NCSEPS Past President Jennifer Jordan, MD (left) pictured with Rep. Don Davis (center) and NCSEPS lobbyist Alan Skipper
NCSEPS: Championing your profession
Membership in NCSEPS gives ophthalmologists a strong, collective voice on the issues that directly affect their practices, patients, and profession. Through active advocacy at the state and federal levels, NCSEPS works to protect appropriate physician reimbursement, preserve physician-led care, improve patient access, and address burdensome payer policies.
When you encounter a payer or policy issue that affects your practice, NCSEPS is there to help—and your membership strengthens our collective ability to make a difference.
Are you having a payor issue?
NCSEPS can help. Submit your issue on the NCMS Payor Issues form here.
Recent Advocacy Efforts
Modifier 25: Oct 2025 NCSEPS leaders met with BCBS to successfully push back against a proposed Blue Cross NC policy that would have reduced reimbursement for evaluation and management services billed with Modifier 25 protecting appropriate physician payment for same-day care. Now, Modifier 25 is again under threat in the proposed CMS 2027 reimbursement cuts. NCSEPS is working alongside other subspecialty groups, the North Carolina Medical Society, and national partners to push back against these proposed cuts and protect appropriate physician reimbursement.
Medicaid: NCSEPS advocated alongside other physician and patient organizations to fully fund the NC Medicaid program after proposed funding shortfalls threatened reimbursement and access to care.
Prescription eye drops: NCSEPS successfully advocated for early prescription eye-drop refills, helping patients avoid interruptions in essential glaucoma and other chronic eye care.
Rep. Chuck Edwards (center); NCSEPS Secretary-Treasurer Caroline Denwood; and NCSEPS lobbyist Alan SkipperMembers in action: NCSEPS members are directly engaged with policymakers on issues affecting ophthalmology. Last week, Bob Wiggins, MD, and Caroline Denwood, MD, met with U.S. Representative Chuck Edwards, along with NCSEPS lobbyist Alan Skipper, to discuss:
Prior authorization reform
Medicare payment reform, including efforts to delay proposed cuts associated with the CMS “efficiency adjustment”
Pediatric vision screening funding
Veterans’ eye care, specifically prioritizing patient safety in national standards of practice and referral guidelines for the VA Community Care Program
Scope of Practice: NCSEPS worked alongside NCMS and other physician specialties to stop SB-966 The Save Act, which would have allowed nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, certified registered nurse anesthetists, and clinical nurse specialists to practice independently without the supervision of a physician. This bill was not heard in a committee due to our efforts. NCSEPS continues to build relationships with key legislators to ensure that physician voices are heard in these ongoing debates and decisions.
Ongoing priorities: NCSEPS is actively working on site-of-service restrictions, Certificate of Need reform, utilization management, step therapy, workforce issues, and other issues that directly affect our practices and our patients.
