Texas Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons

Ophthalmologists. Optometrists. Opticians. Osteopaths. Orthopaedists. Otolaryngologists. Obstetricians. The medical terms can get confusing. But what exactly is an ophthalmologist? ✅Learn more from Safe Vision Texas: safevisiontexas.org/what-is-an-oph…

Spring is here, and Codequest 2026 is on its way to both Dallas and Houston in the coming weeks. Click here for more information and register today: texaseyes.org/codequest2026

"Seven Ways to Protect Your Eyes From Age-Related Macular Degeneration" Ophthalmologists – physicians who specialize in medical and surgical eye care – have more tools than ever before to diagnose the disease earlier, and to treat it better. More: safevisiontexas.org/seven-ways-to-…

Congrats to one of our favorite Texas ophthalmologists and SMU Mustangs, John Haley, MD!

𝐀 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐲𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐬. Our Society’s new name defines the full scope, depth and rigor of ophthalmic medical training. Every ophthalmologist is trained as a physician and surgeon.

.@UTSWOphth first in Texas to offer novel treatment for rare eye cancer that spreads to the liver : Newsroom - UT Southwestern, Dallas, Texas utsouthwestern.edu/newsroom/artic…

2026 Medicare PFS: Independent Physicians Hit Harder Than Employed Docs—Fueling Consolidation As we wrap up PFS week, here’s the through-line from what we’ve covered so far. Monday: The 3.26% conversion factor bump is temporary. There’s still no MEI-linked inflation fix, a new –2.5% “efficiency” cut to work RVUs, and practice-expense/site-of-service changes that widen payment gaps. Tuesday: The efficiency adjustment is deeply flawed. It ignores rising patient complexity, double-counts prior “efficiency” trims, and disproportionately targets procedural work RVUs (for example, many spine codes down 2–3%). Wednesday: CMS reallocated indirect practice expense in facility settings to 50%, further undervaluing office-based care. The same epidural pays roughly $250 in an independent office versus $750+ in a hospital outpatient department, rewarding hospital ownership and site shifts. Today: The uneven toll. Independent practices absorb the full impact of these changes, while employed physicians feel only part of it. Here’s how that plays out in the real world. Employed Physicians Most employed physicians are paid primarily on work RVUs. For them, the main hit is the –2.5% efficiency adjustment on procedures and surgeries. They generally do not experience practice-expense or site-of-service effects, because hospitals bill facility fees separately under OPPS. Recall that those payments receive annual MEI updates unlike physician fees. The result for many employed physicians is relative stability, often buffered by hospital subsidies or compensation adjustments. Independent Physicians Independent practices are hit from every direction: • work RVU cuts • practice-expense reductions • site-of-service differentials For facility-based work common in spine and orthopedics, many codes see 2%–11% per-code reductions, translating to an overall payment decline of roughly 4%. Independent physicians can’t subsidize losses the way large health systems can. They have to survive on undervalued office rates while competing against hospital-owned practices paid at far higher total levels. Examples (facility settings, non-QP CF): • CPT 63047 (lumbar laminectomy): –2.69% • CPT 63048 (additional segment): –8.49% • CPT 27130 (total hip arthroplasty): –7.75% Independent procedural specialists are hit hardest because higher facility volume means larger practice-expense losses. That pressure pushes more independents to sell or close. The outcome is predictable. Independent practices disappear. Hospital employment expands (now 70%+ of physicians, per AMA data). Competition declines. Insurers negotiate with a few dominant systems. Costs rise. Access erodes. Patients wait longer for specialized care. If policy continues to favor employment over independence, the question becomes simple: how do we preserve independent practice and patient choice?

❄️ Texas winter weather looking rough on Saturday? No problem - we’ve got you covered. This Saturday’s Codequest + Retina Bonus Course is moving to Zoom, so you can join from the comfort of your home. ✅Complete details and registration: texaseyes.org

"Top Things Patients Want to Know After a Glaucoma Diagnosis" Learning that you have glaucoma can feel overwhelming. More from Safe Vision Texas: safevisiontexas.org/top-things-pat…

⏰ Codequest 2026 is almost here, and the January 24 event in Austin features a bonus retina-focused course. ‼️ Don't forget the other cities and dates - Dallas in March and Houston in April. ✅ Complete details and registration: texaseyes.org/codequest2026

🎉2026 is here, and it's almost time for Codequest 2026. ‼️ Registration is Open – Passing an audit or avoiding even one bad claim makes your Codequest 2026 attendance worth every penny! Learn more and register today: texaseyes.org/codequest2026

🥳New Year's Eve is almost here! 🚀Champagne corks can fly up to 50 mph - fast enough to cause serious eye injuries, including bleeding inside the eye, retinal detachment and even permanent blindness. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14693777/

‼️ Registration is Open – Passing an audit or avoiding even one bad claim makes your Codequest 2026 attendance worth every penny! ✅TSEPS members and their staff may attend at a heavily discounted rate. Reserve your spot today! Learn more: texaseyes.org/codequest2026

What are ophthalmologists purchasing for their kids this holiday season? This year we’re adding digital devices to our usual list of BB guns, Nerf guns, and slingshots due to screen time and nearsightedness. Learn more: safevisiontexas.org/what-are-ophth…

‼️ Registration is Open – Passing an audit or avoiding even one bad claim makes your Codequest 2026 attendance worth every penny! 📅 TSEPS members and their staff may attend at a heavily discounted rate. Reserve your spot today! Learn more: texaseyes.org/codequest2026

Halloween is just a few days away. @vision_texas takes a look at contact lenses for Halloween: safevisiontexas.org/halloween-non-…

Halloween is almost here, and non-prescription colored contact lenses are being considered by some. Are they safe? What are your options? Learn more from Safe Vision Texas: safevisiontexas.org/halloween-non-…

Ophthalmologists. Optometrists. Opticians. Osteopaths. Orthopaedists. Otolaryngologists. Obstetricians. The terms can get confusing. But what exactly is an ophthalmologist? Learn more: safevisiontexas.org/what-is-an-oph…

Thanks to @VoteAnnJohnson for delivering efficient and high-quality eye care to Texans through HB 4539. Sanjiv Kumar, MD, testified on behalf of Texas ophthalmologists to expand vital eye drops to Texans.

Texas ophthalmologists in action: Ophthalmologist leaders and residents are on Capitol Hill in Washington for the @aao_ophth Congressional Day talking to Congress about high-quality eye care for Texans.