Frequently Asked Questions
for Nursing Home Professional Staff
This page is designed to answer many of the commonly asked questions we receive from Nursing Home Professional Staff.
Please use the list at the left to quickly scan the question categories.
Scheduling Questions:
When is your next visit to our Nursing Home?
Click here to view our Online Schedule.
How do we schedule an eye exam for a resident?
After obtaining consent from the resident and the resident's responsible party (if applicable), please fill out an Optometric Consult Services Request Form (PDF File) by completing the resident information and choosing the appropriate medically necessary reason for the exam.
Once the form is completed, please have it signed by the resident's attending physician. Note that this signature is required by Medicare - we are unable to perform an exam if it is not signed.
Fax the completed form along with a copy of the resident's "Face Sheet" (your in-house form which contains the resident's personal and insurance information) to our office at 1-888-294-9652.
The Optometric Consult Request Form and face sheet must be received at least two business days prior to the date of the scheduled visit for the exam to be scheduled.
When should a resident have an eye exam?
With the consent of the resident's attending physician and family, an exam is recommended for all newly admitted residents to ascertain their present ocular status.
Exams should also be scheduled for any residents with symptoms of decreased vision, eye redness, pain or double vision or if the resident has a history of cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetes, hypertension or multiple sclerosis.
Nursing Home Residents Should Have An Eye Exam If They:
- Complain of blurred vision.
- See flashes or floaters.
- Have itchy or irritated eyes.
- Have persistently red eyes.
- Have diabetes, hypertension or multiple sclerosis.
- Have a history of cataracts, glaucoma or retinal problems.
How do we know if a resident is due for a follow-up exam with you?
We keep track of all recalls and we'll notify you when residents are due for follow-up care one month in advance.
Eyeglass Questions:
How long does it take for residents to receive their glasses?
The New York State Medicaid Eyeglass Project takes approximately 10 to 15 business days to process eyeglass orders.
Private pay glasses take approximately 10 to 12 business days depending on how quickly we receive approval and payment back from the resident's responsible party.
Please note these times are estimates. Glasses may be delayed if a resident is undergoing the annual Medicaid recertification process.
Insurance/Billing Questions:
Are there any insurance plans that don't cover in-house eye care services?
At the present time, Univera/Senior Choice is the only Western New York insurance plan that does not cover our visiting eye care service. We ask that residents with Univera/Senior Choice who need eye care be scheduled with a local ophthalmologist or optometrist who accepts the insurance.
We regret any inconvenience this may cause, but please note this is due to Univera's restrictions.
Eye Care Questions:
Where can I find out more about various eye conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma or macular degeneration?
We highly recommend the great free articles you can view at All About Vision.
Do you perform eye exams for individual patients who are home-bound in their private homes?
No, we're sorry but insurance regulations prohibit us from making house calls to private residences.
