Advocacy & Practice Updates — Advocacy & Practice
ASRS Requests Medicare Specialty Designation for Retina Specialists
This week, ASRS submitted a new request to create a new primary Medicare specialty designation for retina specialists. Citing concerns that CMS does not make effective use of taxonomy codes, we noted that a primary specialty code is the only means of differentiating the care retina specialists provide from general ophthalmologists. Specifically, the letter describes recent comparative billing reports that inaccurately compared retina specialists’ billing patterns of comprehensive eye exams with all other ophthalmologists, as well as optometrists. ASRS also argues that a specialty designation will prevent inappropriate cost and quality comparisons with other eye care providers, and assist beneficiaries in identifying the most appropriate provider for their needs.
(Published 1.26.22)