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Alabama Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons

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  • 2023-08-14 11:45 | Anonymous

    Effective September 1, 2023, The Alabama Medicaid Agency will increase the reimbursement rates for eye care services listed here.  

  • 2023-05-23 10:12 | Anonymous

    HB 349 was heard in the Senate Health Committee on May 17th. Following the introduction of the bill by Representative Garrett, the chair asked for a roll call vote. The bill was voted down 7-6. 

    We fully expect this bill to return in 2024. We will have more information on how you can help soon. 

  • 2023-05-10 21:06 | Anonymous

    HB349 which would allow optometrists to perform laser surgery and remove lesions from around the eye passed the Alabama House yesterday and heads to the Senate. 

    We still believe that surgery should only be performed by trained physicians who have gone to medical school and subsequent residency. We are asking our membership to please contact your senator and voice your concerns over this legislation. You can also send a message directly to your legislator by clicking here.

  • 2023-05-08 17:48 | Anonymous
    House Bill HB349 sponsored by Rep. Danny Garrett District 44 was heard in and passed out of House Health Committee on Wednesday May 3, 2023, on a 7-5 vote. The bill allows for the removal of skin lesions as well as the ability to perform YAG Laser Capsulectomy and Laser Trabeculoplasty and will be heard on the floor of the House of Representatives on May 9, 2023 at 1:00 p.m.

    If you need more information or would like to know how to contact your legislator to ask them not to support the bill, please contact Meghan at mmartin@alamedical.org or 3341-954-2513.

  • 2023-04-21 12:20 | Anonymous

    The Alabama Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons is urging residents of the Yellowhammer State to practice caution when selecting eye drops.

    As many as 68 people throughout the country have reported infections linked to the bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, after using contaminated eye drops, according to a news release. The infections have resulted in three deaths and six people having their eyes removed. Before the eye infections, Pseudomonas aeruginosa had never been documented in the U.S.

    Alabamians warned of contaminated eye drops - Yellowhammer News


  • 2022-01-03 14:20 | Anonymous

    Glaucoma does discriminate: Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself

    Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of vision loss, affecting about 3 million people in the United States.(1) But this potentially blinding eye disease does not affect all people equally. During Glaucoma Awareness Month in January, the Alabama Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Academy of Ophthalmology is urging people to be screened, especially if you are at increased risk of glaucoma.

    Who is at risk?

    • African Americans are 6 to 8 times more likely to get glaucoma than white Americans. Blindness from glaucoma is 6 to 8 times more common in African Americans than white Americans.(2)
    • People with diabetes are 2 times more likely to get glaucoma than people without diabetes.(2)
    • Hispanic Americans face an increased risk comparable to African Americans, but the disease may also progress faster as they age, compared with other ethnic groups.(3)
    • Asians are at an increased risk for the less common types of glaucoma: angle-closure glaucoma and normal-tension glaucoma.(2)
    • Also at risk are people over age 40, those who are severely nearsighted, and those who have a family history of glaucoma.

    Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damages the eye’s optic nerve. The optic nerve transmits visual information to the brain, allowing us to see. Because glaucoma often progresses slowly, affecting just peripheral or side vision, people with glaucoma can lose most of their vision before they even experience any symptoms. Central vision, the vision used to read, drive or watch TV, is unaffected until the disease is advanced.

    “Just because you think you can see well, doesn’t mean all is well,” said Dianna Seldomridge, MD, clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. “Once vision is lost to glaucoma, it can’t be regained. That’s why regular screening, especially among those at higher risk for glaucoma, is absolutely vital. When caught early, glaucoma can be treated with eyedrops or an in-office laser treatment. But in advanced cases, surgery may be required to slow the vision loss and prevent further damage.”

    For more information about eye health and how to protect your eyes, visit the Academy’s EyeSmart website.

    (1) The Future of Vision: Forecasting the Prevalence and Cost of Vision Problems 

    (2) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

    (3) Quigley HA, West SK, et al. The prevalence of glaucoma in a population-based study of Hispanic subjects. Arch Ophthalmol. 2001;119:1819-1826.


  • 2021-06-15 13:39 | Anonymous

    Fraudulent emails have been sent to some SEC attendees and vendors claiming that the SEC has been canceled for 2021. This is false. We will meet in person Sept. 16-19, at Sandestin. Find agendas, faculty, room reservation information and more at southerneyecongress.com.

  • 2021-06-15 13:36 | Anonymous

    by Niko Corley
    Director of Legislative Affairs, Medical Association of the State of Alabama

    The past two years have seen a couple of states pass legislation to lower eye surgery standards by allowing optometrists to perform laser and scalper surgery and eyeball injections. In Alabama however, the Alabama Academy of Ophthalmology (ALAO), the Medical Association of Alabama, the Alabama Dermatology Society (ADS) and other medical specialties have so far successfully pushed back against such inappropriate scope expansion attempts. Together, we are stronger.

    While the total number of states having granted optometrists surgical privileges is a small minority at less than 10, their having done so still raises concerns for anyone who supports high standards for surgical care. Medical school is important and medical residency is important, as together they prepare physicians to best care for patients as safely as possible. As we see each year with the various “scope creep” proposals however, not a year goes by that some group or another (usually several) don’t propose legislation to grant non-physicians who haven’t graduated medical school or medical residency de facto medical degrees via legislative act.

    But time and again, we’ve seen the best way to combat scope creep is locally. When individual physicians seek to inform their Senator and Representative of the impact of a particular piece of legislation, most often those men and women will listen. More physicians became involved this year than we have seen in the past and that is exciting to see! Now we must keep up that momentum moving forward.

    Each physician only has one Senator and one Representative in the State Legislature. If a physician doesn’t know his or her local legislators, it is important he or she do so, and do so now. Getting to know just two more people is not much to ask, even of physicians, especially given those two people vote on matters directly affecting medicine and patient care.

    The collective, collaborative efforts of our medical societies can continue to protect patients so long as we continue to increase physician outreach to legislators. You are your patients’ best defense. There just is no replacement for grassroots contacts from constituents, especially physicians, as few legislators are experts in healthcare matters and so they welcome feedback (to connect with your local legislators and begin to foster a relationship, email the author of this article).

    As the 2021 session comes to a close, our work is only beginning. We must build on the tremendous work our allied organizations have already put in the past few years and amplify the voices of physicians and patients concerned about the future of care delivery. Together, we can continue protecting patients and defending high standards for eye care in Alabama for years to come.

    Contact Niko Corley at ncorley@alamedical.org.

  • 2021-02-05 11:16 | Anonymous

    Senate Bill 174 by Sen. Whatley, McClendon, Scofield, Shelnutt, Beasley and Holley has been introduced into the 2021 legislature and sent to the Governmental Affairs Committee for consideration.

    The bill proposes adding the following procedures to the practice of optometry:

    • Injections, excluding injections into the posterior chamber of the eye to treat any macular or retinal disease.
    • Incision and removal of chalazion.
    • Removal and biopsy of skin lesions involving the lid and adnexa.
    • Laser capsulotomy.
    • Laser trabeculoplasty.
    • Laser peripheral iridotomy.
    • Corneal crosslinking.

    In addition, the bill would give sole authority to the Alabama Board of Optometry to determine what constitutes the practice of optometry.

    The Alabama Academy of Ophthalmology opposes this bill.

    Please contact your senator to tell them the danger this would represent for Alabama patients. You can visit https://alabamamedicine.org/advocacy/find-your-legislator/ to find the contact information for your local senator.

  • 2021-01-07 14:25 | Anonymous

    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the updated calendar year 2021 fee schedule on Jan. 5. This update was expected after Congress passed legislation in December to reduce scheduled payment cuts.

    As a result of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021:

    • CMS incorporated a 3.75% positive adjustment into the 2021 physician payments. CMS had planned cuts of 6% to 10% for ophthalmology in the final 2021 Physician Fee Schedule released in December. Due to the 3.75% adjustment, ophthalmologists’ reimbursements will largely be improved and some practices may even see increases. The effect will vary by practice and provider.
    • Payment for the add-on complexity code (G2211), which was significantly negatively impacting the conversion factor, was delayed for three years. The Academy will continue to fight for fair reimbursements for ophthalmologists.
    • The original 2021 conversion factor was set to be a reduction over 10% from the 2020 rate. However, due to Academy efforts along with the Surgical Care Coalition and physicians across the country, CMS announced this week that the 2021 conversion factor would be $34.89, a 3.3% reduction from the 2020 rate.


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