question about being legally classified as "physicians"

[biggs]

---

Members do not see this ad.

a while ago i reada thread where people were worried if OD's would still be classified as physicians under the new health care bill. Ive learned that they will be, but i havent been able to figure out what this mean. how does that wording in the bill effect optometrists? what would happen if optometrists werent classified as physicians?

i asked my dentist mother and she said she thinks it means that optometrists would have to be paid the same as an opthamologist for a procedure. is this it, or is it something else? what are the other degrees that are classified as physicians?

 

[SilhouetteSight]

Hi Biggs,

I am definitely no expert, but if you read the wording in the Harkin Amendment, it would seem that there would be NO discrimination between an ophthalmologist and an optometrist as your mother suggested.

Harkin:
"A group health plan and a health insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage shall not discriminate with respect to participation under the plan or coverage against any health care provider who is acting within the scope of that provider's license or certification under applicable State law."

Time will tell the impact on optometry. But it seems as if procedures will, under law, be paid the same amount to professional.

As far as having "physician" status removed from optometrists, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.