An increasing number of ophthalmologists and optometrists have opted out of Medicare since 2012, despite the overall percentage remaining relatively low, according to a study.
The retrospective cross-sectional study used data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) spanning from 2005 to 2023. The research found that only a small percentage of ophthalmologists (0.52%) and optometrists (0.38%) chose to opt out of Medicare during this period.
Key findings showed that:
Of the ophthalmologists who opted out:
- 67.5% were male
- Average of 31.8 years in practice
- 83.1% were located in urban areas
Of the optometrists who opted out:
- 53.2% were male
- Average of 19.6 years in practice
- 41% were located in non-urban areas
Specialty and practice type:
- 83% of ophthalmologists were in anterior segment or oculoplastics specialties
- 52.1% of optometrists were in optometry-only practices
Geographical distribution:
- States with the highest opt-out rates for both professions included Oklahoma, Idaho, and Montana
The study highlights the need for further investigation into the reasons behind Medicare opt-out decisions and their potential impact on patient access to care.
Reference
Maywood MJ, Ahmed H, Parikh R, et al. Opting out of Medicare: Characteristics and differences between optometrists and ophthalmologists. PLoS One. 2024;19(9):e0310140. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0310140. PMID: 39250498.
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