Medicare program; coverage of optometrists' services--Health Care Financing Administration. Notice of proposed rulemaking.

These regulations would expand Medicare coverage of services furnished by optometrists to include examination services related to the condition of aphakia (absence of the natural lens of the eye). Under our current regulations, Medicare coverage of optometric services is limited to dispensing services in connection with the actual fitting and provision of prosthetic lenses. The regulations are necessary to conform our existing Medicare regulations to a statutory change made by section 937 of the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1980.