March 20, 2019
Richard Edlow, OD, “The Eyeconomist,” shares a data-based analysis showing that only about one-fourth of ODs are meeting the fast-growing need for medical eyecare. Here are the opportunities available to those who hone their clinical skills and understand how to bill for services.
EXCESS CAPACITY. Studies reveal that ODs in the U.S. could be seeing 20 additional patients on average per week.
ODs PICK UP SLACK FROM OMDs. There is an excess of ODs, and a shortage of ophthalmologists. That means there is an opportunity for ODs to fill the void by providing more medical eyecare services.
PROVIDE DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES. Medicare data reveals that in 2016 only 28 percent of ODs billed Medicare for one or more visual fields, only 26 percent billed for an OCT test and only 4 percent billed for tear-film osmolarity.
Richard Edlow, OD, is a partner with Catonsville Eye Group in Catonsville, Md., and the founder of Eyeconomist. To contact him: redlow@aol.com
