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Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Approves Partial Payment of Presbyopia-correcting Intraocular Lenses
Boise & Nampa, ID – May 11, 2005 – The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services announced approval of partial payment for presbyopia-correcting intraocular lenses (MIOLs) effective as of May 3. This ruling could affect millions of seniors by allowing patients access to advanced technology intraocular lenses for treatment of cataracts and presbyopia. Cataract surgery is the most common surgical procedure performed in the United States.
Presbyopia is a condition that affects the eyes of many adults over 40 years old, resulting in the need for reading glasses or bifocals for clear near vision. This condition is a natural result of the aging process which causes the eyes to lose the ability to focus for near vision. Cataracts are the gradual clouding of the natural crystalline lens. The placement of a MIOL into the eye may reduce or eliminate the need for glasses and give a patient good functional vision both near and far.
This partial payment approval by Medicare clarifies that beneficiaries (patients) may request insertion of a PIOL instead of a conventional intraocular lens during their cataract procedure. Prior to the ruling, Medicare regulations covered only the insertion of a conventional intraocular lens following cataract surgery. The amended regulation allows patients to pay privately for that portion of the charges for the insertion of a PIOL and related technical services that exceed the charges for the insertion of a conventional intraocular lens.
“This is great news for our senior patients,” says Dr. Mark Hollingshead of Hollingshead Eye Center. “Cataract surgery is the most frequently performed eye procedure in the U.S. I have been using this lens for the last year with non-Medicare patients and the results are spectacular. The new Medicare ruling can greatly benefit the multitude of cataract patients as they gain equal access to the current advances in eye care technology.”
Hollingshead Eye Center is Boise and Nampa Idaho’s leading provider of vision correction procedures and offers comprehensive eye care, including the latest presbyopia-correcting IOLS.
Additional information can be obtained by contacting Nancey McCann, Director of Government Relations for the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ASCRS) at 703-591-2220 or by contacting Hollingshead Eye Center at Boise: 208-336-8700, Nampa: 208-466-2787.