Regulatory/Legislative News

WAILEA, Hawaii — Physician Payment Sunshine provisions may be well-meaning, according to an attorney here, but there is considerable chance for a negative effect on eye care professionals.

WAILEA, Hawaii — U.S. physicians should expect closer oversight, particularly of intravitreal injections and electronic health records, along with a continuing discussion of ASC quality measures and Medicare codes, a speaker said here.

by Jeff Grant

ALAMEDA, Calif. — The University of California, San Francisco, has filed an appeal in response to a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office ruling that favored InSite Vision over the school.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning to pharmacists and health care providers about potential injury stemming from confusion between an ophthalmic solution and a prescription topical wart remover with similar names.

In an 11th-hour maneuver before adjourning for holiday recess Dec. 23, the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate passed a bill that delays for 2 months a 27.4% Medicare physician payment reduction that would have taken effect Jan. 1.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Catalys Precision Laser System from OptiMedica Corp. has been granted 510(k) clearance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, according to a press release.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is directing providers and claims administration contractors to delay filing claims for services paid under the 2012 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, the agency announced in a news release.

WASHINGTON — The American Academy of Ophthalmology and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will work together to try to better understand toxic anterior segment syndrome, according to an AAO press release.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted to reject a Senate bill that would delay a 27.4% Medicare physician payment cut and extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment compensation for 2 months.