Health Law & Policy

This update from UHC includes procedures enabled with its OMNI Surgical System technology from Sight Sciences.

Dan Ignaszewski explains how the national advocacy campaign aims to unite patients, researchers, and clinicians to protect NEI’s independence and ensure vision research funding.

The law will work to remove outdated restrictions on medications and allow some in-office procedures and will take effect in August.

New tariffs threaten the optical industry, prompting urgent reevaluation of sourcing strategies and pricing as deadlines approach.

A recent US Court of International Trade decision was made on May 28 to permanently prohibit all tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

Shifting from a regulatory role to driving innovation directly, Eydelman discusses how the Collaborative Community on Ophthalmic Innovation is reshaping the field, streamlining outdated processes, and advancing patient-centered solutions worldwide.

The bill, which passed on May 1, allows for West Virginian ODs to provide certain in-office procedures such as laser treatments

CCOI transforms ophthalmic innovation by uniting stakeholders, streamlining processes, and prioritizing patient perspectives for faster, impactful solutions.

Industry leaders discuss the impact of rising tariffs on vision care costs, advocating for policy changes to ensure affordable access to essential eyewear.

The affected mandate requires that all newborns receive erythromycin ointment applied to their eyes after birth, which helps prevent ophthalmia neonatorum.

Mah previews a packed 2025 Annual Meeting, from the debut of SightLine to Dr. Glaucomflecken’s return to the main stage, and outlines his priorities for the year ahead as incoming ASCRS president.

CEO Stephen McLeod, MD, outlines the American Academy of Ophthalmology's commitment to advocating for evidence-based, sustainable, and equitable reforms that prioritize public health and access to quality care.

Tarver is a board-certified ophthalmologist with a doctorate in epidemiology and has held various leadership positions at the FDA as a medical device regulator, helping drive strategic initiatives, conduct clinical research and changing organizational culture.

Over 380 organizations representing patients, health care providers, the medical technology and biopharmaceutical industry, health plans and others endorse the legislation

The Early Detection of Vision Impairment in Children (EDVI) Act would establish the first federal program to address children’s vision and eye health.

In court documents in Connecticut Superior Court in Bridgeport, Isidore Sobkowski claims surgeons at the Wilton Surgery Center failed to properly clean their instruments resulting in him contracting a sight-threatening eye infection.

Vermont is the latest state to consider legislation expanding the scope of practice for optometrists. Earlier this year, South Dakota became the 12th state to expand the scope of practice for optometrists.

Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) that issued the new LCDs have all corrected errors in criteria for coverage of CPC resulting in significantly broader patient qualification in the jurisdictions of these MACs.

Special Superior Court Judge Mark A. Davis ruled that Michael Woodcock, MD’s failure to answer court filings did not mean he admitted his guilt in the allegations made by Cumberland County Hospital System.

Earlier this year, a federal civil jury concluded that the defendants violated the False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Statute by paying kickbacks to ophthalmic surgeons to induce their use of the defendants’ products in cataract surgeries reimbursed by Medicare.

An action filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois by a Pennsylvania woman alleges that neither she nor her physicians were alerted that Tepezza could result in loss of hearing or tinnitus. Horizon said in a statement this and other lawsuits are without merit.

Dirty equipment and sterilization issues are among the many violations found by the FDA.

There have been 8 reported patients with vision loss as well as 4 reports of enucleation, or surgical removal of eyeball.

The company’s Purely Soothing eye drop is used as an anti-inflammatory used to assist with symptoms of ocular irritation and/or swelling, including dry eye.

When tested, the recalled Artificial Tears used by the firefighter were found to contain large amounts of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa bacterial contamination.

The United States Department of Justice originally filed the lawsuit in December 2021 on behalf of an elderly quadriplegic patient, alleging that Tempe, Arizona-based Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center was requiring patients with mobility disabilities to hire third-party medical transport and transfer assistance for outpatient surgical procedures. American Vision Partners was named as a codefendant.

On Tuesday, lawmakers unveiled the $1.7 trillion proposed spending package needed to avert a government shutdown by Friday if both chambers can pass the measure this week.

Medicare’s 2023 fee schedule includes cuts in reimbursement, which some groups say could lead to reduced access to care to patients who need it most.

The FDA describes the test as a web-based, self-guided software application that consumers can access using a touchscreen mobile device and internet-connected computer.

AB 2236 would have allowed optometrists to perform anterior segment laser and minor procedures which involve the use of a scalpel or injections.