Third-Party Payment For Vision Therapy: An Overview Of The Michigan Situation And Recommendations.

Believe it or not, Michigan optometrists are billing insurance companies, and other third-party providers, for vision therapy services rendered to patients--and getting paid! The purpose of this paper is to stimulate your interest in this growing trend and to relate some practical information which will help you and your patients take advantage of this payment alternative.
While the concept of third-party payment for vision therapy is not new, Michigan optometrists have lagged behind their counterparts in some other areas of the country in utilizing this method of compensation. Most reported payments have been by private insurance companies, via major medical coverage. Many of these policies recognize surgical techniques as treatment for strabismus. Payment for vision therapy should be sought on behalf of insured patients when vision therapy is decided on as a treatment method,
if the prognosis is equal to or greater than that expected from a surgical procedure. The relative costs of these two alternatives will also be a deciding factor for a third party provider.