Public Service

Prescription Assistance of Tennessee (PPARx of TN)

PPARx assist patients with the cost of medication when they meed certain qualifications. For more information, go to: https://www.kvbpr.com

Centers for MEDICARE and MEDICAID Services (CMS) Release Decision on Presbyopia-Correcting Intraocular Lenses (IOLS)

CMS Ruling on Payment for Presbyopia-correcting IOLs, effective May 3, 2005.. The following link will direct you to the press release from CMS about the ruling. https://www.cms.hhs.gov/spotlight-technology.asp.

“This ruling clarifies that a beneficiary may request insertion of a presbyopia-correcting IOL in place of a conventional IOL following cataract surgery” said CMS Administrator Mark McClellan, MD, PhD, in a press release today. “In this case, the presbyopia-correcting IOL device and associated services for fitting one lens are considered partially covered by Medicare. The beneficiary is responsible for payment of that portion of the charge for the presbyopia-correcting IOL and associated services that exceed the charge for insertion of a conventional IOL following cataract surgery.”

In the ruling, CMS states that, “The payment for insertion of a conventional IOL furnished in a hospital outpatient department or in a Medicare-approved ambulatory surgical center is packaged or bundled into the payment for the surgical procedure performed to remove a cataractous lens. A beneficiary may request insertion of a presbyopia-correcting IOL in place of a conventional IOL following cataract surgery. In this case, the facility charge for insertion of the presbyopia-correcting IOL is considered partially covered. The beneficiary is responsible for payment of that portion of the facility charge that exceeds the facility charge for insertion of a conventional IOL following cataract surgery. In addition, the beneficiary is responsible for the payment of facility charges for resources required for fitting and vision acuity testing of a presbyopia-correcting IOL that exceeds the facility charges for resources furnished for a conventional IOL following cataract surgery.”

The ruling goes on to state that, “The payment for a conventional IOL furnished in a physician’s office is not bundled with the procedure to insert the IOL following cataract surgery. The payment amounts for the IOL device and insertion procedure are two separate charges. A beneficiary may request insertion of a presbyopia-correcting IOL in place of a conventional IOL following cataract surgery. In this case, the presbyopia-correcting IOL device is considered partially covered. The beneficiary is responsible for payment of that portion of the physician’s charge for the presbyopia-correcting IOL that exceeds the physician’s charge for a conventional IOL following cataract surgery. Regardless of site-of-service for insertion of a presbyopia-correcting IOL, the beneficiary is responsible for payment of physician services attributable to the non-covered functionality of a presbyopia-correcting IOL inserted following cataract surgery. In determining the physician service charge, the physician may take into account the additional physician work and resources required for insertion, fitting, and vision acuity testing of the presbyopia-correcting IOL compared to insertion of a conventional IOL. The beneficiary is responsible for payment of the charges for physician services that exceeds the physician charge for insertion of a conventional IOL following cataract surgery.”

Tennessee EyeBanks

East Tennessee Lions Eye Bank

Valerie Stewart, CEBT
865-544-9625

Tissue Banks International

Tissue Banks International is a non-profit network of eye and tissue banks. TBI provides corneas and other eye tissue for sight-restoring transplant surgery. Many of TBI's transplant banks also recover such tissues as bone, ligaments and tendons (musculosketal tissue) that restore mobility, as well as skin used in burn and reconstructive surgery, heart valves to correct cardiac conditions, and saphenous veins to remedy circulatory problems.

TBI began with one eye bank, the Medical Eye Bank of Maryland, in 1962. Back then, people had to wait months, sometimes years for the tissue that would restore their sight. Today the TBI network numbers 33 U.S. locations in the states and the District of Columbia. Many recover other non-ocular kinds of tissue. In areas with a TBI transplant bank, there are virtually no patient waiting lists for tissue.

TBI also maintains a global outreach program, the International Federation of Eye and Tissue Banks (IFETB). Its mission is to reduce corneal blindness which afflicts more than 10 million people -- most younger than 30-- around the world.

For more information, contact:

Chris Cochran
Vice President, Marketing & Distribution
Tissue Banks International
815 Park Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21201
www.tbionline.org
Office: 410-752-3800
Cell: 410-908-0379

Refractive Surgery

Vision correction has come a long way since the late 1200s, when glasses were made by riveting together the handles of two magnifying lenses. Needless to say, we no longer have to precariously balance magnifying lenses on our noses. However, today we do face a challenge, albeit a less awkward challenge, of another sort - sifting through the dizzying and quickly changing array of choices to correct vision.

The Eye M.D.s of Tennessee (ophthalmologists) urge you to consider the various options for correcting vision to find the best solution for you and your lifestyle. Today, refractive surgery can be used to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. But it is intended for people who want to minimize their reliance on glasses or contact lenses. Those looking for perfect vision without glasses or contact lenses run the risk of being disappointed.

Currently, the most common type of refractive surgery is LASIK, in which a flap is cut in the cornea, and then a laser is used to reshape the underlying corneal tissue. But studies are underway for other types of refractive surgery, as well as non-invasive laser treatment. New advances in precision lenses have made soft contact lenses an option for more people than ever before. Contact lenses can be designed for people with astigmatism, those who need multifocals, as well as for people with serious eye conditions such as keratoconous (bulging cornea).

If you decide to stick with old-fashioned glasses, you may want to consider some newfangled frames. People with active lifestyles might want to consider titanium and carbongraphite frames, two new framing materials particularly resistant to damage. Even some new plastic frames are so flexible they can be twisted into pretzel shapes and snap back undamaged.

Before you visit your Eye M.D., remember to write down questions you have, and speak frankly about those questions as well as your concerns. If you decide refractive surgery is for you, consulting your Eye M.D. is critical to making an informed decision. The most satisfied laser surgery patient is one who has realistic expectations and a thorough understanding of the risks and possible complications of refractive surgery.

To find an Eye M.D. in your areas who does refractive surgery, go to the Search form and enter your city or county.

Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

1. Southeastern Retina Associates (Knoxville, TN) is participating in Clinical Trials to study and compare treatments for Macular Degeneration. Funded by Alcon Research, Ltd., the study screens volunteers with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Symptoms of AMD begin with distortion and the loss of vision in the center of the field of vision as the macula, at the rear center of the retina, begins to degrade. For more information on the Clinical Trials, click https://www.clinicaltrials.com/trials/trials.asp?illness_id=228&State=TN&imag

2. The National Eye Institute has now completed its long study of Age-Related Macular Degeneration. For more information on the study, click on the title above. The study is also available in the October 2001 issue of Archives of Ophthalmology. More information on AMD can be found on the American Academy of Ophthalmology's (AAO) Website, https://www.aao.org

Diabetes Resources

Diabetes is a serious condition. If you are a diabetic, always consult your OPHTHALMOLOGIST (Eye-MD) in addition to your primary care physician. Below are some resources for reference. The TAO and its member ophthalmologists do not endorse (implied or otherwise) or specifically recommend these sites or any information contained in the sites. The TAO and its member ophthalmologists are not responsible for any information contained in these sites. This information is provided as a public service only.