Medicare Accountable Care Organizations

by Mark A. Ridenour, Consultant to the Ohio Optometric Association

The seven ACOs in Ohio that are Medicare-endorsed are

1. Mercy Health Select LLC, Cincinnati.

2. ProMedica Physician Group Inc., Toledo.

3. Summa Accountable Care Organization, Akron.

4. University Hospitals Coordinated Care, Shaker Heights.

5. NOMS ACO, LLC, Sandusky.

6. University Hospitals Coordinated Care, Cleveland.

7. Northwest Ohio ACO, Toledo.

These are Medicare Accountable Care Organizations which are generally for three years and cover at least 5,000 Medicare beneficiaries. There is no accreditation of ACOs; therefore, these Medicare ACOs are the only ones listed publicly.

However, almost ever major health system is building ACO-type entities. Some may pursue Medicare contracts, but because there are stringent rules associated with these government contracts, many may choose to work with private payors (e.g. Aetna, Anthem). You may become aware of these in your local community. If so, try to learn how they plan to incorporate eye care. Tell the OOA, because they may be affiliated with another entity where the OOA has already established relationships.

The AOA is developing an ACO tool kit for members, and when the tool kit is available the OOA Third Party Committee will work to align with Ohio activities.

Click Here to read the AOA article “What Optometrists Need to Know About ACOs”.

7 Steps for Success When Coding Contact Lens Fits

Don’t neglect to make the most of your contact lens services for your patients—and your practice.

By Jason R. Miller, OD, MBA

In the face of health care reform, contact lenses are vitally important to the optometric business model. Advanced contact lens materials, designs and solution systems have improved our ability to provide a comfortable contact lens wearing experience—but being able to properly code and be reimbursed for your time, expertise and materials is critical to success. You may be missing a key opportunity if you neglect to promote your treatment protocol with contact lens wearers. Developing a strong foundation will, in turn, create a strong business revenue center. Here are eight ways to make sure you do it right:

1. Orchestrate the Encounter

Analyze your interaction with your patients from their perspective and break it down:
• Who is going to start the conversation about contact lenses? Is it going to be the doctor, a staff member or the patient who initiates this process? My recommendation is that the doctor or staff members should lead a proactive discussion about the contact lens options. Let the patient know that she or he is an excellent candidate for contact lens wear. If it is your patient who initiates the discussion every time, you’re likely missing some opportunities.
• Who is going to present the fees? Again, once you’ve determined that a patient is interested in wearing contact lenses, a conversation about the costs should be immediate and should take place right in the exam room. Whether it is the doctor or a staff member who will discuss the process and go over the associated fees, this step needs to be done before the patient gets to the checkout desk.

2. Differentiate the Coding for Elective Contact Lens Wearers

Contact lens wearers do require more time and follow-up; that additional service is worth something. When setting the various levels of fees, it is important to consider whether it’s an established contact lens patient, a first-time multifocal wearer or a newly-diagnosed keratoconic patient. The fee will most likely have a range from the least (straightforward evaluation) to the highest (very challenging).

Use CPT 92310, which is defined as: “Prescription of optical and physical characteristics of and fitting of contact lens, with medical supervision of adaptation; corneal lens, both eyes, except for aphakia.”1 Note that CPT 92310 is for both eyes. If you’re prescribing and fitting for only one eye, add modifier -52 (for “reduced services”). In addition, because “elective contact lenses” may be a covered benefit by your refractive carriers, it’s vital that you understand what your obligations are under your contract.

3. Discuss and Disclose Fees with a Contact Lens Agreement Form

Assign your staff to help with some of the contact lens-related duties. For example, technicians can discuss the fitting process, expected follow-up visits and appropriate fees depending on the patient’s prescription needs. Fees can be a hurdle for some patients, and some are surprised that there’s an extra cost for this service. Our technicians can handle many of these inquiries and can head off any uncomfortable situations to avoid such surprises. To that end, consider developing a contact lens agreement form to discuss the fees and any associated follow-up appointments. (See “Sample Annual Contact Lens Agreement,” below.)

Annual Contact Lens Agreement

○ At ABC EyeCare Practice, we carry the latest in contact lens technology, and specialize in the difficult-to-fit patients. This includes astigmatism correcting lenses (toric), multifocal lenses, corneal diseases (like keratoconus), and post-surgical contact lens fits. We are dedicated to your healthy and an enjoyable comfortable contact lens experience.
○ A contact lens Evaluation fee is necessary to renew the current contact lens prescription and is in addition to the comprehensive eye examination fee. This evaluation will include precise measurements, analysis of your vision needs and recommendations specifically tailored for you. It may also include the use of diagnostic lenses if necessary by our doctors to ensure the proper fit of the lenses and good ocular health.

        • The Contact Lens Evaluation fee will range in price depending on the complexity of contact lenses worn:
• Standard Contact Lens Evaluation (Soft Spherical) $X
• Superior Contact Lens Evaluation (Toric, Extended Wear, Multifocal) $X

○ A contact lens Fit Evaluation or Re-fit Evaluation is necessary if the patient has no previous history of contact lens wear or if there is a need / desire to change the current contact lens fit. This charge will be in addition to the comprehensive eye examination fee. This fee will cover the initial evaluation and all contact lens related follow-up visits for a period of months. If necessary, it will also include the cost of any additional contact lens training classes needed for those individuals needing contact lens instruction for insertion, removal, and lens care.
• The Contact Lens Fit Evaluation/Re-fit Evaluation fee will range in price depending on the complexity of contact lenses worn:
• Standard Contact Lens Re-fit Evaluation (Soft Spherical) $X
• Advanced Contact Lens New Fit (New Wearer) or Refit (Toric, Extended Wear) $X
• Superior Contact Lens New Fit (New Wearer) or Refit (RGP, Multifocal, Hybrid) $X
• Medical Contact Lens New Fit or Refit (CRT, Post Surgical, Keratoconus) $X
Note: Follow-up visits may not be included in some Medical Fits

○ Contact lens prescriptions are valid for 1 year.                                          Patient Initial________

4. Use the Unique Codes for Aphakic Fits

Aphakic contact lens fits are often reimbursed through the patient’s medical carrier. Keep in mind that this service is separate from any evaluation and management services or general ophthalmological services, which should be reported using the appropriate code (99000 or 92000 series) if that level of service was performed and met.

The codes for aphakic contact lens fits are either 92311 (for one eye) or 92312 (for both eyes). CPT defines these as:(1)

• 92311: “Prescription of optical and physical characteristics of and fitting of contact lens, with medical supervision of adaptation; corneal lens for aphakia, one eye.”
• 92312: “Prescription of optical and physical characteristics of and fitting of contact lens, with medical supervision of adaptation; corneal lens for aphakia, both eyes.”

Make sure to bill the appropriate material code (V code) that most closely matches the material and design of the lenses:
• V2513: Gas-permeable lens, extended wear, per lens.
• V2530: Hybrid contact lens.
• V2531: Gas-permeable scleral lens, per lens.
• V2599: Contact lens, other type, per lens.

5. Use the Unique Codes for Therapeutic Lens Fits

Since January 1, 2012, there has been a change in the CPT codes for therapeutic contact lenses. CPT Code 92070 was retired and replaced with the following codes:

• 92071: Fitting of contact lens for treatment of ocular surface disease.
• 92072: Fitting of contact lens for management of keratoconus, initial fitting only.

Unfortunately, not every medical insurer carrier will pay for these codes. So, contact the patient’s medical insurer in advance to determine what, if anything, they will pay for before proceeding. It’s important that the patient knows the total amount that they will owe before you provide the services, rather than after.

6. Don’t Neglect Ocular Surface Disease

Ocular surface disease is a very familiar situation that many eye care professionals encounter. Providing medical eye care to these patients can be a powerful addition to an optometric practice, which includes bandage contact lenses (rigid or soft). Bandage soft contact lenses can help relieve pain and promote healing in patients with trauma to the cornea, and larger diameter scleral lenses are often prescribed for other ocular surface conditions.

Corneal abrasion is one of the most common uses for these lenses in primary care practices. In the presence of a corneal abrasion, bandage soft contact lenses shield the corneal surface from the constant mechanical irritation of the blinking eyelids. Once the lens is placed on the eye, patients feel considerable comfort almost immediately and, by controlling the pain, they can return to normal function. (2,3)

For the billing and coding, you would:
• Bill the office visit at the appropriate level (92xxx or 99xxx), if performed and recorded.
• Bill for the fitting of the contact lens for the treatment of the ocular surface disease (CPT 92071). Be sure to indicate the specific eye (RT or LT) because this code is unilateral in nature.
• Bill a material fee as well. Choose either CPT 99070 (supplies and materials, except spectacles, provided by the physician over and above those usually included with the office visit or other services rendered) or the appropriate V code, most likely V2523 (contact lens, hydrophilic, extended wear, per lens).

Note that many providers are typically using a disposable contact lens for this purpose and it is inappropriate to bill for a non-revenue lens (trial or diagnostic lens) if you have provided that.

7. Take Care with Specialty Services, like Keratoconus

Many patients require specialty contact lenses for either vision or comfort reasons. Specialty lenses are valued for their ability to mask corneal irregularities associated with various diseases, including keratoconus. If you’re working with a vision plan:

• The benefit for “medically necessary” contact lenses is usually in addition to, and not a substitute for, eyeglasses. Check to see if you can obtain spectacles for your patient as well.
• Complete a pre-authorization form to determine the patient’s eligibility ahead of time. For a keratoconus contact lens fit submitted to the medical carrier:
• Bill the office visit at the appropriate level (92xxx or 99xxx), if performed and recorded.
• Bill the fitting of the contact lens for the treatment of keratoconus (CPT 92072—a bilateral code).
• Bill a material fee with the most appropriate V code (most likely V2530, V2531 or V2599).

92072 describes the act of fitting the keratoconus lenses for both eyes, establishing parameters and ordering the lenses. It does not include the followup visits, which should be charged separately using the most appropriate office visit code (99xxx or 92xxx). It is a travesty that some carriers do not perceive this service (92072) as a covered medical service and will not reimburse for it. These patients often desire and need special medical attention and too often the bill often falls back on the patient; so be sure to use an Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN) appropriately and within the guidelines as provided by the carrier.

Your contact lens business is vitally important to the success of your optometric practice. These steps will improve your in-office protocols and the ability to be reimbursed appropriately for your time and expertise.

Dr. Miller is in a partnership practice in Powell, Ohio. He is an extern preceptor for fourth year students at The Ohio State University College of Optometry, and he is one of the doctors (along with Dr. Chuck Brownlow and Dr. Walter Whitley) behind AOA’s [email protected]

1. CPT definitions. AOACodingToday. Available at: http://www.aoacodingtoday.com. Accessed March 4, 2012.
2. Buglisi JA, Knoop KJ, Levsky ME, Euwema M. Experience with bandage contact lenses for the treatment of corneal abrasions in a combat environment. Mil Med. 2007 Apr;172(4):411-3.
3. Brujic M, Miller J. Alternative uses for contact lenses. Rev Cornea Contact Lenses. 2009 Mar: 146(2):12-3.

Why Realeyes Is Important

During the past 12 school years, the Realeyes curriculum has been presented by over 550 optometrists and staff to more than 650,000 students in 18,000 classrooms in Ohio. The goal is to educate students (and along the way, parents, teachers, school officials and others) about the importance of vision care and eye safety. Through thousands of returned pre- and post-tests, student participants in Realeyes reveal that their knowledge of eye and vision health has grown. Through 9,500 teacher evaluations that have been collected, the average rating for the Realeyes presentations is 4.8 out of 5.0. Stories are told of students receiving vision correction, understanding the importance vision to learning, taking better care of their eyes, and wearing their glasses as a result of the Realeyes presentation. Realeyes is a powerful advocacy message about vision, and everything needed for a Realeyes presentation is provided by the OOA.

Realeyes is funded by a grant from the Ohio Department of Health through donations raised from $1 contributions by Ohioans at the time they renew their license plates.realeyes image copy

Baseball and Vision

It is almost summertime, and a lot of my patients (and patient’ parents) have been talking about how much time they are spending at the baseball fields for practice and games.  We have all heard the saying “Keep you eye on the ball” when the kid is flailing about with a bat.  Because of this saying, parents must know that eye-hand coordination is important, but i rarely get patients coming in for their examinations for the specific reason of “Johnny cannot hit a baseball.”  I often find this out after further questioning, especially if the child has difficulty with depth perception.  Eye-hand coordination is all about binocular vision and how the eyes work together as a team and how well they communicate with the brain.  Most often it is not a matter of Johnny not being able to SEE the ball, but rather he has difficulty judging WHERE the ball is.  Without good eye teaming the brain cannot perceive depth or judge distances correctly.  If your son or daughter has problems at bat or with a glove or even other tasks involving eye-hand coordination such as riding a bike or handwriting, consider a comprehensive eye examination by an eye care provider to determine if your child has trouble with depth perception or eye teaming.

By Lauren E. Grillot, OD, MS sportsgood edited

Dr. Layman, Candidate for AOA Trustee

In the past year, I have been working with the medical director responsible for the medical home initiative for the largest health system in Ohio.  We are creating protocols for the delivery of primary eye care for the ODs that are in the geographic areas of their primary care physicians.  That effort is an example of an initiative vital to cementing the role of Optometry in the evolving health care system of the future.

There is no doubt that third party parity, advocacy excellence, creative membership initiatives, improving affiliate relations, and combatting internet outlets will be part of the Board agendas of our state and national associations.  You can trust me to be a man of integrity, hungry to dig into these issues on your behalf in order to make a difference for our members and our profession!Dr. Layman

NBC segment on Children’s Vision

Watch the Brian Williams of NBC Nightly News Segment about a concerned nurse who pushed for one of her students to get an eye exam, even after he passed the vision screening.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/51667816/displaymode/1283/for/facebookvideo

Let us know what you think!