O C T O B E R 2 0 1 6 • O U T PA T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T • 8 7
C
ataract surgery on both eyes at the same time? Why
not? Patients only have to endure the inconvenience of
surgery once. And forward-thinking surgeons get to
practice progressive ophthalmic care. But if it makes
such perfect sense, why is same-day bilateral cataract
surgery so rare? Follow the money. When surgeons operate on both
eyes during the same visit, Medicare cuts both its facility and physi-
cian fees for the second eye in half. But as surgeons and health sys-
tems continue to show that same-day bilateral cataract surgery is ben-
eficial to patient care and healthcare spending, Medicare will begin to
incentivize bringing in patients for a single cost-saving surgical visit.
Doubling Down on Cataract Surgery
Same-day bilateral procedures are shaping up to be the next evolution
in eye care. Steve Arshinoff, MD, FRCSC | Toronto, Canada
• TWO FOR ONE Performing dual cataract procedures on the same day improves clinical efficiencies and patient satisfaction, but reimbursement incentives are lacking.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN
S A M E - D A Y B I L A T E R A L C A T A R A C T S
