Refractive Laser Eye Surgery ? Will Insurance Pay?
(ContentDesk) June 29, 2005 -- Eye wear may be a fashion accessory, but when you depend upon it for seeing the world, it's a lot more. Today, many people are turning to refractive laser eye surgery, such as Lasik surgery, to improve their vision. The cost of Lasik is high and is normally not paid for by insurance because it's fails to meet the conservative therapy test and is classified as cosmetic surgery. According to Independent Review Organization (IRO), AllMed Healthcare Management (http://www.allmedmd.com), this trend is shifting. "We are seeing an increasingly number circumstances where refractive eye surgery is determined to be medically necessary and, therefore, payable by the insurance provider," explains Dr.
Skip Freedman, medical director at AllMed Healthcare Management. "For example, if conservative therapy treatments fail or if a patient is intolerant of contact lenses and cannot wear glasses because they might pose a risk in their job (e.g. police or firefighters), refractive eye surgery may be the most medically viable treatment option." Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is a refractive laser surgical procedure that is often covered by a patient that suffers from recurrent corneal erosion (e.g. diabetics). With PRK, a surgeon uses a laser to remove corneal tissue to correct vision problems.
Conservative therapy approaches, such as patching, epithelial debridement (mechanical removal of faulty tissue), and bandaged contact lens placement often don't work. Stromal puncturing, a procedure involving the physician puncturing the anterior corneal stroma, can also be used but can fail or result in permanent visual loss. In such cases, PRK is the best alternative for removing the damaged cells (or membranes) and possibly correcting the vision problems. According to Freedman, physicians can help patients who are in medical need of laser eye surgery make a stronger case by initiating the following:Document a full medical history of the patient's eye complaintsShow proof that the patient has not responded to conservative treatments and that the purpose of the laser eye surgery is for medical reasons other than simply improved eyesight Still, Freedman cautions, that even when the physician does this, each decision is taken on a case-by-case basis and is subject to the extenuating circumstances clearly noted in the patient's medical record.Find more information about the medical necessity review services offered by IROs on AllMed's web site at http://www.allmedmd.com..
Premier Pigments Rebounds from FDA Action; Heartens Permanent Cosmetics Industry with Medical Treatment Offer
Premier Pigments, which provides the majority of the permanent make-up pigments used throughout the world by physicians, cosmetic technicians, and body artists, has heartened the permanent cosmetics and tattoo industries with its offer to arrange medical care and financial support for anyone who has an allergic reaction to permanent cosmetics or tattoo pigments. The unprecedented offer covers not only their clients, but also the customers of certified technicians who use other pigment suppliers.In 2002, Premier Pigments received reports of allergic reactions exclusively to its new Premier True Color Concentrate line, the first such reports in its 16-year history.
In 2003, the company implemented an aggressive voluntary recall of the entire line and advised the Food and Drug Administration.
The pigment allergy problems were isolated to a benzimidazole pigment used in Premier True Color Concentrate formulas.
Those pigments were discontinued and recalled in 2003....
Cosmetic dentistry > Premier Pigments Rebounds from FDA Action; Heartens Permanent Cosmetics Industry with Medical Treatment Offer
Omaha Skin Specialist Tells Berkshire Hathaway Stockholders to Invest in Yourself
Omaha, Neb. (ContentDesk) May 7, 2006 -- A smart investment grows over time, as Berkshire Hathaway stockholders know. But time may not be your best friend when it comes to your skin. A baby boomer turns age 60 every 7 seconds for the next 19 years. Lets face it, aging baby boomers are finding out that time isnt always kind to us in terms of wrinkles, sun damage, and gravity, says Omaha dermatologist Joel Schlessinger, MD.
The best investment you can make is in yourself, with regular skin screenings for early signs of skin cancer, and by taking care of your skin using the right moisturizers and daily skin routines, he says. Then youll be around to enjoy your long-term gains not only in your portfolio but in your health and good looks. More and more baby boomers are redefining the concept of leading active, healthy lives, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Thats why they are turning to products and procedures to erase the telltale signs of aging. Aging skin...
Omaha Skin Specialist Tells Berkshire Hathaway Stockholders to Invest in Yourself
Cosmetic dentistry > Omaha Skin Specialist Tells Berkshire Hathaway Stockholders to Invest in Yourself
When Cellulite Attacks!
Cellulite is a recent addition to the English language. In fact, it is not a medical term at all. It's a term used to describe the way your body appears when adipose tissue forms lobular formations just under the surface of the skin. In plain English the "cottage cheese look" or dimpling that occurs primarily on your thighs, legs and buttocks is a type of fatty tissue.
Because the tissue forms in a "lump" close to the surface of the skin it gives it a very uneven and dimpled appearance.
It is not medically harmful and it does not cause health problems. What it does do is cause you to feel less attractive when you wear your bathing suit. One myth about cellulite is that it is only obese people who suffer from it. The truth is that skinny people have cellulite too.
Cellulite is primarily a cultural and cosmetic issue.
Society thinks that smooth, unblemished skin is part of what makes people attractive. People with cosmetic blemishes such as...
When Cellulite Attacks!
Cosmetic dentistry > When Cellulite Attacks!
Woman Owned Natural Cosmetic Company Uses 'Mineral Makeup' and 'Affordable' Within the Same Sentence
(ContentDesk) March 10, 2006 -- Mineral makeup has become one of the hottest trends in the world of beauty, replacing chemical-heavy laden ingredients with pure crushed minerals. But many mineral cosmetic companies have yet to offer affordable products. So when Jane Pitte, owner and creator of Sheer Miracle LLC (http://www.sheermiracle.com), began developing her own line, she knew that offering her products with a no frills price was going to be high on her list.We all know the saying you get what you pay for, however most women are not aware that theyre paying a premium price for the high-end packaging of their cosmetic products. Women will usually pay more for a cosmetic product that is beautifully packaged. However, when their makeup is gone, the jar -- along with that fancy label -- goes in the garbage! says Pitte.Cosmetic & Toiletry Containers to 2009, a recent study from The Freedonia Group, analyzed the $3 billion...
Woman Owned Natural Cosmetic Company Uses 'Mineral Makeup' and 'Affordable' Within the Same Sentence
Cosmetic dentistry > Woman Owned Natural Cosmetic Company Uses 'Mineral Makeup' and 'Affordable' Within the Same Sentence
Latest Autism Research To Be Presented At ASA Conference In Indianapolis: Oct 22-23
The Autism Society of America (ASA), the oldest and largest grassroots autism organization in the country, is co-hosting a two-day conference focusing on the latest findings in autism research on October 22-23 in Indianapolis, IN. The conference ? "Racing Toward Answers in Autism: Latest in Biomedical Research" ? features medical experts from leading institutions across the country who will present research on the possible causes of autism, including the roles genetics, environmental toxins, and immune issues, as well as research on treatment approaches, including biomedical treatments for the disorder. "Until recently, educational and other types of behavioral and psychosocial interventions have provided the majority of the treatment options," ASA Board Chairman Lee Grossman said. "Although it is still unclear exactly what causes autism, through the emergence of biomedical research and clinical interventions, we are finding many new exciting discoveries and potential answers.""The goal...
Latest Autism Research To Be Presented At ASA Conference In Indianapolis: Oct 22-23
Cosmetic dentistry > Latest Autism Research To Be Presented At ASA Conference In Indianapolis: Oct 22-23