Impact of Reimbursement Changes on Glaucoma Surgery Patterns

In this AAO 2023 interview, Dr. Mark Paauw, presenting author of the paper "Glaucoma Surgery Shifts Among Medicare Beneficiaries After 2022 Reimbursement Changes," talks with Dr. Lynn Sun about how recent cuts in Medicare reimbursements have affected the rate of minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) procedures. Between 2021 and 2022, when the recent billing codes when into effect, the use of the Hydrus and iStent MIGS devices dropped by 29%, or about 20,000 procedures. Conversely, there were increases in goniotomy and canaloplasty procedures during this period.

Financial Disclosures: Dr. Lynn Sun discloses no financial relationships. Dr. Mark Paauw discloses no financial relationships.