Welcome to GSO

The Georgia Society of Ophthalmology is the only statewide organization representing Georgia ophthalmologists and their patients. The GSO's activities include legislative advocacy, continuing medical education for ophthalmologists, and public education about important eye health care concerns.

Members of The Georgia Society of Ophthalmology are board-certified ophthalmologists in various practice settings throughout Georgia.  Our member physicians are wholly dedicated to lifelong learning and professional integrity in order to provide the best possible patient care.

Our Mission is to advance the art and science of the medical specialty of ophthalmology by promoting superior and ethical care for patients through education and legislative advocacy. 

Technicians: Join us virtually beginning February 7 for the 2024 GEM Eye Meeting Technicians Program!

This self-study course has been approved for 5.5 IJCAHPO CE Credits. 

CLICK HERE to learn more and register today!

 Legislative Alert: Support Legislation to Reduce Prior Authorization Burdens on Patients and Practices

Academy Advocacy Opportunity:
The Academy continues to work with a coalition of leading specialty physician organizations urging legislators to address prior authorization burdens under the Medicare Advantage program. We recently secured the Senate reintroduction of the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act (S. 3018, also known as H.R. 3173 in the House of Representatives) in the 117th Congress.

In the previous Congress, this bipartisan legislation was supported by nearly 300 members of Congress. More than 400 national and state physician, provider and patient organizations, including many ophthalmological societies, also endorsed the legislation. We are working to build strong support for S. 3018 in the new Congress. With its reintroduction and strong bipartisan support, we're hopeful the bill could finally become law.

Action Requested
Your society can support the Academy's advocacy efforts to reduce prior authorization burdens by taking the following actions:
1. Garner support for S. 3018 by personalizing and sending the attached letter to your state delegation in the U.S. Senate. Academy staff Dash Delan is happy to assist state societies in sending these letters.
2.Share the link to the Academy's online tool with your membership and urge them to contact their U.S. Senators in support of S. 3018.
3. Use this link to add your society to the list of organizations supporting S. 3018.

Background info on the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act (S. 3018)
This bipartisan legislation would protect patients from unnecessary delays in care by streamlining and standardizing prior authorization in Medicare Advantage plans, providing much needed oversight and transparency of health insurance for America's seniors. Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), and John Thune (R-SD), reintroduced the bill (S. 3108) on October 20, 2021. Click here to see which representatives have already cosponsored S. 3018.

The bill would:

• establish an electronic prior authorization process and require Medicare Advantage plans to adopt such capabilities;
• require the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to establish a list of items and services eligible for real-time decisions under an electronic prior authorization process;
• standardize and streamline the prior authorization process for routinely approved items and services;
• ensure prior authorization requests are reviewed by qualified medical personnel;
• increase transparency around Medicare Advantage plans' prior authorization requirements and use thereof and;
• protect beneficiaries from any prior authorization-related disruptions in care when they change Medicare Advantage plans.