The average facility reimbursement is $133 so it takes longer to pay
for the SLT laser needed to perform these procedures, but the cases
are still profitable, says Mr. Sheppard.
• Laser peripheral iridotomy (CPT code 66761). Surgeons perform
peripheral iridotomy (LPI) on glaucoma patients to create a hole in
the iris. That lowers intraocular pressure by letting fluid flow out from
the back the eye. The average facility reimbursement is $186. Mr.
Sheppard says this procedure is performed less often than SLT.
• Focal photocoagulation (CPT code 67210). Retina surgeons per-
form this procedure to treat diabetic retinopathy and macular edema.
They use a 520nm laser to destroy damaged eye tissue and eliminate
scarring that contributes to blind spots and vision loss. The average
facility fee is $250.
• Pan-retinal photocoagulation (CPT code 67228). This procedure
is often used to treat patients with diabetic neuropathy and related tis-
sue bleeding in the retinal tissue that can cause retinal detachment.
The facility fee is only $178, even though it's a more invasive proce-
dure than focal photocoagulation. However, patients with this level of
eye disease need to be treated more than once and often in a relative-
ly short period of time. While the other laser procedures have a 90-day
global period — you don't get paid if you repeat procedures within 90
days of each other — pan-retinal photocoagulation has a 10-day global
period to allow for sequential treatments.
Mr. Dawes always includes a dedicated laser room in the layouts of
the new ophthalmic surgery centers his clients are building because
the square footage might end up being the facilities' most valuable
real estate. "There are so many positives to including laser procedures
in your case mix," he says. "Why wouldn't you add them?"
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