Jennifer A. Webb

Despite a last-minute vote by Congress that staved off a 5% reduction to Medicare payment rates, ophthalmologists still will experience a 3% pay cut this year due to changes made to work relative value units and practice expense calculations.

Physicians can earn an extra 1.5% bonus on their Medicare cases beginning July 1 if they agree to report their compliance with various procedures.

Las Vegas-Ophthalmologists who dispense eyewear are gearing up for the biggest program in the history of the American Association of Dispensing Ophthalmologists' meetings.

Des Plaines, IL-Physicians treating advanced keratoconus may find a new standard of care now that the FDA has approved a Humanitarian Device Exemption (HDE) for micro-thin prescription inserts (Intacs).

Marco Island, FL-The American College of Eye Surgeons (ACES) andthe Society for Excellence in Eyecare (SEE), along with Ophthalmology Times,will join for the first time to present the SEE Island/Quality Surgery XVIIISeminar. The conference, to be held Feb. 28 to March 3 at the recently renovatedMarco Island Marriott Resort, will merge the best faculty and presentationsfrom the two ophthalmic societies.

Patients considering refractive surgery are understandably nervous about undergoing procedures on their eyes. A physician who can listen to their concerns and address them all will gain their trust and their business.

Duluth, GA-Less than a month after Pfizer Inc. announced it would consider selling off the surgical business it acquired with its merger with Pharmacia Corp. (Ophthalmology Times, Sept. 1 issue, Page 3), another large manufacturer of ophthalmic surgical products has announced it is pondering selling the surgical segment of its business as well.

New York-The North American Scientific Symposium on Age-Related Vision Impair-ment will focus on age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. The two-day conference at Lighthouse International's headquarters here Oct. 16 to 17 is presented by Lighthouse International, AMD Alliance International, and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.

Future Bascom Palmer chief resident