Dr. Sohail Hasan Advocates for Retina Patients and Physicians on Capitol Hill 2026
Illinois Retina Associates physician Sohail Hasan MD, PhD, FACS, FASRS, FRCSC recently traveled to Washington, D.C., for a full day of meetings with members of Congress and congressional staff focused on issues affecting retina patients, physicians, and the future of vision care.
Dr. Hasan participated in the September 16 advocacy day with Retina Consultants of America(RCA), joining fellow retina physicians and RCA leadership for meetings across Capitol Hill. The day’s discussions focused on protecting patient access to retina care, addressing continued cuts to Medicare reimbursement, and sustaining federal support for vision and retina research. Physicians participating in the meetings took the lead in discussing reimbursement and research issues.
Protecting Access to Retina Care
A major focus of the meetings was the impact of continued cuts to Medicare reimbursement on patients and medical practices. Dr. Hasan and the advocacy team discussed how rising practice costs combined with declining reimbursement can make it increasingly difficult for community-based specialists to maintain access to high-quality care.
For retina patients—many of whom require ongoing treatment for chronic, sight-threatening diseases—maintaining timely access to specialists is particularly important. The group emphasized the potential for reimbursement reductions to create additional appointments and delays for patients and to place greater pressure on community-based specialty practices.
Supporting Vision Research
Another major topic was vision research. The group discussed the importance of continued federal investment in ophthalmic research and preserving the National Eye Institute as a distinct institute within the National Institutes of Health. Discussions also addressed research into longer-lasting treatments, genetic therapies for inherited retinal diseases, and other innovations aimed at preventing blindness and reducing the treatment burden for patients.
Physicians Speaking With Policymakers
Throughout the day, Dr. Hasan met with lawmakers and congressional staff from both parties. His scheduled meetings included offices representing Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Morgan Griffith, Sean Casten, Lizzie Fletcher and Adam Gray, followed by a meeting with Rep. Mike Kennedy, MD.
Several of the conversations provided an opportunity for physicians to speak directly with colleagues who now serve in Congress. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, MD, is an ophthalmologist and serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, including its Health Subcommittee. Rep. Mike Rep. Kennedy is a family physician who entered Congress in 2025. Dr. Hasan also had opportunities during the visit to speak with other physician members of Congress, including Reps. John Joyce, MD, and Andy Harris, MD.
The visit also included conversations with members of the Senate, including Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York.
“Physicians have a responsibility to advocate not only for our profession, but for our patients,” said Dr. Hasan. “The decisions made in Washington directly affect whether patients can continue to receive timely, high-quality specialty care in their communities. It is important that policymakers hear directly from the physicians who care for these patients every day.”
For Illinois Retina Associates, advocacy is ultimately an extension of patient care. Ensuring sustainable access to retina specialists, supporting continued innovation in the treatment of blinding diseases, and protecting the nation’s investment in vision research all contribute to the same goal: preserving sight and improving the lives of patients with retinal disease.
