The FSO Clarity Report - Winter 2024
President's Message
Raquel Goldhardt, MD, FACS
President, Florida Society of Ophthalmology
As we approach the end of 2024, I'm pleased to share our winter newsletter-The FSO Clarity Report highlighting our recent accomplishments and upcoming events!!!
Advocacy
Our legislative team continues to work diligently to protect our patients and profession. We are looking forward to seeing what the new committee appointments look like in the House and the Senate as we gear up for the 2025 Legislative Session. Next year's session will be held March 4 through May 2. We are anticipating that it will be a very busy session with legislation that could potentially impact the practice of ophthalmology. We will do our best to keep you all updated as session begins. As always, we encourage you to get to know your legislators locally. If you need help or would like an FSO board member to support you in the advocacy arena, please feel free to email fso@mdeye.org.
Education
It was great to see so many of you this past summer for Masters 2024. Networking with membership during the meeting is always a highlight for me.
Masters in Ophthalmology 2025: Mark your calendars! The Masters 2025 meeting will be held June 6-8, 2025, at the Waldorf Astoria in Orlando, FL. Registration for the meeting is NOW OPEN. Register TODAY and get the early bird rate! This event promises cutting-edge lectures presented by nationally renowned faculty, as well as social and networking opportunities. For more information, please visit: ophmasters.com
Outreach
The For Eye Care Foundation (FECF) has been active in hosting vision screenings across Florida. For more information on foundation events, please see below. As we enter the holiday/giving season, I encourage all of our members to consider donating to the For Eye Care Foundation. Contributions help the FECF purchase new equipment and materials needed to continue offering FREE screenings to Floridians around the state.
Recent Achievements
At our June 2024 Annual Business Meeting, we recognized members for their outstanding contributions to ophthalmology. Congratulations to all awardees! The award window for the 2025 annual meeting will open soon. Please be on the lookout for email communications from FSO and nominate worthy colleagues in early 2025.
Looking Ahead
As we enter 2025, let's continue our commitment to advancing eye care in Florida. Your involvement in FSO activities and support of the FSO’s FOCUS Political Committee, the anonymous Safe Ocular Surgery (SOS) Advocacy Fund, the AAOs Surgical Scope Fund or signing up for the FSOs President's Leadership Circle are crucial to our success. Please consider making a year-end contribution to any one of these campaigns.
Thank you for your dedication to our patients and profession.
I wish you all a joyous holiday season and a prosperous New Year!
Masters in Ophthalmology 2024 Highlights
Another great benefit for FSO members is access to the meeting highlights from past meetings. Videos and slides from some of the featured lectures presented at the Masters in Ophthalmology 2024 meeting are available online at: https://www.mdeye.org/education/meeting-resources/2024. As a reminder, this is a members-only benefit, so make sure you sign in using your FSO username and password to view these highlights. If you need help with your username or password, please contact membership@mdeye.org.
Legislative Update
Monica Rodriguez
Legislative Consultant, Ballard Partners
The next Regular Session of the Florida Legislature is roughly three months away and now is the time to start preparing your 2025 Legislative agenda. Following the General Election on November 5, members prepare for the next legislative session as they begin to file legislation and committees prepare their goals. New Leadership teams have taken over both Chambers for the next 2-year cycle with Ben Albritton as the Senate President and Danny Perez as the Speaker of the House. The new President and Speaker have appointed their leadership teams and new Committee Chairs but are yet to assign the remaining members to committees.
To read more, please log in to your FSO profile and download the report at the bottom of this page.
For Eye Care Foundation Report
Laura B. Sims, MD
Chair, For Eye Care Foundation
On October 29th, 2024, the For Eye Care Foundation (FECF) participated in an exciting vision screening at the EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville. The Spooktacular event was presented by the NFL Jaguars, Johnson & Johnson, and the Lions Club International through the Sight for Kids program.
500 children were screened for Amblyopia risk with approximately 100 referrals sent for further evaluation. The event was a great collaborative effort which allowed the participants to be evaluated on site. Children received their prescription for glasses by eye care professionals from various organizations including the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind. The children also shared activities with the Jaguar NFL players and were elated with the Halloween dress up theme. The FECF wishes to acknowledge Lion Felisa De Kler, from the Delray Beach Lions Club, for her dedication and support to ensure our mutual success at the screening.
Our final FECF activity of 2024 was a vision screening presentation to Ophthalmic Technician students. The event took place at Palm Beach State University where Dr. Lauree Manning also included a demonstration on the use of the portable SPOT vision screening device. These community outreach events help to expand our vision screening program, as we look forward to another year of success making a significant difference one child at a time.
Third Party Liaison Report
L. Neal Freeman, MD, FACS
Chair, Third Party Liaison
2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a Final Rule on November 1, 2024, that includes updates for Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule starting January 1, 2025. The new conversion factor will be $32.35 representing a 2.8% cut from the 2024 conversion factor. Overall, Medicare reimbursement is predicted to decline 2% for ophthalmologists.
Examples of pay adjustments include the following:
|
|
2024 |
2025 |
|
15823 (upper blepharoplasty, one eyelid in facility)
|
$549.91 |
$533.07 |
|
65855 (laser trabeculoplasty, in office) |
$243.33 |
$235.16
|
|
66761 (laser iridotomy, in facility) |
$234.01 |
$226.10
|
|
66984 (cataract extraction with IOL, in facility) |
$537.26 |
$521.75 |
|
67028 (intravitreal injection, in office) |
$112,18 |
$109.01 |
|
92004 (comprehensive eye exam, in office) |
$148.46 |
$142.97 |
MIPS Value Pathways (MVPs)
The new Complete Ophthalmologic Care MIPS Value Pathway, in addition to five other MVPs, has been finalized.
MIPS Performance Threshold
The 2025 performance threshold was maintained at 75 points in the Final Rule.
Botox LCD
The American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society have been actively involved in discussions regarding a draft Local Coverage Determination on neurotoxins.
FSO has Representative in AAO Leadership Development Program XXVI, Class of 2025
Raquel Goldhardt, MD, FACS was recognized at AAO 2024 in Chicago for her selection to the Academy’s 26th Leadership Development Program (LDP) class. Dr. Goldhardt, nominated by the Florida Society of Ophthalmology (FSO), joins 19 other ophthalmologists in the LDP XXVI, class of 2025, chosen via a competitive selection process. In addition to US participants nominated by state, subspecialty and specialized interest societies, the LDP XXVI class also includes two international participants from Canada and Egypt representing the Canadian Ophthalmological Society and the Middle East African Council of Ophthalmology, respectively. This LDP class came together for an Orientation Session in Chicago led by Academy LDP Director Chris Albanis, MD.
In January 2025, Dr. Goldhardt will visit San Francisco to take part in a 2 ½ day interactive session. She will hear from AAO physician leadership, including 2025 Academy President Michael X. Repka, MD, MBA and CEO Stephen D. McLeod, MD, on a wide variety of leadership topics. During this session she will also visit the AAO headquarters and participate in skills training exercises. Next Dr. Goldhardt will attend the Academy’s Mid-Year Forum 2025 in April in Washington D.C. where she will have scheduled meetings on Capitol Hill with Senators, Representatives, and healthcare staff to discuss issues important to the medical profession as part of Congressional Advocacy Day. In addition, during an advocacy session dedicated to LDP XXVI participants, Dr. Goldhardt will also hear from a member of the US Congress about building effective relationships with legislators and how best to advocate on behalf of patients. The final LDP session for the class of 2025 will take place in conjunction with AAO 2025 in Orlando, Florida.
Participants in AAO LDP XXVI, Class of 2025
- American Glaucoma Society
Natasha Nayak Kolomeyer, MD - American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Cat Burkat, MD - American Society of Ophthalmic Trauma
Grant A. Justin, MD - American Society of Retina Specialists
Kristen M. Nwanyanwu, MD - California Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons
Angela N. Buffenn, MD, MPH - Canadian Ophthalmological Society
Milad Modabber, MD - Delaware Academy of Ophthalmology
Benjamin C. Chaon, MD - Florida Society of Ophthalmology
Raquel Goldhardt, MD - Georgia Society of Ophthalmology
Zachary Balest, MD - Kansas Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons
Anne Wishna, MD - Macula Society
Elliott H. Sohn, MD - Middle East Africa Council of Ophthalmology
Awni Aburamadan, MBBCH - Mississippi Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons
William M. Watkins, MD - Missouri Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons
Steven Ross Cohen, MD - National Medical Association, Ophthalmology Section
Basil Williams, MD - New Mexico Academy of Ophthalmology
Rebecca S. Leenheer MD - North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society
Andrew Melson, MD - Utah Ophthalmology Society
Rachel Simpson, MD - Washington DC Metropolitan Ophthalmological Society
Katrina C. Chin Loy, MD - Women in Ophthalmology
Kimberly Mei Winges, MD
Membership Update
Helayna Brown, MD
Chair, Membership/Regional Representatives Committee
2025 Dues Update
The FSO 2025 dues cycle has officially commenced. Dues statements were emailed in October, followed by mailed statements in November and two additional email reminders. These efforts will continue over the next several months, complemented by a social media campaign encouraging members to renew. Annual dues are payable as of January 1, and payments have been coming in steadily thus far.
Membership Drive Initiative
Recognizing the vital role members play in the future of our society, we are launching an annual Membership Drive to encourage recruitment and retention. This initiative aims to make recruitment both engaging and rewarding.
Incentives: The top two FSO members who recruit the highest number of new members will receive special prizes. Additionally, any member who recruits a new FSO member will receive $100 off their annual dues for each new member brought in.
FSO Mentorship Program
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We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Florida Society of Ophthalmology (FSO) Mentorship Program, specially designed for our resident, fellow, and young ophthalmologist members.
This new program is aimed at connecting those members with experienced ophthalmologists within the FSO community. As a mentee, you'll have the opportunity to interact with experts from diverse backgrounds, practice settings, and geographic regions. This is a unique chance to receive valuable guidance and career advice as you transition from training to practice. Why Join the Mentorship Program?
Apply Now! We are now accepting applications for mentors and mentees. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to enhance your professional journey. Learn More and Apply Today: Mentorship Program | Florida Society of Ophthalmology (mdeye.org) |
If you have questions regarding the Mentorship Program, please contact the membership manager, Shana Harvey at 904-309-6201
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