Knock Knock Eye: Myopia Is Officially a Disease: What the AMA Reclassification Means

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association put out a truly hilarious study complaining that AI tools drove nearly $1 billion in extra costs for their insurers over two years, blaming hospitals and doctors for using AI to code more accurately. This from the industry that pioneered using AI to deny claims. It's an arms race now, and the only people who actually lose are patients, premiums keep going up regardless of who wins. Then two big eyeball wins. The AMA House of Delegates finally reclassified myopia as a disease, which should push pediatric progression treatments like Stellest lenses, ortho-K, and atropine drops onto medical insurance instead of cash pay. And Dr. Morgan Micheletti's team sent 135 intraocular lenses to the International Space Station for six months to see if cataract surgery could survive deep space travel, most held up remarkably well. Takeaways: Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is complaining that AI tools have driven ~$1 billion in extra insurer costs, ignoring that insurance companies pioneered using AI to deny and downcode claims. The healthcare AI arms race is a battle for a fixed pot of money, and patients always end up paying via higher premiums. The AMA House of Delegates has adopted a resolution formally classifying myopia as a disease, opening the door for medical insurance coverage of progression treatments. Stellest lenses, orthokeratology, and atropine eye drops are the current options for slowing pediatric myopia progression, with Stellest showing about 70% reduction over two years. Dr. Morgan Micheletti's ISS study found that most acrylic intraocular lenses survived six months exposed to space, suggesting cataract surgery in space may eventually be feasible. — To Get Tickets to Wife & Death: You can visit Glaucomflecken.com/live We want to hear YOUR stories (and medical puns)! Shoot us an email and say hi! knockknockhi@human-content.com Can’t get enough of us? Shucks. You can support the show on Patreon for early episode access, exclusive bonus shows, livestream hangouts, and much more! –⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ http://www.patreon.com/glaucomflecken⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Also, be sure to check out the newsletter: https://glaucomflecken.com/glauc-to-me/ If you are interested in buying a book from one of our guests, check them all out here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/dr.glaucomflecken If you want more information on models I use: Anatomy Warehouse provides for the best, crafting custom anatomical products, medical simulation kits and presentation models that create a lasting educational impact. For more information go to Anatomy Warehouse DOT com. Link: https://anatomywarehouse.com/?aff=14 Plus for 15% off use code: Glaucomflecken15 As a proud FIGS Ambassador, visit https://WearFIGS.com and use code DrGFIRSTFIGS to shop, stay updated on new launches, and learn more about FIGS advocacy projects. Check out FIGS on social platforms: @wearfigs To learn more about Microsoft Dragon Copilot, visit: ⁠⁠⁠http://aka.ms/knockknockhi ⁠⁠⁠ Cozy Earth almost never does 30% off, and they're doing it right now through the 11th. Go to ⁠cozyearth.com⁠, use code KnockKnock, and get 30% off home and sleepwear. Cozyearth.com, code KnockKnock -- A friendly reminder from the G’s and Tarsus: If you want to learn more about Demodex Blepharitis, making an appointment with your eye doctor for an eyelid exam can help you know for sure. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.EyelidCheck.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Human Content⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices