Jan. 2, 2002
Katzen Eye Group is very excited about
the announcement that three groups of Medicare beneficiaries
are now eligible to receive free screenings for glaucoma:
1, those who have a family history of glaucoma, 2, people
who are diabetic and 3, African-Americans over the age of
50. African-Americans are five times more likely to develop
the disease.
The Benefits Improvement and Protection
Act (BIPA) of 2000, provides annual coverage for glaucoma
screenings for eligible Medicare beneficiaries as defined
above. The benefit is effective January 1, 2002, and a beneficiary
may receive a covered screening once every 12 months.
"The new Medicare benefit is a major
victory for those people who are at risk for glaucoma, "
said Dr. Brett Katzen. "In addition to the GDx machine
that we introduced last January, this coverage is a tremendous
asset encouraging people to be screened for an eye disease
that can result in permanent vision loss and blindness.
Although glaucoma cannot be prevented,
if diagnosed and treated early, it can be controlled. Vision
lost to glaucoma cannot be restored.
"Our hope is that with the new
Medicare benefit, Katzen Eye Group will see more people
getting the early care that they need, rather than when
they begin to notice vision loss," said Dr. Peter Lapinsky.
"We're doing our best to let all of our at-risk patients
know about the coverage."
