ASCRS and ASOA are excited to announce two new programs, both geared toward the business side of ophthalmology, taking place Thursday, April 24.
SightLine at ASCRS
SightLine at ASCRS is a new annual gathering that will be held ahead of the ASCRS Annual Meeting. The meeting, which this year will take place from 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m., April 24, at the Intercontinental Los Angeles Downtown Hotel, is bringing together various stakeholders in commercial ophthalmology to understand the challenges currently facing the specialty from a financial perspective—and the sustainable solutions that will lead to better financial performance for ophthalmology in the future.
“It’s an understatement to say the business of healthcare is evolving rapidly. But the commercial stakeholders don’t have to sit idly by, allowing this evolution to take ophthalmology along for a wild ride with no say in its direction. Industry, administrators, regulators, payors, and surgeons play an important part in forging a pathway for commercial success in areas of ophthalmology,” said ASCRS Executive Director Steve Speares, who is leading the SightLine at ASCRS meeting. “This meeting is intended to facilitate honest and authentic conversations about the current state of commercial ophthalmology and will explore viable opportunities and creative ideas that will be profitable for practices and industry that supports them.”
Each year, the meeting will feature annual topics that are worth revisiting for current updates as well as yearly themed discussions. This year’s theme, “Exploring Payment Pathways Beyond Coverage,” will include topics like building a new payment category, myopia management, and patient pay in chronic disease.
“The same old, same old strategies cannot be relied upon anymore. A firm understanding of the current situation facing commercial ophthalmology and a gathering of diverse minds from all areas within the field to conceive of disruptive ideas will pave a positive financial future for ophthalmology,” Mr. Speares said. “Be part of the solution and attend SightLine at ASCRS.”
Learn more about SightLine at ASCRS!
Business of Interventional Glaucoma
The ASOA ASCRS Business of Interventional Glaucoma program will provide ophthalmology professionals—surgeons, practice administrators, and clinic staff—with the knowledge, tools, and strategies to manage and grow interventional glaucoma services within their practice.
Why interventional glaucoma? Matt Jensen, former CEO of a leading ophthalmology practice who owns a marketing company and recently started a venture based on facilitating success in operations and implementation, set the following scene. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world, with the number of patients expected to increase in the coming decades while the number of providers treating glaucoma is expected to decrease. In addition, there is a significant, well-recognized issue with drop compliance among patients, despite what Mr. Jensen called “impressive pharmaceuticals.”
“There’s a groundswell of people who are looking for a more meaningful intervention. Enter the whole thought process behind interventional glaucoma. It’s a new school of thought, which is that drops are great, but they’re just a bridge, and we need to surgically or procedurally intervene first, then prescribe drops to maintain,” said Mr. Jensen, who is helping to organize and is speaking at the inaugural Business of Interventional Glaucoma program.
However, even though providers might be on board with a surgical or procedure-first mindset for their glaucoma patients, hurdles still exist. “If it was as easy as recommending the technology, this wouldn’t be an issue, but there are all kinds of operational challenges,” Mr. Jensen said.
This is where the Business of Interventional Glaucoma comes in. The program, which will be held from 1:00–5:30 p.m., April 24, at the Intercontinental Los Angeles Downtown Hotel, will cover financial planning, coding, patient education, workflow efficiency, and more. The program will be comprised of both presentations and small group breakouts.
Key speakers include John Berdahl, MD, Melissa Ciccarelli, COE, Megan Costello, COA, Kasey Gantz, Arsen Grigoryan, MBA, COE, Mr. Jensen, Ashton Deal, COT, OCS, OSC, Christine Funke, MD, Kirk Mack, Ben Seals, MBA, Brian Shafer, MD, Manjool Shah, MD, Taylor Strange, DO, Savak Teymoorian, MD, and Dana Wallace, MD.
In addition to onsite programming, attendees will have ongoing access to online shared files and a supportive community, ensuring they stay informed and engaged after the program ends.
“The converging forces are simple: one, disease progression, and more patients are headed our way; two, drop compliance is and will remain low; three, new interventions to help patients; and four, a favorable reimbursement climate. [Interventional glaucoma] is going to help patients, and it’s also going to help your bottom line,” Mr. Jensen said.
Learn more about the Business of Interventional Glaucoma program!
