Eye exams are key to diagnosing glaucoma
Please ask your patients if they’ve had a glaucoma eye exam in the past one to two years. Medicare covers an annual glaucoma screening as a Medicare Part B benefit for high-risk patients. Patients who aren’t high risk will be covered by Medicare but will have a copay for the office visit. The out-of-network deductible applies to all patients who get a glaucoma screening from an out-of-network provider.
Here are some fast facts from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that you can use when talking with your patients about glaucoma:
- There are little or no warning signs or symptoms.
- Vision loss from glaucoma is irreversible.
- You’re at high risk if you:
- Have diabetes
- Have a family history of glaucoma
- Are African-American and over the age of 50
- Are Hispanic-American and over the age of 65
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