Your
local education and networking resource
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CSEPS is kicking off the new year with a new program that focuses on you and your local ophthalmic community. Starting in February we will host evening education/networking meetings across the state that will be open to all Colorado ophthalmologists. Come take a break from the daily grind, catch up with your local colleagues, learn information about the latest clinical trends and techniques, and find out how CSEPS is working for you. Plan on joining us for an hour of education and an hour of connecting. Watch your email for more details.
The first meeting will be held in Colorado Springs on February 27 from 6:00-8:00pm at Sonterra Grill featuring presentations on:
Cosmetic Oculofacial Plastic Surgery
by Rob Fante, MD
Implantable Telescope Technology for End-Stage AMD
by Starck Johnson, MD
Register here.
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| CSEPS sues to block chiropractic rule |
CSEPS is a co-plaintiff with the Colorado Medical Society and a host of other specialty societies in a lawsuit seeking to halt a rule by the Colorado Board of Chiropractic Examiners that would improperly extend medical authority to chiropractors to administer non-FDA approved compounds. Changes to an existing rule would authorize chiropractors to administer these compounds topically, orally, and by inhalation and injection, after completing just 24 hours of study and a certification exam. Not only would the rule put patients at risk of harm from such substances, the lawsuit contends that the Board acted illegally in adopting it. Both the Attorney General and the Office of Legislative Legal Services opined in separate analyses that the Board did not have the legal authority to adopt the rule. In addition, records provided by the attorney general's office show an overwhelming response by chiropractors opposing this rule.
In remarking on the society's participation in the lawsuit, CSPES President George Ulrich, MD, noted, "This is a patient safety issue. The chiropractic board of examiners acted outside its legal authority. We stand with the Colorado Medical Society to protect Coloradans from inappropriate care."
As a result of the legal challenge in the District Court, the House-Senate Committee on Legal Services voted 8-0 in a hearing in January to ask the Colorado Legislature to repeal the rule; the Legislature will vote on the repeal of the rule in its upcoming session as part of the Committee's rule review bill. Subsequently, on January 24 the chiropractic board voted during an emergency meeting to repeal the rule in apparent response to the lawsuit and public outcry. The lawsuit will remain in motion, pending full repeal of the rule by the board.
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| Don't miss 1/31/13 deadline for e-Rx exemption |
If you and your practice intends but has yet to apply for an exemption from the e-prescribing program to avoid the 1.5 percent cut to your 2013 Medicare payments, then act now. The deadline to submit an online exemption is is Jan. 31.
According to American Academy of Ophthalmic Executives, "Physicians who did not report 25 e-prescribing events from an office visit in 2011, or 10 e-prescribing events from any billable Medicare service in the first six months of 2012, are subject to the cut...Physicians were automatically exempted from the e-prescribing requirement if they had fewer than 100 office visits or if their Medicare-allowed charges for office visits were less than 10 percent of total allowed charges from Jan. 1-June 30, 2012. Automatic exemptions also are granted to physicians who have registered for the Medicare Electronic Health Record Incentive Program and adopted an EHR system since Jan. 1, 2012, or who will do so by Jan. 31.In addition, physicians who successfully demonstrated meaningful use of an EHR system between Jan. 1, 2011, and June 30, 2012, are automatically exempt from the e-prescribing penalty."
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We want to hear from you
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Colorado Society
of Eye Physicians
and Surgeons
PHONE: 720-858-6336
FAX: (720) 859-7509
cseps@cms.org
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President's letter
by George Ulrich, MD |
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Dr. Ulrich
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Dear fellow Colorado ophthalmologists,
The continuing mission of the Colorado Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons/Colorado Ophthalmology Society is to:
- Promote excellence in patient care
- Foster professional fellowship and continuing medical education
- Be a strong advocate for patients and the physicians who serve them.
Regional representation
CSEPS is a statewide organization and we have or are in the process of identifying a local CSEPS representative for YOUR location in Colorado:
- Western slope/Grand Junction - (Interested physicians should contact me)
- Northern region/Ft. Collins, Boulder, Sterling - Dr. Karl Olsen
- Colorado Springs and Pueblo to Alamosa - Dr. Anak Shrestha
- Denver metro area - Dr. Bob King
- Southwest/Durango, Cortez - Dr. John Petty
These representatives play a regional leadership role in helping with our defined mission. They will be calling on YOU to invite your participation and involvement. We want your input.
Committees and leaders
Advocacy: Dr. David Johnson - policy and legislation
Membership and Growth: Dr. Ron Pelton is working by region to grow our organization
Education: Dr. Rob Fante is organizing regional education events
Public relations: Dr. Adrienne Ruth is promoting the work our ophthalmology members throughout the state
These ophthalmology leaders will be calling on you to be part of what we are doing.
Send me an email. I'd like to hear your ideas.
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Legislative update
by Dick Brown, CSEPS Lobbyist | |
The Legislature has convened for the 2013 session,
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Dick Brown
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and things are off to a very slow start. With about a quarter of the members being freshmen, there has been a need for a lot of basic information and education about the process.
More than 100 bills have been introduced, and as yet there are none that are of unique interest to ophthalmologists or specific to eye care. There are several bills of general interest to physicians, and CSEPS participates in the Colorado Medical Society Council on Legislation to help formulate CMS overall policy on legislation.
CSEPS has established a new process for tracking and evaluating bills of interest. A new status table of bills of interest has been created and is continually being updated as things change at the Capitol. The new status sheet has been created as Google spreadsheet, and it lives in the cloud. Please use this link to access it. You will find a short description of the bill, its status and a link to the most current copy of the bill as it is pending before the General Assembly. Please let us know what you think of this resource or if you are having problems accessing it.
Our other new feature is the use of timely surveys to solicit the feedback from our physicians concerning pending bills of interest. The survey is designed to be a quick completion and is very simple. There is a brief summary of the bill, a question as to whether you support the bill or oppose it, and an array of choices for you to tell us how important you think the bill is to your professional practice and to your patients.
The survey will change periodically as new bills are introduced or old bills are amended. There is another reason why we are using this process. At the end of the session, we will compile a score card for all the legislators and how they voted with respect to the priorities of our members. We will make that information to our members and to the legislators when it is compiled. Since our members are often asked to support candidates for election, we thought that this compilation would provide our members with an objective way of determining who they may like to support.
To try the test version of the survey, please use this link. Just complete the quick survey and close it. If you want more detail about the bill, remember that there is more analysis and copy of the bill available through the status of bills table.
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Elections for CSEPS board of directors
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Elections are now open for two open seats on the CSEPS board of directors. Each seat has a three year term. The following candidates are up for election.
- Alan Kimura, MD (Denver)
- Leonard Seibold, MD (Aurora)
Please click here to cast your vote. Voting will be open until February 22, 2013.
If you have any questions then please
contact Chet Seward via email.
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Compounding pharmacy regulations balance safety, sterility and access
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Some Colorado ophthalmologists have been having problems maintaining sufficient supplies of compounded drugs for in-office use. Concerns about this issue have been heightened since last year's fatal, nationwide outbreak of fungal meningitis that was traced back to a large compounding pharmacy in Massachusetts.
CSEPS, working in collaboration with the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), has good news to report. CSEPS and AAO contacted the Colorado Division of Regulatory Agencies and the Colorado Board of Pharmacy to confirm their patient safety regulations on compounded pharmaceuticals. The state confirms that state regulations allow Colorado ophthalmologists to administer essential compounded medications to their patients without a requiring a "patient-specific" prescription provided that the drugs are manufactured at an in-state compounding facility. Use of out-of-state pharmacies for this purpose is forbidden.
The following is a list of some but not necessarily all Colorado compounding facilities that you may consider to obtain your compounded ophthalmic medications. Please note that this is not an endorsement of any of these pharmacies.
This should come as welcome news to Colorado ophthalmologists as physicians in several other states are facing patient-specific state prescription requirements that pose a threat to timely patient access to compounded prescription drugs. Click here for an AAO list of conditions and specific medications used in office/ambulatory settings.
As policymakers at both the state and federal levels continue to address public safety issues that pertain to pharmacy compounding, CSEPS and AAO will continue to work at both the state and federal level to ensure patient safety and access are paramount in any discussion policy makers may have pertaining to pharmacy compounding issues. Compromising either of these principles compromises patient quality of care.
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| Patient's corner: Save your vision month |
The holidays are upon us, and family festivities are drawing near. Remember to talk with your patients about how to stay safe during these celebrations that too often are cut short by eye injuries from stray champagne corks or toy parts can.
February is Save Your Vision Month, and the CSEPS reminds Coloradans that a baseline eye disease screening at age 40 is critical to preserving healthy vision. Early signs of eye disease and changes in vision may start to occur around age 40, and even those with perfect vision should be screened at that time. People with eye disease symptoms or risk factors should also be screened. Keep your patients informed about eye disease risk factors by encouraging them to visit www.geteyesmart.org.
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| Join us - CSEPS is the Colorado ophthalmology society |
Join us in helping to ensure excellence in Colorado eye care. Contact Chet Seward if you have not yet joined. Call for more information at (720) 858-6336.
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| About Us | The Colorado Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons (CSEPS) is the Colorado ophthalmology society representing Colorado Ophthalmologists (medical doctors - MDs and DOs) who specialize in the medical and surgical treatment of eye disease. This newsletter is published by the CSEPS Communications Division, which works with CSEPS physician leadership and the American Academy of Opthamology to advocate on behalf physicians, practice managers and other office staff to help practices remain viable and thrive. If you have questions for the society, e-mail cseps@cms.org or call 720-858-6336.
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