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PACs: Money Well Spent, Whether You Like it or Not

From the Chief Medical Editor

Larry E. Patterson, MD

I don't like PACs, those political action committees that always are after my hard-earned money to give to various politicians, helping them to see things our way. I've worked long hours for my money, and don't like seeing it thrown away.

Now that I've got that out of the way, let me encourage you all to quit being so stingy with your money and start giving more of it to ophthalmology PACs right away!

Yes, I can already hear you saying, “But you just said you don't like PACs.” So what? I don't like taxes, but I pay them. Just because I don't like PACs doesn't mean that I (and, by inference, you) don't need to help fund them. Here's why.

Take the biggest PAC in our profession, the AAO's OPHTHPAC. Most of us are AAO members, but few of us realize how much time, effort and money went into fighting for new practice expense changes. Thanks in part to their hard work, ophthalmology is getting a 10% increase (5% practice expense update, Jan. 1, 2010; 1.1% sustainable growth rate update; tentative 4% practice expense update, Jan. 1, 2011) in Medicare reimbursement. The increase is now a baseline for future Medicare reimbursement negotiations. Most other specialties fared less well. Despite all the doom and gloom about the 21% SGR cut (which is still out there and still needs to be fought), these are very significant increases in our bottom lines. Other battles continue to be waged.

Unfortunately, only about 13-15% of the Academy's membership gives to OPHTHPAC each year. Its high-water mark was 2008, when 17% gave. They have a goal of raising $2 million this cycle and need another $500,000 before election day to reach this goal. Several ophthalmologists are running for Congress this year and have legitimate shots at winning seats. OPHTHPAC is working to help these candidates get elected, but they need to raise the funds necessary to push them over the top.

But, you say, I'm also getting pleas from ASCRS (or another specialty society), OOSS and also my state medical and ophthalmology PACs. Who should I give my money to the most? I was at a meeting of the leaders of almost every major ophthalmology group in this country about 18 months ago and that very question was posed. The answer? All of them. Because they are all doing very necessary work for you.

If you ask any lawyer, he considers giving to PACs part of the cost of doing business. In part, that's why they've been so much more successful than us in politics. So how much should I give? I like an answer I read recently. How about 5% of this year's 5% increase?

Next time you get that solicitation, don't throw it away. Quit riding on the coattails of the minority who participate. Get out your checkbook, and make a difference. You don't have to like the taste — it's still good for you.