The Role of ODs in the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease

[AdminWolf]

As usual, if you have any questions before the show, leave 'em here!!

hope to see you there
adam

[Richard_Hom]

Blaine,

Great Job on the presentation.

[AdminWolf]

Blaine,

Great Job on the presentation.

Blaine did a great job.

I have a soft spot for ultrasound, it is interesting to see all the niches its cropping up in now that the units have become so inexpensive and portable. (Even 10 years ago they were prohibitively big and complicated... I wasn't kidding when I said the ultrasound technicians would smack us away from the devices if we tried to play with tem.)

The archive will be up in the next couple of days, in the mean time anyone who didn't get their questions answered, feel free to post them in this thread & Blaine will follow-up.

Thanks
adam

[Richard_Hom]

Adam, was it my imagination or was the audio a bit off?

[AdminWolf]

Adam, was it my imagination or was the audio a bit off?

Before the webinar blaine's VOIP didn't sound great (it was cutting out), so we had him use his cell phone, which is probably why it didn't sound the same as usual.

Fortunately everything worked, my big fear was that he wouldn't be able to advance the slides if his connection got choppy

adam

[Blaine Ung]

Blaine,

Great Job on the presentation.

Thank you Dr. Hom. I appreciate your feedback!

Blaine Ung

[Blaine Ung]

In the webinar, Foundation for Eye Health Awareness research was presented citing:

•Cardiovascular Disease is the #1 health concern of consumers

"The cardiovascular disease concept had the largest number of people regarding it as new information among all concepts (51% vs. ≤40% for other concepts) at a 95% confidence level. This concept was also more likely to drive people to their eye doctors for consultation compared to the overall health and diabetes concepts (at 95% and 90% confidence levels, respectively)."

You can download the entire FEHA report from this blog post:

http://heartsmarteyecare.posterous.c...eness-patients

[Gordon Culp]

Great presentation. Got a ? tho. I went on your website and checked my area to see who had one. None within 50 miles and I live and practice in one of the richest areas in the country. In fact the closest one is in Maryland.

Why aren't internists and cardiologists gobbling these units up? I'm a technology junkie so I'm looking at it seriously but it seems strange that little ole me would be referring patients back to their primary care docs with this info. Thanks!

Gordy

[AdminWolf]

The archive is up, everyone enjoy!

And.. the iPad2 winner is Jesse Chin. Hopefully Jesse will give us a 'full report' on how well the devices works (i confess i'm jealous )

cheers
adam

[Edmundo C.Fimbres]

Is this procedure reimbursed by Medicare? How about major medical insurances? Would there be any issue with performing ultrasound with the scope of our license. Would insurance say ODs can't do this?

Great presentation, thanks Adam for getting Blaine on the air!

[Blaine Ung]

As usual, if you have any questions before the show, leave 'em here!!

hope to see you there
adam

Thank you to Dr. Scott Hadden for noticing an error in the webinar presentation on the Net Income Potential slide. The slide incorrectly did not include the individual report costs which had the effect of OVERSTATING the profit potential (Income vs. Net Income). My sincere apologies for the error.

The corrected slide is posted here:

Attachment 1500

[Blaine Ung]

Is this procedure reimbursed by Medicare? How about major medical insurances? Would there be any issue with performing ultrasound with the scope of our license. Would insurance say ODs can't do this?

Great presentation, thanks Adam for getting Blaine on the air!

Hello Dr. Fimbres,

Thank you for your question. Healthcare reimbursement regulations and practices are complex and require the advice of experts. It is incumbent on providers to consult their own experts regarding the billing and reimbursement policies that may apply.

That said, HeartSmart is a screening tool for early detection of CVD and is marketed as as cash patient test. A quick internet search shows that physicians across the country charge $250-350. A search will also show that physicians have used CPT 93882 in conjunction with an ICD-9 code for major CVD risk factors including Diabetes, Hypertension, Smoking, LDL excess, HDL deficiency, Metabolic Syndrome, etc. to obtain reimbursement.

It appears that insurers make the distinction between carotid ultrasound done for "evaluation" when patients have major risk factors for disease vs. "screening" for patients that have no medical justification for the scan.

I recently was told by a doctor in Ohio that the State Board of Optometry considers carotid ultrasound within Scope of Practice and that he identified several private insurers who would reimburse for the screening.

With regard to scope, here in California, the State Optometry Act specifically includes the use of ultrasound. While some states optometry rules may be "silent" on the matter, the argument could be made that carotid ultrasound technology is just a more technologically advanced way of listening for a bruit to determine stenosis, a procedure that is universally accepted as being within scope.

Thank you again for your questions.

Blaine Ung
HeartSmart Technologies

[Jesse Chin]

Cheers Adam!

Thank you to OD Wire and to HeartSmart Technologies for an informative Webinar and more importantly, my new baby ipad2 I'm still in disbelief that I was the lucky winner since I have never won a drawing in my life! The curse is officially over and cheers for keeping hope alive! There are not enough words that can describe this amazing piece of technology. The ipad is truly one of a kind and appears to be the leader of them all. (And No, I am not employed by Apple nor am I an Apple fanatic by any means!) I must say, life is just so much more sweeter and pleasant now that I have an ipad2! Yes, I now have it in my own hands as I write this! And let me say that surfing on OD Wire with the ipad and/or with the App, is much more pleasant and convenient!

Now, there's no need for jealousy, so I just recommend everyone who doesn't have this wonderful gadget to somehow get their hands on one. STAT! Trust me, you won't regret it!

Love it! Love it!!

The archive is up, everyone enjoy!

And.. the iPad2 winner is Jesse Chin. Hopefully Jesse will give us a 'full report' on how well the devices works (i confess i'm jealous )

cheers
adam

[J Martin]

Anyone take the plunge yet?