If you think your in-office lab can’t help you with managed vision care plans, we serve up 6 reasons why you might want to think again

one of the many misconceptions about in-office finishing (it requires additional staff to run, a large volume of jobs, etc.) is that it can’t be used effectively if you have a lot of patients on managed care plans. The plans, some argue, require ECPs to use specific wholesale labs for the entire job, leaving the in-office finishing equipment dormant for much of the time.

There was a day when that was true. But, over the years some plans, including two of the biggest—VSP and EyeMed—created programs that allow edging to be done in-house and for ECPs to reap the financial benefit of that work.

The result? Practices and optical shops with in-office finishing labs can retain revenue from lens jobs and offer patients the quick turnaround they want on simple jobs. That’s good news in this age of managed vision care, when ECPs are lamenting shrinking reimbursements.

Here, with the help of Jaysun Barr, senior in-office lens finishing consultant with Santinelli International, we look at the two main managed vision care plans that have changed their programs to allow ECPs to edge their lens jobs in-house—and we learn how ECPs can take advantage.

What’s in It for You?

In short, ECPs taking advantage of the plans’ in-office finishing (IOF) programs can edge the basic single-vision prescriptions, maintaining full control of that part of the job. In doing so they become the lab, thereby earning finishing fees for their work.

According to Barr, who participated with clients in some of the early beta testing of some of these programs, the average additional reimbursement is around $30 per qualifying Rx.

Revenue savings. Reimbursement schedules vary between EyeMed and VSP. Both configure the revenue via a lack of “charge backs” that are typically deducted by the plan each month. Both also increase reimbursement of the provider’s contractual dispensing fees for your lens finishing services.

Simple ordering/easy claim. Both EyeMed and VSP have integrated their IOF programs into their online ordering portals. Specifics vary between the two, but generally, ECPs can order stock SV lenses through the portal. Claim submissions are very similar to full prescription orders, needing only a few extra clicks to indicate the ECP is participating in the IOF program.

Lens selection. ECPs can order from a variety of stock lenses, including high-index and premium lenses, to satisfy private-pay patients as well as insured patients.

What’s in It for the Patient?

Your patients get ALL of the advantages of your in-house lab while still being able to use their vision care plan for lenses:

Quick turnover. Glasses in an hour, or a day, or even two days. It’s better than the often two- to three-week turnaround of a wholesale lab.

Quality assurance. The lens job is done quickly, and the ECP can immediately inspect it. Lens cut is no good? Another quick go-through with the edger, and the patient is all set.

Competition advantage. Don’t lose jobs to the practice or optical shop across town that can deliver finished eyewear in a day.

How To Take Advantage

In addition to VSP and EyeMed plans, Spectera has begun an IOF program, but it’s open to only to certain members.

The details and qualifying specifics of each IOF program differ regarding types of lenses offered, type of edging equipment required, pricing, vision care program tier, etc.

The best way to see if your practice or optical shop can qualify—whether you already have a finishing lab or are thinking of buying equipment—is to contact the plans you work with and talk to an expert there.

—Susan Tarrant