To say that ophthalmology is glad to put last year behind us is a colossal understatement. The challenges we faced in this specialty throughout 2020 were monumental, with the ramifications long lasting, if not permanent. There’s really no point in rehashing all the difficulties we endured last year as they all remain fresh in our minds.

So, perhaps now is the time to look forward to what 2021 has in store for us.

From my point of view, it’s a pretty mixed bag, to be certain. For one, we are going to have to deal with a pretty significant reimbursement cut in office-based services, which could not come at a worse time for most practices. Having to deal with lost revenue last year during the pandemic’s early phase and a 6% cut in future charges seems particularly cruel.

The continued need to provide COVID-19 precautions for what looks like most of the coming year is also an unwelcome burden.

So, are there any bright spots out there?

Fortunately, yes, there are a few. We saw the decrease in office-based codes, but we also saw a 2% increase in surgical fees. The end result may be that we see more doctors becoming involved in the ASC process. That can only be good for the practice of ophthalmology—and the business of ophthalmology.

Here’s hoping that 2021 will see the return to live, in-person meetings. Likely, by the time we attend our first meeting together it will have been more than a year since we have had the chance gather together to exchange ideas. For me, virtual meetings have filled the gap in some ways, but the spontaneous learning that happens during face-to-face discussions with colleagues is how many of us grow in our field.

Ophthalmology has shown itself to be a very resilient specialty. When we are presented with challenges that can seem rather daunting, we always seem to find a way through. We provide life-changing care for our patients, for which they remain forever grateful.

When the times get tough, I always try to take moment to remember that. It seems to help.

In the coming year, The Ophthalmic ASC will continue to keep you up to date with all the information you need to make your surgical services the tip of the sword in your practice. ■