Answers on Endothelial Cell Photography – Ophthalmology Management

While endothelial cell photography, a diagnostic test, has been valuable to ophthalmologists for many years, there continues to be some confusion surrounding it. Specifically, questions about Medicare rules and reimbursement persist; I will attempt to clear up the confusion.

This article answers the following questions:

• Does Medicare cover endothelial cell count performed with a specular microscope?
• What are the documentation requirements?
• Is the physician’s presence required while the test is performed?
• What is Medicare’s allowed amount for this test?
• How frequently may this test be performed?
• May we ever bill the patient directly for this test?

This article was published in Ophthalmology Management’s Coding & Reimbursement column, which is written by Corcoran’s Executive Vice-President, Suzanne Corcoran, COE. To view the entire article in Ophthalmology Management, click on the link below:

http://www.ophthalmologymanagement.com/article.aspx?article=102317