The Medicare Glaucoma Screening Benefit: A Critical Program That Misses its Target
In January 2002, United States (US) eye doctors celebrated what was perceived as a huge victory: Medicare's first-time coverage of a screening benefit for an ocular disease, glaucoma. The benefit covers an annual dilated eye examination with an intraocular pressure measurement and direct ophthalmoscopy or slit-lamp biomicroscopic examination for individuals at high risk of glaucoma. Initially, high-risk individuals were defined as all African Americans aged 50 or older and individuals of any age or race/ethnicity with diabetes or a family history of glaucoma. In 2006, the benefit was expanded to cover Hispanics aged 65 and older. These groups were selected (Read more...)