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Cataract surgery is an ultra-safe eye procedure that normally takes 15-20 minutes and requires only eye numbing eye drops, not general anesthesia.

During your pre-op visits, Ocala Eye 'recommends' a 'Optical Path Differential test' to help the doctor determine the best procedure to use. The test will probably not be covered by your insurance, they say. The charge is $295.00, out of your pocket. OK, you say. who would want to refuse what the doctor who will be operating on you is recommending. Then it gets more interesting.

After waiting a few weeks, you notice that a claim hasn't been filed with Medicare or your supplemental carrier. You call Ocala Eye and they say that the test is a new procedure, and there is no Medicare code for it (Medicare has a procedure for such things). You say, file a claim with my supplemental, because you are looking for a denial, or other option. You even mention this to your doctor during a follow-up visit, who gets defensive saying how much this test helped him. But he will look into your concern.

You get a call from billing saying they do not submit this claim to Medicare and will not. They also will not provide you with a copy of this test, or results of this test. It is against their policy. They could have said this when they recommended the test.

Now you feel something doesn't seem right with this so-called test. Why was it recommended? Was there a risk of not having the test? Was this test really for the benefit of the patient, or the bottom line of Ocala Eye? I probably will never know since Ocala Eye will not provide any answers or documentation.

Fortunately, the surgery went fine. But if you go to Ocala Eye for Cataract surgery , beware, and expect Ocala Eye to recommend this test. When they do, ask "Is this test necessary?', 'How will it benefit me?'. See what they say. Good luck.