Extra consultations before cataract surgery rise

By Shereen Jegtvig NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A study of U.S. Medicare claims finds a jump in extra doctor consultations before cataract surgery, but no clear medical reason for the added costs. "The preoperative medical consultation is an understudied area. We know surprisingly little about the process," Dr. Stephen Thilen told Reuters Health. Surgery to remove the cataract is generally low-risk, and is the most common elective surgery performed on beneficiaries of Medicare, the U.S. health insurance program for people over 65.



via Health News Headlines - Yahoo News http://news.yahoo.com/extra-consultations-cataract-surgery-rise-193042539.html