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Medicare Rules Updated for Intraocular Lenses
Cataract surgery is the most commonly performed medically indicated operation. Millions of cataract surgery patients now have more choices than ever before.
Traditionally, the eye surgeon selected a distance-vision correcting lens implant. Medicare paid for the intraocular lens (IOL). With the introduction of innovative (and much more expensive) IOL designs that simultaneously correct for both distance and near vision, Medicare and private insurers initially balked. Patients were left to pay for the entire IOL.
Relief, some relief, is on the way for folks with astigmatism.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have added astigmatism-correcting (toric) IOLs to the list of devices available to beneficiaries who are willing to pay out of pocket for materials and services that exceed the agency's customary reimbursement for cataract surgery. This new policy, which was enacted on January 22, 2007 is similar to a May 2005 ruling that granted beneficiaries access to presbyopia-correcting IOLs. 'Access' means the insurer pays the equivalent for the standard IOL and the patient covers the balance.
Although the CMS have not identified which IOLs will be impacted by this ruling, Alcon Laboratories, Inc. (Fort Worth, TX), and STAAR Surgical Company (Monrovia, CA) anticipate that their toric IOLs will be among the eligible lenses.
Related Topics:
Technorati Tags: medicare, cataracts, surgery, medicare coverage
Traditionally, the eye surgeon selected a distance-vision correcting lens implant. Medicare paid for the intraocular lens (IOL). With the introduction of innovative (and much more expensive) IOL designs that simultaneously correct for both distance and near vision, Medicare and private insurers initially balked. Patients were left to pay for the entire IOL.
Relief, some relief, is on the way for folks with astigmatism.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have added astigmatism-correcting (toric) IOLs to the list of devices available to beneficiaries who are willing to pay out of pocket for materials and services that exceed the agency's customary reimbursement for cataract surgery. This new policy, which was enacted on January 22, 2007 is similar to a May 2005 ruling that granted beneficiaries access to presbyopia-correcting IOLs. 'Access' means the insurer pays the equivalent for the standard IOL and the patient covers the balance.
Although the CMS have not identified which IOLs will be impacted by this ruling, Alcon Laboratories, Inc. (Fort Worth, TX), and STAAR Surgical Company (Monrovia, CA) anticipate that their toric IOLs will be among the eligible lenses.
Related Topics:
Technorati Tags: medicare, cataracts, surgery, medicare coverage
