May 17th 2024
According to ophthalmologists at the Colorado University School of Medicine, discussing mental well-being is a key part of effective treatment and improving care for patients.
Stay involved by overseeing procedural coding for reimbursement
October 1st 2005Must ophthalmologists understand procedural coding? Perhaps a staffer or even a computer program could do the job? Unfortunately, the answer today is that physicians need to remain involved, understanding and then overseeing the process in their offices.
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Annual meeting 2005: A spotlight on some highlights
September 1st 2005In our continuing look at the highlights of this year's annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Oct. 15 to 18, we look now to new courses and offerings, practice management, a special program for young ophthalmologists, and new advances in technology that will benefit ophthalmic patients.
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Advanced AMD places patient at increased risk of mortality
July 15th 2005Madison, WI—An association between mortality and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) was found in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS). All-cause mortality increased with increasing severity of disease, with category 4 AMD having a significantly increased association with death compared with category 1 AMD. A protective effect was seen for zinc in participants randomly assigned to therapy with the mineral.
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Academy requests input on coding reimbursement
May 1st 2005You can help influence the reimbursement level for specific CPT codes by participating in the Five-Year Review of Work Values, a comprehensive review of all physician relative work values conducted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
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Practice management committee explains Medicare patients' access to new technology
April 16th 2005Washington, DC — The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) issued a paper last year regarding the mission to deliver safe and effective cataract surgery services to all Medicare patients and that all beneficiaries have the right to "essential services," explained Priscilla P. Arnold, MD, immediate past president of ASCRS and the chairman of the government relations committee.
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Dr. Steinert assumes ASCRS presidency, sends message of 'inclusion'
April 16th 2005Washington, DC — It's an annual rite of spring: each year the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) passes the baton from one leader to another. Roger Steinert, MD, assumed the presidency of the society during its general session Saturday morning.
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Credit cards can help lower costs and increase revenue
March 15th 2005The cost to process a credit card payment is around 50 cents for an average copayment, as opposed to about 35 cents for a check. Credit cards become more cost-effective when the costs of bounced checks and unpaid invoices are factored in.
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CMS OKs pegaptanib reimbursement rate
March 15th 2005Washington, DC—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced that as of Jan. 1, 2005, the Medicare Part B allowable for pegaptanib sodium (Macugen, Eyetech Pharmaceuticals) is 106% of average sales price (ASP), or $1,054.70 per injection.
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Adherence to glaucoma therapy of vital importance
February 1st 2005New Orleans—Patient adherence to prostaglandin analogue or prostamide therapy for glaucoma is high but not perfect. There are still opportunities to improve adherence to therapy with these drugs, according to Jacob Wilensky, MD.
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PDT for CNV proves essential, but is it cost-effective?
November 15th 2004Reviewing the evidence for photodynamic therapy (PDT) as a vital tool in the treatment of predominantly classic subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), Neil M. Bressler, MD, suggested that it was the best currently available treatment despite limitations, while Jack O. Sipperley, MD, questioned whether PDT was cost-effective.
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Extranet helps practices keep their business connected
October 1st 2004The extranet is a private network that uses Internet protocol to act as an electronic customer relationship system. The network can securely share business data or other relevant operations with suppliers, vendors, partners, customers, or other businesses.
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Academy offers new concepts, connections to attendees
October 1st 2004The breadth of offerings at the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Resource Center and Technology Pavilion at the first joint meeting with the European Society of Ophthalmology (SOE) is extraordinary. Physicians can try the demo for the Basic and Clinical Science Course on CD-ROM, flip through the latest patient education products, get help with critical business issues such as coding, and learn the ins and outs of acquiring and installing an electronic medical records system.
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Medical liability: How does ophthalmology weigh in?
September 15th 2004The nation's medical liability crisis has yet to waver, according to the American Medical Association (AMA). With the addition of Massachusetts this summer, the AMA's official crisis chart is now composed of 20 states-up from 12 in 2002.
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Evolution of a collector involves several steps
August 15th 2004Ophthalmic heritage encompasses a wide variety of ways to remember the past. One may collect images of famous people, articles that they wrote, study the environment and the settings in which they practiced, collect books or artifacts from days gone by, or just read about history. Here are my ideas about developing a historical collection of antiques.
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Responsibility centers promote effective financial control
August 15th 2004Financial control is vitally important to any well-run business. Financial control mechanisms ensure that the organization continues to progress toward achievement of its financial objectives. Effective financial control allows the organization to detect problems at the earliest possible stage.
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