Ophthalmology and Optometry Coding Alert

Also: Expecting extra pay for new-technology intraocular lenses? Read this first. Cataract surgeries are a routine part of most ophthalmologic surgery practices, and intraocular lens (IOL) insertion is a routine part of most cataract surgeries. But a new generation of multifocal IOLs is changing the routine -- both for the surgeon and the coder. To get reimbursement, you'll need to keep your HCPCS manual handy. Background: After cataract surgery, in which the surgeon removes the patient's natural lens, Medicare will pay for the insertion of a new standard (monofocal) IOL. If the surgery takes place in the office, assign HCPCS code V2632 (Posterior chamber intraocular lens) to cover the cost of the standard IOL. Exception: Code V2632 does not cover the additional cost of a multifocal IOL, which not only replaces the natural lens but also corrects refractive errors -- such as an astigmatism-correcting (A-C, also known as "toric") or presbyopia-correcting (P-C) [...]