Helping to Bring Sight to America

Cataract Outsourcing Interview

Glenn Hagele, Executive Director of Cataract Free America

Cataract Outsourcing takes great pride in finding fresh and interesting topics for our valued readers.  This article is no exception!  The following is an interview we conducted with Glenn Hagele the Executive Director of Cataract Free America.  Cataract Free America is a not for profit group that coordinates patients with surgeons to minimize or completely eliminate out of pocket expenses for cataract surgery.  In these uncertain economic times, a group like this is a valuable resource to those in need.

CO:  Please give a little personal background about yourself and how you became associated with Cataract Free America?

GH:  I had been involved in the healthcare industry since the early 1980’s, but primarily on the business side. In 1997 I founded the nonprofit Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance, which provides patient information about Lasik and certifies Lasik doctor results. Cataract Free America is an extension of those experiences.

CO:  What is the history and concept behind the creation of Cataract Free America?

GH:  Very often I would see news stories of cataract surgery being provided for free in far-off countries. It occurred to me that there must be people in the US who, for lack of insurance or funds, were unable to afford needed cataract care. Research revealed that a major reason vision limitations due cataracts had not been resolved was the patients inability to pay the out-of-pocket expense. I contacted several cataract surgeons and found that many would provide cataract surgery for whatever the insurance could pay, whatever the patient could afford to pay, or even for free. This led to the creation of Cataract Free America.

CO:  What types of services does Cataract Free America provide?

GH:  Cataract Free America has created a panel of surgeons throughout the United States who will accept patients who meet the organizations eligibility requirements and will accept whatever that patient can pay as payment in full for cataract surgery. This includes the initial exam, diagnostic testing, surgery, and all needed follow-up care.

CO:  How many patients have you helped thus far?

GH:  We don’t keep count, but thousands have visited our website to receive information about cataract surgery, how to negotiate reduce fees for themselves, and how to receive free cataract surgery through Cataract Free America.

CO:  How many surgeons and facilities do you have actively participating in your programs?

GH:  At this time we have active participants in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New Orleans, and New York. We also negotiate with doctors one-on-one in communities where we do not have active participation.

CO:  If someone was interested in using your services, what is the process a patient would need to go through?

GH:  We verify a patients eligibility through a short telephone interview that asks about age, income from employment, available insurance, and similar questions. This is can be accomplished with the patient, family member, friend, or social worker. Once eligibility is established, we provide the patients contact information to a participating surgeon who then contacts the patient directly to schedule an initial exam.

CO:  What areas of the country are your services available?

GH:  The information about cataracts on our website is available worldwide. Receiving cataract care for free or no out-of-pocket expense is available in any US community where we find a surgeon who will participate.

CO:  Are there ever any costs for the patients using your services, if so what are those?

GH:  Cataract Free America is a nonprofit organization and we never charge patients for our information or services, however a patient may incur some cost for needed care. Cataract surgery requires a surgeon, an anesthesiologist, and a surgery center. Although we endeavor to gain the cooperation of all three components, sometimes this is impossible. The surgeons will always waive fees, but the anesthesiologist or surgery center may not. If there would be any out-of-pocket expense to the patient, that patient will be notified in advance of incurring any debt.

CO:  How can a patient get in contact with Cataract Free America in regards to your services?

GH:  Through our website at http://www.CataractFreeAmerica.org or by calling toll free 1-888-592-1999.

Cataract Outsourcing would like to thank Mr. Hagele and Cataract Free America for their time and the services they provide to Cataract patients in need throughout the US.

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