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IOL Economic Summit addresses issues in presbyopic lens implantation
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LAS VEGAS — Clinicians looking to incorporate presbyopic IOLs into their practices are faced with issues ranging from reimbursement concerns to potential conversion rates, according to presenters here at the IOL Economic Summit.
The summit, held in conjunction with the OSN Las Vegas meeting, brought together experts to discuss the change in billing for presbyopic lenses that took place in May 2005. J. Andy Corley, chairman and chief executive officer of eyeonics, described his efforts to get the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to rule in favor of partial reimbursement for presbyopic IOLs.
The CMS ruling clarified that a beneficiary may request insertion of a presbyopia-correcting IOL in place of a conventional IOL following cataract surgery and elect to pay privately for the difference between these amounts. Mr. Corley, along with Congressman Christopher R. Cox, R.-Calif., were instrumental in bringing the issue to CMS’ attention.
“This is another example of what the power of a group of people can do,” said Richard L. Lindstrom, MD, Ocular Surgery News Chief Medical Editor, who moderated the summit.
AdvaMed, the association whose member companies produce medical devices, diagnostic products and health information systems, is currently trying to obtain additional reimbursement for procedures performed in ambulatory surgical centers, said Andy Stapars, an official with the association. Mr. Stapars addressed AdvaMed’s role in IOL reimbursement, as well as in ensuring appropriate payment in the hospital outpatient system.
“The ophthalmic sector is well represented at AdvaMed,” Mr. Stapars said.
OSN Cataract Surgery Section Editor William F. Maloney, MD, spoke about ethical issues involved in the use of presbyopic IOLs.
Elizabeth A. Davis, MD, OSN Practice Management Section Member, explained how the CMS ruling has affected her practice.
“In our practice, we will see a growth rate over the next 5 years to a conversion rate of at least 10% to 15%,” she said.
Shareef Mahdavi, a practice consultant, spoke about future practice management considerations in presbyopia correction.