November 29th 2023
Physician details her journey from sustaining career-ending injury to insurance advocate.
AAO, ASCRS continue work on provisions for Medicare reimbursement
October 1st 2003Washington, DC-If the proposed 2004 Medi-care Fee Schedule goes into effect January 1, ophthalmologists are likely in for more belt-tightening. The 4.2% cut in physician fees called for in this recently published rule may come as no surprise to many in the ophthalmic community. However, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), and other physician-provider groups are lobbying for provisions to address what they see as a flaw in the sustainable growth rate formula.
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Know your market, competition to boost your capture rate
September 15th 2003Ten years ago, I wrote an article on inventory management for an educational magazine. The article began like this: Everyone agrees times are tough and yet there are optical retail shops that are seeing stronger sales than ever. Do they have a crystal ball? Or are they simply working smarter?
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Steroid is safe for treating conjunctivitis
September 1st 2003Loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic suspension 0.2% (Alrex, Bausch & Lomb Pharmaceuticals and Pharmos Corp.), the so-called "safe steroid" approved for treatment of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, appears to be living up to its billing, according to several ophthalmologists who prescribe the drug for a range of ophthalmic allergies.
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More ABCs of opening an MD optical dispensary
August 15th 2003Editor's Note: In last month's "Dispensing Solutions" column, Pamela B. Fritz left off with a discussion on space allocation for the MD dispensary (see Ophthalmology Times, July 15, 2003 issue, Page 42). There are several other considerations in determining proper space allocation.
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Safilo gets entire Liz line in Outlook acquisition
August 15th 2003Parsippany, NJ-Safilo Group will add several Liz Claiborne Inc. licensed eyewear brands to its line up-becoming the sole manufacturer for all Liz Claiborne-branded eyewear and sunwear collections-with the acquisition of Outlook Eyewear.
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'Any willing providers' not likely to be long-term participants
July 15th 2003Washington, DC-Patients can keep their health-care providers even if they have to change to a health maintenance organization (HMO) in which their provider is not currently included, according to a recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court.
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Signet Armorlite lenses available from Eyefinity
July 15th 2003Folsom, CA-Eyefinity will use its Web site (www.eyefinity.com) to promote Signet Armorlite's Kodak lenses, Corning SunSensors lenses, as well as Kenmark Group's complete frame portfolio under new partnerships. Among the lens products to be featured online will be Kodak Precise progressives, which include Corning's SunSensors Gray and Brown, EvoClear, PolyClear, and standard Resin.
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Ophthalmologists relying on optometrists in the office
June 15th 2003With daily operating costs rising, reimbursement rates declining, and concerns over soaring liability insurance prices, profitability is a hot topic for the modern ophthalmology practice. Some groups are finding an effective solution in the symbiosis between ophthalmology and optometry. By adding optometrists to their staffs, ophthalmologists are offering a more complete vision-care package to their patients and driving up profits in the process. The advantages, as seen by the doctors involved in these relationships, are many.
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Issue of malpractice jury awards best resolved state by state
June 1st 2003If ophthalmologists and other physicians are looking to the nation's capital for assistance in dealing with the jury awards that far exceed actual economic losses by plaintiffs, one doctor believes it is a colossal waste of time.
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Medical liability reform, fair reimbursement top agenda
June 1st 2003This year's Advocacy Day marked the largest turnout in the history of the event. Almost 200 ophthalmologists from around the nation left their practices and headed to Capitol Hill in early April to discuss with their senators the need for medical liability reform and fair reimbursement. Among those hoping to make a difference was James Felch, MD.
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Software continues to manage electronic records
June 1st 2003Austin, TX-The VersaSuite software system (Universal Software Solutions Inc.) provides a total practice management solution to ophthalmology practices of any size or scope, said Darius Samani, PhD, MBA, and CEO of Universal. He first designed VersaSuite in 1997. There has been a major release of the program every year since then.
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Scenario planning steers business through uncertain terrain
April 15th 2003Physicians as business people frequently confront complex situations. Strategic planning in these instances is difficult because of the many factors that deserve consideration. Traditional quantitative forecasting techniques have limited application when the organization's environment has multiple influences and may change dramatically over time.
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Tort reform a necessary strategy for liability crisis
March 1st 2003Baltimore-Physician groups, such as the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), are advocating tort reform as the solution for the medical liability crisis that doctors are now facing.
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Advances mean the time for the digitized office is now
February 15th 2003Baltimore-Digital imaging techniques in medicine have been promoted since the 1980s, but recent technological advances have made it far better than before, saidRajendra S. Apte, MD, PhD, who spoke during the Current Concepts in Ophthalmology Meeting here.
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Influential position: AAO member named to AMA reimbursement committee
February 1st 2003Here's some good news regarding Medicare reimbursement. American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) member William L. Rich III, MD, has been appointed to an influential American Medical Association (AMA) committee on physician reimbursement.
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Fair allocation: Medicare reimbursement hinges on unified strategy
February 1st 2003Baltimore-The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) has embraced a unified strategy with the hope that the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and Congress may sign off on a 2003 budget that guarantees no budget cuts and corrects projection errors, according to William L. Rich, MD, AAO's secretary for federal affairs (See related article this issue, "AAO member named to AMA reimbursement committee," Page 14).
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Include seniors in your vision
January 15th 2003Before the November elections, a political ad on the radio really caught my attention. An elderly patient was talking about a candidate who was running for a state office. The candidate was an ophthalmologist. The patient explained that he had asked this physician's receptionist if the doctor would accept assignment for his eyeglasses after his cataract surgery. The answer was no. The patient commented, "I guess the doctor doesn't really care about seniors. He gets his money from us first and we have to wait for ours (reimbursement from Medicare)."
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