Practice Management

Physician advocates argue that a problematic formula (SGR) is being used to calculate the Medicare budget, and the AAO is . . . calling for its repeal.

Chicago—The question of whether electronic medical records (EMRs) are cost effective in single or multiple offices is answered with a resounding "yes" by J. Gregory Rosenthal, MD, who outlined various reasons.

The Neuro-Ophthalmology Virtual Education Library (NOVEL) is a digital library produced through collaboration between the Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library (EHSL) at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, and the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society (NANOS), Minneapolis.

In the continual quest for a better understanding of vision, the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, is presenting its annual Current Concepts in Ophthalmology series.

Advances in techniques and technology for cataract surgery and IOL implantation have continued through the past year. Those innovations combined with changes in reimbursement have improved the practice setting, contributed to an overall air of increased optimism among ophthalmologists, and have made the contemporary era of cataract surgery more of a golden age than ever before, said I. Howard Fine, MD, reflecting on the state of cataract surgery as the year 2005 nears its end.

Now that practices in ophthalmology and other specialties have adopted electronic billing systems nearly universally, the next step for many is to explore office management solutions that can further improve efficiency, reduce overhead, eliminate considerable paper shuffling, and integrate a range of functions.

Rancho Cordova, CA—Eyefinity will integrate its Web-based services with Professional Practice Systems (PPS) Inc.'s OPTO practice management software.

Where can one preview the latest products from the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), get answers to specific coding questions, talk to Washington insiders about reimbursement, personalize patient-education DVDs, get a first look at the academy's new Maintenance of Certification (MOC) products, and learn the ins and outs of acquiring and installing an electronic medical records system? There's only one place and it happens only once a year—the annual meeting, where all these resources and much more can be found at the academy resource center and technology pavilion.

Fraud and abuse in the ophthalmologist's optical dispensary are difficult to detect. Once suspected or even discovered, it is even more difficult as well as time-consuming to assess what is really happening, and to what extent it is having a negative impact on the practice and dispensary.

It behooves physicians to understand what conditions breed tyrannical managers, and how to cultivate civil, yet effective ones instead.

Where can one preview the latest products from the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), get answers to specific coding questions, talk to Washington insiders about reimbursement, personalize patient-education DVDs, get a first look at the academy's new Maintenance of Certification (MOC) products, and learn the ins and outs of acquiring and installing an electronic medical records system? There's only one place and it happens only once a year—the annual meeting, where all these resources and much more can be found at the academy resource center and technology pavilion.

Chicago, host to the American Academy of Ophthalmology's 2005 annual meeting, has so much to offer including world-class museums, entertainment, shopping, dining, and recreation. There is something for everyone.

Must 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.

Parsippany, NJ—Safilo USA has named Timothy (Timm) Parker as its new director of product development.

Orlando—An independent amblyopia clinic staffed by orthoptists could decrease physician workload. It would also be well received by patients, according to David Morrison, MD.

In 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.

Madison, 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.

Folsom, CA—Eyefinity has expanded its offerings by integrating practice management software with its online services.

You 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).

Washington, DC &#8212 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.

Washington, DC &#8212 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.

East Hanover, NJ—Novartis Ophthalmics is offering its Visudyne Access Network to help patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) get information about their disease.

Fairfax, VA—Three practice administrators have received the American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators' (ASOA) third William E. Rose Jr. Pinnacle Award honoring excellence in Medicare billing practices.

Physicians have chance to learn about latest advances in surgical techniques, technology, practice management

Des Plaines, IL-A new Category III CPT code has been released by the American Medical Association (AMA) to cover the micro-thin prescription inserts (Intacs, Addition Technology) procedure for keratoconus.

New York—Eyetech Pharmaceuticals Inc. is offering to help physicians and patients seeking Medicare reimbursement for pegaptanib sodium injection (Macugen) treatment.

The 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.

Washington, 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.

If you want to rev up your revenues, pay attention to the post-cataract eyewear sales opportunities in your optical dispensary.

New 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.