Elimination of consult codes in neuro-ophthalmology: another blow to our subspecialty?

摘要

There are threats to the practice of neuro-ophthal-mology from many directions. These include lack of recognition in academic centers (1), lack of reimbursement for complex neuro-ophthalmic problems (2), and lack of procedures that provide income for practitioners (3). Now we have another threat-the loss of consultation codes from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Yet neuro-ophthalmology is a consultative sub-specialty-patients do not come to us except on another physician's request for consultation. How did this situation arise?