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ASC Advocates

ASC Advocates K Physicians affiliated with ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) have a powerful ally in their corner: the Outpatient Ophthalmic Surgery Society (OOSS). Formed in 1981, the organization represents the interests of ophthalmic-led ASCs, providing education, resource information and political advocacy. It is also leading the fight to ensure fair reimbursements and fee schedules, as well as protecting physicians� rights to own and expand ASCs, says the organization�s executive director, Claudia McDougal. Approximately 250 of the 800 ophthalmic-led ASCs in the United States are members of OOSS, and that rate has been growing at about 20% per year, according to McDougal. She attributes that growth to the resources OOSS has implemented recently on its Web site, www.ooss.org. Click on the link �Issues & Advocacy,� for example, to find the bulletin, Washington Update, which informs readers of the most essential ASC issues of the day, tells members what they can expect regarding reimbursement rates and suggests actions they can take, such as contacting their congressperson. In fact, another link under �Issues & Advocacy� identifies the relevant representative when the member enters his or her ZIP code, provides guidance on what to write and sends the message. Under �OOSS Resources,� visitors will find �Industry Links,� which provides connections to the Medicare Web site for a list of additions and deletions of ASC procedures, the ASC procedures list and other important government and private resources, such as the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Healthcare. In the Web site�s �Product, Equipment and Services� section, companies list themselves and visitors can search by company, product or service name. Click on �Education� and find a Calendar of Industry Events, with international ophthalmic-led education efforts listed by date. There are also links to OOSS education efforts such as the OOSS-Day Summit (at the 2007 American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons Meeting in San Diego) and the ASC National Symposium in Atlanta. Another OOSS Web site feature is the �ASC Classi-fieds� section. ASCs and doctors looking for partners post employment ads, while other advertisers seek to buy or sell equipment or office space. By mid-2007, McDougal says, OOSS anticipates offering ophthalmic ASC benchmarking, as well as a �Find a Member� link to help consumers find ophthalmic facilities in their area. Given the rate at which the ASC industry has grown and is projected to grow, McDougal says she thinks OOSS will grow right along with it. Those interested in joining OOSS can go to www.ooss.org and click on �Join & Renew.��OM