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Presenter: ‘Room for growth’ for optometry in glaucoma care
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CHICAGO – Ophthalmologists submit a “much higher percentage” of Medicare claims for glaucoma testing, according to Mark W. Swanson, OD, MSPH, FAAO, in a presentation here at the American Academy of Optometry meeting.
At an academy-sponsored press conference, Swanson shared his analysis of 2014 Medicare part B claims from optometrists and ophthalmologists for fundus photography, threshold visual fields, optic nerve optical coherence tomography, gonioscopy and pachymetry.
“Ophthalmologists provide the overwhelming majority of tests for Medicare Part B participants, Swanson said. “The only test where optometrists did more was fundus photography.”
He stated in the study abstract: “There is room for growth in optometry’s provision of these services.”
Swanson said that in 2014, 26,821 optometrists and 17,817 ophthalmologists filed part B claims. He noted that, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 41,000 optometrists and between 15,000 and 23,000 ophthalmologists practice in the U.S.
“The American Academy of Ophthalmology says 19,000,” he said. “The exact numbers are unclear.”
He said about two-thirds of optometrists filed at least 11 claims, while 92% of ophthalmologists did so, “perhaps due to case mix, higher volume or practice preference,” he said.
Pachymetry and gonioscopy were less likely used by optometrists, while fundus photography was most used at 45.9%, Swanson said.
He concluded in his abstract: “Ophthalmologists submit substantially more claims for services that are likely to be related to glaucoma.” – by Nancy Hemphill, ELS, FAAO
Disclosure: Swanson reported no relevant financial interests.