Epiphany after an insurance-coding inquiring

[Barry Santini]

A client's insurance company called, and required a "diagnosis code" for a claim for eyewear filed directly by this client.

I informed the clerk that we didn't perform the refraction/examination. Rather, we are a dispensary and only made the eyewear.

But I volunteered that it might be "hyperopia/prebyopia".. They then asked for the Dr.s phone number, which I gave them.

Epiphany: How 'bout requiring all consumers to present a "diagnosis code" in order to purchase OTC readers and bifocals? You could even enter such a code online in the "promo" box.

What do you all think?

Barry

[drk]

OK, Bar, but...why?

[Barry Santini]

Well, if *all* of us professionals have to know/supply diagnosis codes for *medical* appliances that are reimbursed by insurance (because of *medical* need)...

then why not require *consumers* to supply the same...before they can obtain said medical device...

(This is meant to provoke thought about just how medical eyewear and or OTCs actually are).

Sorry that my brain works (even to me) in mysterious ways...

B

[chip anderson]

Barry:
Concider yourself lucky. Around here the insureance companies won't even pay for eyewear unless you have a doctor proprietor.

Us independents (the real ones at least) is left out in the cold.

Hell, I am the only provider of prosthetic eyes in the state and I can't get on a "proferred providers list." And I have most of the big wigs from the insurance companies as clients.

Once we could get paid for a certian code on prosthetic eyes for women but they would deny the same code for men. Had thier top people as customers and they tried to straighten this out. They couldn't but it did finally get rectified two years later.


Chip