Findings from Wills Eye Hospital & Research Institute Yields New Data on Managed Care (The Economic Downturn of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Its Impact On Access To Eye Care): Managed Care

2023 JAN 04 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- A new study on Managed Care is now available. According to news reporting originating in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by NewsRx journalists, research stated, “To discuss the economic downturn of pediat-ric ophthalmology in the setting of an alarming decline in the number of residents pursuing pediatric ophthal-mology and its impact on limiting access to eye care. Survey studies and articles examining the re-cent economic impact of reimbursement cuts and prac-tice pattern changes in pediatric ophthalmology were reviewed.”

The news reporters obtained a quote from the research from Wills Eye Hospital & Research Institute, “Population data from the 2020 U.S. Census Bureau and the American Association for Pediatric Oph-thalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) were analyzed to illustrate provider-to-population relationships by state. Survey studies demonstrated a deteriorat-ing economic situation marked by progression in reimbursement cuts, reductions in pediatric ophthal-mologists accepting Medicaid patients, and dwindling numbers of residents pursuing pediatric ophthalmol-ogy fellowships. Provider-to-population relationships revealed that pediatric ophthalmologists are not evenly distributed to meet population demand, and that many states are suffering from a shortage of pediatric oph-thalmologists. Furthermore, many states with high per-centages of Medicaid coverage simultaneously have lower AAPOS members/million person ratios. The simple economic principles of sup-ply and demand reveal a crisis in access to pediatric eye and adult strabismus care. The economic downtown and change in practice patterns may produce rippling effects outside pediatric ophthalmology in fields such as pedi-atrics and comprehensive ophthalmology.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “An interdisci-plinary effort among health care providers and govern-mental officials is needed to revive the field of pediatric ophthalmology and improve access to eye care.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

For more information on this research see: The Economic Downturn of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Its Impact On Access To Eye Care. Journal of Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus, 2022:1-7. Journal of Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus can be contacted at: Slack Inc, 6900 Grove Rd, Thorofare, NJ 08086, USA.

Our news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Karen E. Lee, Wills Eye Hospital & Research Institute, Dept. of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, Philadelphia, PA, United States. Additional authors for this research include Jake A. Sussberg, Leonard B. Nelson and Tobin Thuma.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.3928/01913913-20221108-01. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

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