Eye Doctors Exempted from Self-Referral Rule

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ruled last week that

ophthalmologists can refer cataract patients to their own optical dispensaries for post-cataract-surgery eyeglasses or contact lenses without breaking federal prohibitions on self-referrals. The law, known as Stark II, bars physicians from referring Medicare and Medicaid patients for certain health services to entities in which the doctor has a financial relationship unless such an exemption exists.