Advocacy Pays Off for ASCs

At the Outpatient Ophthalmic Surgery Society’s “OOSS Perspective 2026” symposium in Washington, DC, the organization's Washington counsel, Michael Romansky, JD, delivered an update on reimbursement, regulatory developments, and advocacy priorities affecting ophthalmic ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs).

By
Jennifer Ford, content director
Jennifer Ford, content director
May 1, 2026
4 min

Ophthalmology Management

Objective:

To update on reimbursement, regulatory developments, and advocacy priorities affecting ophthalmic ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs).

Approach:

Key Findings:

Successful advocacy resulted in a $150 million increase for ASCs performing cataract surgery.
CMS will determine the update factor for ASCs in 2027, with a recommendation to retain the Hospital Market Basket.
OOSS is concerned about narrow definitions for non-opioid drug payments and ongoing payment limitations for MIGS procedures.

Interpretation:

Advocacy efforts have proven effective in influencing reimbursement policies for ASCs, emphasizing the need for continued engagement and vigilance in monitoring regulatory changes.

Limitations:

Potential future restrictions on payments for vital eyecare services.
Limited access to hospitals and ASCs for retinal surgical care.

Conclusion:

Active participation in advocacy is crucial for maintaining and improving reimbursement policies for ASCs, with a call to action for members to engage with legislators.