists. These fee schedule rate increase ca be used to negotiate improved or enhanced individual or group Medicaid Contractor Organization rates |
Advocating For Our Patients
Many ophthalmology patients often run out of their eye drops before the 30-day prescription is completed due to missed drops and spillage. We know these daily doses are vital every day. One piece of legislation that the PAO is paying close attention to is Senator Joe Pittman’s Senate Bill 1201. This legislation would allow individuals with prescription eye drops to refill at 70% of the original prescription’s length. This legislation is being supported by both the PAO and the Pennsylvania Optometric Association (POA). As the 2021 - 2022 legislative session approached its final days, we were thrilled to see it pass the House unanimously and head to the Governor's desk for signature.
Pennsylvania Academy of Ophthalmology. All Rights Reserved. |
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