Originally posted by anothertony
I was just curious: One of my friends who's in Optometry school told me that OD's collect $500 from Ophthalmologists if they refer a patient to them. Is that true?
Like, if an OD saw that his/her patient is a candidate for LASIK, they send them to an M.D and they get $500? Is that really how much they can earn, just by referring to another doctor?
The other posters answered this question very well. OD's participate in post-operative care on a case-by-case basis. With a very good working relationship between the OD and MD, it may become the rule rather than the exception in their particular case. The comfort level must exist on both sides. The money must be earned on both sides. One ophthalmologist likes to see the patient on the one day post-op and send to me at 10 days post-op and the another will send them back to me for the one day (and thereafter).
Depending on the skill of the surgeon, it may be earned easily or with alot of work. I have two great surgeons that do such do such excellent work that the post-op basically becomes checks to insure they are using their meds, that there is no inflammation or edema, pressure checks and refractions. Much of the time is spend trying to convince them to use their post-op meds as directed. Another surgeon was so bad that I had to quit sending to him. Not sure how he even got licensed
Actually, the comangement arrangement probably has been one of the best things to happen to eyecare and patient safety because it keeps everyone on their toes and the bad surgeons are brought to light very quickly.
Cataract surgery though Medicare is an 80/20 split (with the OD getting 20% but actually doing probably 70% of the work really). Medicare pays about $700 so the OD gets about $140 for 90 days worth of visits...typically 3 seperate visit........easy or complicated. So it basically comes out to $46 per visist (not much).
Private insurance such as BCBS pay around $8000. We had two OMD groups tell us repeatedly that BCBS will not let OD's comanage. I called them on this, made them file the appropriate modifer, and lo and behold, we got paid the $1,600 (20%). Where they honestly telling us what they believe or simply trying to keep all the money?? Hmmmm...... Money does strange things to otherwise friendly people.
Refractive surgery in this area is similar. The surgeon charges $3000 (both eyes) and I get $800 for 90 days + of post operative care (easy if all goes well.......not so if there are complications, emotional concerns, unrealistic expectation, the surgeon decided to experiment with monovision etc....).
Not particularly easy money but the patients spend less time in the surgeons office (and he does more surgery) and "bonds" more at mine.
😉
