April 4, 2011

Dear Colleagues,

April 1st was the first day that any of the Medicaid Managed Care Organizations could alter their Adult Vision services. Each MCO will make their own decision to keep their adult vision benefit in its current form, alter it in some way, or discontinue the service altogether. This decision will be made in the near future.  

SCOPA is working to educate each MCO on the cost savings of preventative eyecare, the positives of these benefits for MCO members, and to ensure that SC ODs continue to to be able to practice at their full medical scope.  The children's routine vision services may not be altered in any way until 2014.

As I mentioned in my last email, beginning June 1st, First Choice/Select Health will use VSP's network to provide their Adult and Children's Vision services.  Beginning June 1st, VSP will provide both routine and medical eye services for First Choice/Select Health members.  All medical CPT codes that traditional Medicaid Fee-for-Service covered as within scope of practice will be covered and reimbursed by VSP.  In order to continue continuity of care with your First Choice patients, you must be a VSP provider.  SCOPA is exploring alternatives that would allow non-VSP providers to continue with their current patients, but for now the only option is to be a VSP provider.

As always, SCOPA is working for and advocating for all of its members and the profession of optometry.  If anyone has any questions or concerns please contact either myself or another SCOPA board member.

Philip Flynn, OD
2757 Laurel St.
Columbia, SC 29204
Office-803-799-7358
Cell-803-530-5290