In our busy world, people are constantly hounded with demands. They must juggle work, family responsibilities, recreational activities and other commitments. With these important aspects of life clamoring for attention, sometimes simple things are lost along the way. Regular doctor's appointments, teeth cleanings, vision care appointments, and other preventive health care measures can fall through the cracks.
The minority community faces many challenges when it comes to dental health. Oral health in the U.S. has improved over the past half-century. But it’s still a significant public health issue, and it affects low-income and minority populations in particular. When it comes to minority dental health, there are barriers to receiving care.
The American Optometry Association considers MACRA (Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015), a fairly recent healthcare payment reform, to be a big win for optometrists. Why? Because it distinguishes optometrists as physicians. Why is this important? It means that while optometrists are subject to the quality standards established by the new legislation, they are also eligible for the incentives that will be awarded to clinicians who meet the standards. As a result, it’s important for optometrists to understand this reform, the criteria that’s used to evaluate the overall quality of a physician’s services and the two avenues they can use to grow their payments from this federal health insurance program.
