Practice Management

Dispensing ophthalmologists face many challenges in opening and maintaining profitable optical dispensaries. Considering the volume of cataract surgery many ophthalmology practices are performing for their aging patient base, setting up the dispensary for delivery of post-cataract eyewear can be a major challenge. It's not so much in the fitting and dispensing of the eyeglasses, but in completing the proper paperwork both within the dispensary and filing with Medicare for reimbursement of claims.

Washington, DC-The Medicare Payment Assessment Commission (MedPAC) will recommend that Congress revise the payment system for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) so it falls in line with payments for similar procedures performed at a hospital.

Toronto-QLT Inc. is temporarily lowering the price of verteporfin (Visudyne, Novartis and QLT Inc.) by $55 after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lowered the amount for which it would reimburse physicians.

Rochester, NY-Bausch & Lomb has completed the purchase of InSite Vision's ISV-403 compound for the treatment of ocular infections. Bausch & Lomb gave InSite Vision an undisclosed cash sum and reimbursement of certain product development expenses. In exchange, InSite Vision will give Bausch & Lomb a percentage of future product sales in all licensed countries.

Anaheim, CA-Evidence-based medicine is at least a partial solution to many of the dilemmas facing today's ophthalmologists.

San Francisco-The American Academy of Ophthalmic Executives (AAOE) and the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO) will jointly develop and offer the ophthalmic coding specialist examination and title.

Mountain View, CA-Iridex Corp. has started a laser reimbursement support program in the United States to offer physicians assistance on laser-related coding issues.

Washington, DC-The New Year brings with it a new chapter in fair reimbursement for physician Medicare fees.

Marblehead, MA-As the year draws to a close, U.S. ophthalmologists are taking an assessment of where things stand in their practices and in the world around them. Many are finding comfort in the knowledge that the ophthalmic market continues to hold its own in an uncertain economic climate, said Kenneth P. Taylor in an independent analysis of the vision-care sector.

Patients considering refractive surgery are understandably nervous about undergoing procedures on their eyes. A physician who can listen to their concerns and address them all will gain their trust and their business.

Fairfax, VA-The American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators (ASOA) has entered into an agreement with Ingenix to co-publish the 2004 edition of the Coding Companion for Ophthalmology, along with the 2004 Ophthalmology ICD-9-CM and CPT Fast Finders.

It has been 3 years since the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)offered physicians the opportunity to create a customized practice Web site with Medem, the physician network founded by the academy and six other medical societies.

Wilmette, IL-More intensive staffing and better preparation can reduce various aspects of procedure time associated with cataract procedures performed at ambulatory surgery centers.

Washington, 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.

Ten 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?

Loteprednol 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.

Editor'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.

Parsippany, 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.

Washington, DC-New legislation introduced by two House committees in mid-June will not include a proposal to cut Medicare payment rates for ambulatory surgical center (ASC) services.

Washington, 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.

Folsom, 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.

With 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.

Mountain View, CA-California's Medicare Part B carrier will begin to cover transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) and feeder vessel (FV) laser protocols to treat wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

If 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.

This 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.

Austin, 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.

Alexandria, VA-Healthcare providers should be especially mindful of enforcement actions by the Federal Trade Commission and state consumer protection agencies as they embark on new federal patient privacy standards.

Washington, DC-The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has expanded the list of procedures it will cover, including several important ophthalmic procedures.

Golden, CO-Noridian, the Medicare carrier for 14 western states, has proposed limiting coverage for monitored anesthesia care (MAC) for cataract surgery, except for severely ill patients.

Physicians 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.