At the Outpatient Ophthalmic Surgery Society’s OOSS Perspective Symposium in Washington, DC, OOSS president William Wiley, MD, opened the meeting with a focused discussion on advocacy outcomes, financial implications for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), and OOSS strategic priorities for sustaining the ASC model.
Dr. Wiley emphasized advocacy as a central driver of recent reimbursement gains, citing the reversal of a projected Medicare payment reduction. According to his remarks, ASCs initially faced an approximate 4.7% cut, which was ultimately converted into a roughly 3% net positive adjustment. He framed this shift as evidence of effective engagement, stating, “It’s a great example of how advocacy works.”
To contextualize the financial impact, Dr. Wiley translated the reimbursement change into per-case and annual revenue terms. He estimated the swing at approximately $100 per case, noting that for a facility performing 10,000 procedures annually, the difference equates to roughly $1 million in revenue. Even at lower volumes, the impact is significant: 1,000 cases per year would bring in approximately $100,000.
Beyond reimbursement, Dr. Wiley positioned ASCs as foundational to both clinical practice and innovation in ophthalmology. “Without ASCs, none of us would really even be at ASCRS,” he said, underscoring the ASC’s role in sustaining procedural volume and enabling adoption of new technologies. He also pointed to the interdependence of ASCs and industry partners, noting that alignment between providers and manufacturers facilitates innovation that ultimately benefits patients.
Physician recruitment and engagement—particularly among early-career surgeons—is an ongoing priority, Dr. Wiley noted. He said that younger ophthalmologists are actively evaluating practice settings, including office-based surgery and ASC models, and emphasized the importance of clearly articulating the value proposition of ASCs. According to Dr. Wiley, maintaining that value proposition is critical to ensuring that ASCs remain a preferred site of care over time. Additional strategic initiatives include expanding educational outreach and engagement with a broader range of stakeholders, including physicians, administrators, and newer surgeons. Dr. Wiley also referenced the charitable arm of the organization, the OOSS Gives Foundation, intended to support philanthropic efforts in coordination with industry partners.
Operational pressures were also addressed, with particular attention to anesthesia staffing challenges. Anesthesia providers are increasingly drawn back into hospital systems, creating coverage gaps for ASCs, said Dr. Wiley. He indicated that OOSS is working to provide guidance and explore solutions, including educational programming and panel discussions aimed at helping facilities maintain quality care delivery while managing financial performance.
The ASC plays a central role within ophthalmology, Dr. Wiley said, both for providers and for industry stakeholders. He characterized ASCs as “critical for what we do,” emphasizing their importance not only to surgical practice, but also to the broader ecosystem that supports ophthalmic care delivery. OASC