What Is The Difference Between Audiologist And Ent Doctors
If you are experiencing hearing loss or other ear-related health issues, you may decide that you need to seek medical advice. But a lot of people do not know whether they should see an audiologist or an ENT doctor. Although there are some similarities between the work of an audiologist and an ear, nose and throat doctor, they both perform different treatments and have a different area of expertise, so it is important that you know which is right for your situation. So, what is the difference between an audiologist and an ENT doctor?
Important Notice Regarding Medical Fees
Today Medicare rebates do not cover the full cost of providing you with medical care. This is because the rate at which successive governments have indexed the Medicare Schedule fees has been substantially lower than increases in the Consumer Price Index and average weekly earnings.
The reality is that Medicare rebates do not cover the cost of providing you with a safe and high quality service. The fees charged by this practice have to cover all of our practice costs including employing receptionists and practice nurses, and meeting our operating expenses such as rent, medical equipment, electricity, computers and insurance.
Will My Specialists Services Be Covered Under My Medicare Plan
Whether youâre switching from one type of Medicare coverage to another, or youâre new to Medicare, you might be concerned about being able to continue seeing your health-care specialist.
Will your specialistâs services be covered by Medicare? That may depend upon:
- Whether your specialist accepts Medicare assignment
- Whether your specialist is part of your Medicare health planâs provider network, if this applies to you.
As a Medicare beneficiary, you may have options to how you receive your Medicare coverage.
Medicare specialists and Original Medicare, Part A and Part B
Hereâs what to expect when you see a specialist when you have Original Medicare coverage. Original Medicare is the health insurance program administered by the federal government and consists of two parts: Part A provides hospital insurance and Part B generally provides medical insurance, such as doctor visits.
In order to receive the most from your Medicare Part B coverage , you may want to make sure you go to Medicare specialists when you need specialized care. That is, make sure the specialist accepts Medicare assignment. You can call and confirm this with your specialist.
How can you find out if you have a Medicare-assigned specialist?
To make sure you have Medicare coverage for a specialist for Medicare-covered services:
Specialists and Medicare Advantage plans
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Can I Safely Clean My Ears At Home
Experts caution not to try and clean your own ears with your fingers, cotton swabs and manual wax removal tools. When performed incorrectly, manual earwax removal could result in wax moving further up into the ear canal. This worsens blockages rather than addressing them. Plus, manual wax removal could cause injury to your eardrum or ear canal.
Ear candles are also considered dangerous because they pose a risk for burns and might irritate your ear canal.
Over-the-counter ear drops are a safe option for at-home ear cleaning. Your doctor may also recommend that you flush your ears with one of the following:
- A solution of baking soda and water
- Hydrogen peroxide 3%
- Oils like baby oil, glycerin or mineral oil
- Warm water
Treating Common Chronic And Complicated Conditions Of The Ear Nose And Throat
While we address routine conditions arising in the head and neck, one of the defining characteristics of care is our treatment of patients with complex conditions. These include head and neck tumor removal and reconstruction, hearing restoration, endoscopic surgery of skull base tumors, pediatric otolaryngology, voice restoring surgery, and sleep apnea surgery.
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When Does Medicare Not Cover Medical Visits
Medicare doesnt cover certain medical services that you may consider preventive or medically necessary. However, there are sometimes exceptions to this rule.
For questions about your Medicare coverage, contact Medicares customer service line at 800-633-4227, or visit the State health insurance assistance program website or call them at 800-677-1116.
If your doctor lets Medicare know that a treatment is medically necessary, it may be covered partially or fully. In some instances, you may incur additional, out-of-pocket medical costs. Always check before you assume that Medicare will or wont pay.
Other circumstances under which Medicare will not pay for a medical appointment include the following:
There may be other medical visits and services that Medicare wont cover. When in doubt, always check your policy or enrollment information.
What Is An Audiologist
An audiologist is a doctor that is a hearing healthcare professional that specializes in identifying, diagnosing, and treating issues with the auditory and vestibular areas of the ear. They most commonly deal with things like hearing loss, tinnitus or balance issues. Their expertise is in the technology that is used to manage these conditions. For example, if you need hearing aids fitted to manage your hearing loss, an audiologist will be able to advise you on this.
They also play a wider role in helping people with hearing loss. It can be very difficult for people that experience late-life hearing loss to adjust and cope with their condition. An audiologist will be able to help them with practical things like buying phones that are compatible with their hearing aids, for example. They can also direct people to useful resources that will make it easier for them to live with their hearing loss. Audiologists may also counsel the patient and their family to help them deal with the emotional aspects of hearing loss.
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What Causes Hearing Loss
According to the American Speech Language Hearing Association, hearing loss in adults can have several different causes:
- Diseases of the middle and inner ear, such as Menieres Disease.
- Certain medications, such as drugs used in chemotherapy.
- Repeated exposure to loud noises.
- Certain tumors, such as acoustic neuroma.
- The aging process.
The National Institutes of Health states that age-related hearing loss tends to affect both ears equally and gradually worsens over time. In fact, some seniors may not even realize they are losing their ability to hear well.
A study reported in the U.S. National Library of Medicine showed a correlation between hearing loss and dementia, suggesting that older adults who experience hearing problems may be at increased risk for developing dementia.
There is no known way to prevent age-related hearing loss, however, the NIH suggests that you should limit your exposure to potentially damaging noises such as lawn mowers, leaf blowers, loud music, firearms, and snowmobiles, for example. You can also protect your ears with ear plugs or ear muffs to reduce the potential damage from loud noises.
Why Doesn’t Medicare Cover Hearing Care
As this clinical review explains, “The Medicare Act of 1965 statutorily excluded coverage of hearing aids under the premise that they were ‘routinely needed and low in cost,’ suggesting that consumers would be responsible for their purchase.” Also, at the time, many seniors didn’t live as long as they do today, and so fewer people had age-related hearing loss. There also was little understanding of how important it is to treat hearing loss to reduce depression and social isolation.
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How Do Doctors Remove Earwax
There are several treatment options for removing impacted earwax.
Although some of the treatments are doable at home, the American Academy of Otolaryngology recommend that a person talks with their doctor about the best treatments before trying any home remedies themselves.
The following sections will look at some treatment options in more detail.
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How To Claim Medicare Benefits
You can generally claim Medicare benefits at the point of service. Most service providers have electronic claiming facilities, so they can lodge your claim on your behalf. If your GP or provider doesn’t offer this,you’ll need to claim your benefits in one of the following ways:
- Using your Medicare online account through myGov
- Using your Express Plus Medicare mobile app
- Submitting a Medicare claim form by post, at your local service centre or at a participating private health insurer
- Submitting a claim over the phone by calling Medicare
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Which Parts Of Medicare Cover Doctors Visits
Medicare Part B covers doctors visits. So do Medicare Advantage plans, also known as Medicare Part C.
Medigap supplemental insurance covers some, but not all, doctors visits that arent covered by Part B or Part C. For example, Medigap will cover some costs associated with a chiropractor or podiatrist, but it wont cover acupuncture or dental appointments.
Where Can I Find A Doctor That Accepts Medicare And Medicaid
To find a doctor that accepts Medicare payments, you may want to visit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Physician Compare. You can search by entering a health care professionals last name or group practice name, a medical specialty, a medical condition, a body part, or an organ system. This tool will provide you with a list of professionals or group practices in the specialty and geographic area you specify, along with detailed profiles, maps and driving directions.
Please note that Physician Compare only lists professionals that accept Medicare. Although some may also accept Medicaid, it does not have information about which professionals do accept Medicaid.
Medicaid programs vary by state and each state Medicaid agency maintains their own list of professionals that accept Medicaid. For further assistance, please contact your health plan or state Medicaid agency. For more information about Medicaid, visit the Medicaid & CHIP page on Healthcare.gov.
If you have trouble accessing the Physician Compare website, please call 1-800-MEDICARE and a representative will be able to run the search for you. They can also send you a print version of the search results.
There are other directories on MedlinePlus that will help you find health professionals, services, and facilities, some of which may serve Medicare or Medicaid payments.
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Why Isnt Hearing Covered By Medicare
Medicare was created in 1965 with the passing of The Medicare Act of 1965.
At the time, the cost of hearing aids was much lower, and people tended not to live as long as they do now.
This meant that fewer people had age-related hearing loss and the understanding of the importance of hearing and how people would be affected by losing it wasnt as strong as it is today.
How Much Do I Get Back From Medicare
The amount Medicare pays toward your treatment varies based on where you are being treated:
Public Hospital
If you are treated in a public hospital, Medicare will pay 100% of the cost for the treatment itself, the anaesthesia, all diagnostic work like blood work and x-rays and all fees like theatre fees, accommodation fees and doctor’s fees.
Private Hospital
If you are treated in a private hospital, Medicare will pay 75% of the public rate for the treatment, the anaesthesia and all diagnostic work. You and your health insurer are responsible for the rest, including 100% of the cost of all fees like accommodation fees, doctor’s fees and theatre fees.
Outpatient Clinics
You might be treated in an outpatient for diagnostic work like X-rays, ultrasounds and blood work. Medicare will pay 85% of the public rate and you will be responsible for the rest. Private hospital insurance usually doesn’t cover outpatient services.
General Practitioner
If you see a GP Medicare will pay 100% of the cost if the GP bulk bills. If they don’t bulk bill, Medicare will pay 100% of the public rate and you will have to pay any extra if the doctor charges more.
Other Specialists
If you see a non-GP specialist, Medicare will pay 100% of the cost if the provider bulk bills. If they don’t bulk bill, Medicare will pay 85% of the public rate and you will have to pay the additional 15% plus any extra if the doctor charges more.
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What Should I Look For In A Medicare Planif I Need Frequent Ear Cleaning
If you frequently need ear cleaning, a Medicare Advantage Plan may be better for your needs than Original Medicare. Choosing a Medicare Part C plan that covers more than one ear-cleaning service will give your doctor the flexibility to choose the procedure that is the right fit for your specific needs.
When shopping for Medicare Part D, look for plans that include over-the-counter drug coverage and confirm that the prescription ear drops your doctor recommends are covered under the insurers’ formularies.
How Is Hearing Loss Treated
Depending on the type and severity of your hearing loss, your doctor may recommend hearing aids to amplify sounds so you can hear them better. In some cases, if hearing aids arent effective or the hearing loss is more severe, your doctor may recommend cochlear implants. A cochlear implant is a tiny device surgically inserted into the inner ear to help produce a sense of sound. Your doctor may suggest implants for one or both ears, depending on your condition.
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When Do You Know You Need A Hearing Aid
Obvious signs that you might need a hearing aid include:
- Trouble understanding group conversations.
- Feeling like people are always mumbling when they arent.6
- Frequently asking people to repeat themselves, especially in noisy environments.
- Nnot being able to hear well on the phone.
- Needing the television or radio volume set especially loud in order to understand.
- A ringing or hissing sound in your ears.
Normal hearing means you can hear sounds less than 25 decibels . If the softest sound you can hear is 30 decibels or louder, it may be time to consider getting a hearing aid.7
Its important to know that hearing aids dont make your hearing revert to normal. Instead, they help amplify sounds in certain pitch ranges, specifically the ranges in which youve experienced hearing loss. Its not uncommon to find that you need a hearing aid in both ears.
Wearing a hearing aid in both ears often comes with benefits, including better understanding of speech when theres background noise and you may find that youre not as worn out at the end of the day.8
We Understand It Is Important To Know About All Aspects Of Your Appointment Including Your Fees
Initial consultation fee at ENT Surgeons of Melbourne is $240 with additional charges for any diagnostic testing or treatment that may need to be carried out during the consultation which may increase your fee up to $450. Follow-up appointments are charged at $140.
As a private specialist clinic we are unable to offer bulk billed medical services.
If you have your referral, you will receive a partial Medicare rebate. Your private health fund does not provide a rebate on these services.
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How Much Does The Average Ear Cleaning Cost
The cost of ear cleaning will depend on the procedure you have done and the provider you use.
When you use Medicare Part B to get coverage for the removal of a severe earwax buildup, it will pay 80 percent of the Medicare-approved cost. Youll pay the remaining 20 percent.
According to the Medicare physician fee schedule for 2020, the guide for what doctors may bill to original Medicare for their services, if approved, Medicare pays between $35 and $60 dollars for earwax removal. That means youd pay a coinsurance amount between $7 and $12.
Your costs for other ear cleanings will depend on any coverage you might have from a Medicare Advantage plan and the individual provider you use.
For example, CVS Minute Clinic lists the cash price for ear cleaning and earwax removal between $99 and $139. You can look for deals and specials, or ask your primary care provider about their price.
Are Hearing Aids Covered By Medicare
No. Medicare is very clear about this on their website:
“Medicare doesn’t cover hearing aids or exams for fitting hearing aids. You pay 100% for hearing aids and exams. Some Medicare Advantage Plans offer extra benefits that Original Medicare doesnt cover – like vision, hearing, or dental. Contact the plan for more information.”
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Ents Treat The Simple To Severe
Did you know that nearly half of patients going to primary care offices have some sort of ENT issue?
Think about it. Almost everyone has had a stuffy nose, clogged ears, or sore throat, but ENT specialists treat a diverse range of conditions and disorders of the ears, nose, throat, head, and neck regionfrom simple to severe, for all persons, at all stages of life.
ENT specialists are not only medical doctors who can treat your sinus headache, your childs swimmers ear, or your dads sleep apnea. They are also surgeons who can perform extremely delicate operations to restore hearing of the middle ear, open blocked airways, remove head, neck, and throat cancers, and rebuild these essential structures. This requires an additional five to eight years of intensive, post-graduate training beyond medical school.
Organized ENTs have been setting the treatment standards that pediatric and primary care providers have been following since 1896, making otolaryngology one of the oldest medical specialties in the United States.
I like to say that ENT specialists treat pretty much everything from the collarbone up, except for the brain and eyes. So much of this work, medical and surgical, affects how people perceive themselves as human beings, and it is a unique privilege to care for my patients ENT health due to the personal and profound nature of this specialty.
â WILLIAM R. BLYTHE, MD
