Comments solicited on office-based cataract surgery

In its proposed 2016 Medicare fee schedule regulation, CMS is soliciting information regarding the advisability of paying for cataract surgery in the office-based surgical suite, according to the OOSS.

CMS cites several perceived advantages in implementing such a policy, including patient convenience, flexibility in scheduling surgery, and lower Medicare expenditures. For more information, go to http://bit.ly/1MvNwd6.

CMS is not formally proposing the implementation of a program for office-based cataract surgery, but it is simply seeking feedback, the OOSS said. “OOSS believes that the concept of office-based cataract surgery raises a number of patient health and safety issues as well as other concerns, and we will address these in formal comments to CMS,” the Society said.