The cost effectiveness of Air Force optometry.
A study was performed which attempted to assess the relative value of a military optometric practice and to provide epidemiological information on ocular pathologies typical in that practice setting. A mock billing system was employed which assessed fees against patient examinations and procedures using Current Procedural Terminology codes. The fees were determined from a survey of the fee structures of local optometrists. The study showed that the military optometric practice was cost effective in relation to the cost that would be incurred through civilian referral. It also demonstrated that military optometric practice is full in scope and encounters a wide variety of pathological entities above and beyond standard refractive modalities.
Johnson
M E
ME
325th Medical Group/SGHFO, 340 Magnolia Avenue, Tyndall Air Force Base, FL 32403, USA.
D000337:Aerospace Medicine / Q000191:economics*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000191:economics*; D009907:Optometry / Q000191:economics*; D014481:United States