WAO Legislative and Regulatory Quick Notes

June 28, 2022 10:50 AM | Becca Liebers
  • The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) has endorsed a new piece of federal legislation (HR 7995 – the Gold Card Act) that would give certain Medicare Advantage providers an exemption from some prior authorization requirements. The exemption would apply to specific items, services, or groups of similar services on which a provider has an approval rate of 90% or better during the preceding plan year. CLICK HERE to use the AAO’s automated advocacy tool to contact your members of Congress and urge them to support this important legislation.
  • The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2021 (H.R. 3173) – legislation that would streamline and standardize prior authorization in the Medicare Advantage (MA) program and would be complimented by the Gold Card Act – has garnered broad bipartisan support in Congress. In fact, the legislation, which would also provide much-needed oversight and transparency while protecting beneficiaries from unnecessary care delays and denials, has more than more than 330 co-sponsors in the House and Senate. 
  • Optometrist scope of practice legislation (HB 22-1233) was recently passed by the Colorado Legislature and signed into law by the governor. The new Colorado law increases practice rights for doctors of optometry (ODs), expanding their scope of practice to include procedures such as lesion removal, injections and corneal crosslinking, as well as certain laser procedures, including YAG capsulotomy. A similar bill was passed in Virgia earlier this year.
  • In early June, the state Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) announced that the agency is no longer charging fees to integrate the Enhanced Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (ePDMP) into electronic health record systems managed by health systems and other health care entities. The intent is to simplify access for health care organizations, as well as increase wider participation within the health care community. To apply for a no-monthly fee ePDMP integration or for more information, go to the ePDMP website. 

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Wisconsin Academy of Ophthalmology

563 Carter Court, Suite B
Kimberly, WI 54136
Ph: 920-560-5645 • WAO@badgerbay.co

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