Health Law & Policy

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.

The Florida Second District Court of Appeal has renewed a woman’s lawsuit claiming she suffered permanent eye damage when her ophthalmologist misdiagnosed her during nasal surgery. In its opinion, the appellate court ruled that the trial court erred when it dismissed the lawsuit.

AB 2236, which would reduce the medical education, clinical, and surgical training requirements to become licensed in California to perform eye surgery. Trade organizations and other groups are stepping up to oppose the measure.

The organization uses its Eyes on Capitol Hill program to educate lawmakers and their staff on a variety of vision health issues, including vision health inequities, the need for improved vision surveillance, the impact of community eye health programs, and disparities in access to affordable eyecare services.

In light of newly published fee schedules that include low payment rates for LipiFlow, Cynthia Matossian, MD, FACS, ABES, advises on how eyecare professionals should advocate for their patients and practices.

Michael Rivers, MD, director of ophthalmology, Modernizing Medicine, shares what lingers on his mind in the field of ophthalmology at the end of the day.

Cynthia Matossian, MD, FACS, ABES, takes a look at the recent, sudden change in low-payment reimbursement by Medicare Administrative Contractors for LipFlow and MGD procedure codes.

A word from Chief Medical Editor Peter J. McDonnell, MD.

Michael Rivers, MD, discusses the impact of Aetna's new policy requiring prior authorization for cataract surgery on ophthalmologists, their workflow, and patients.

Michael Rivers, MD, discusses the impact of Aetna's new policy requiring prior authorization for cataract surgery on ophthalmologists, their workflow, and patients.

AAO, Surgical Care Coalition teaming up to ensure the final version of the rule is fair to ophthalmologists and surgeons as one company is expressing its disappointment in the proposal.

ASCRS has issued a statement calling on Aetna to drop a new prior authorization policy it implemented last week that delays cataract surgeries.

The American Medical Association recently announced policies adopted by physician and medical student leaders from all corners of medicine on the final day of the Special Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates.