Medicare To Reimburse The Cost of an Annual Screening for Those at Risk for Glaucoma

Jan 2, 2002

Katzen Eye Group is very excited about the announcement that three groups of Medicare beneficiaries are now eligible to receive free screenings for glaucoma: 1, those who have a family history of glaucoma, 2, people who are diabetic and 3, African-Americans over the age of 50. African-Americans are five times more likely to develop the disease.

The Benefits Improvement and Protection Act (BIPA) of 2000, provides annual coverage for glaucoma screenings for eligible Medicare beneficiaries as defined above. The benefit is effective January 1, 2002, and a beneficiary may receive a covered screening once every 12 months.

"The new Medicare benefit is a major victory for those people who are at risk for glaucoma," said Dr. Brett Katzen. "In addition to the GDx machine that we introduced last January, this coverage is a tremendous asset encouraging people to be screened for an eye disease that can result in permanent vision loss and blindness.

Although glaucoma cannot be prevented, if diagnosed and treated early, it can be controlled. Vision lost to glaucoma cannot be restored.

"Our hope is that with the new Medicare benefit, Katzen Eye Group will see more people getting the early care that they need, rather than when they begin to notice vision loss," said Dr. Peter Lapinsky. "We're doing our best to let all of our at-risk patients know about the coverage."