Medicaid initiates eye glass coverage in American Samoa
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The American Samoa Medicaid State Agency is initiating with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services and a local provider the creation of a new Medicaid service—to provide prescription eyeglasses to Medicaid beneficiaries.
“We are currently in the process of evaluating rates for reimbursement and designing a solution with a cost share for those who are not regular Medicaid beneficiaries but are still residents of American Samoa. We plan to launch this program as soon as possible once we finalize and receive approval from CMS,” stated Medicaid Director Sandra King Young.
The Medicaid program requires that any service to be covered under the AS Medicaid program must be defined in the American Samoa Medicaid State Plan, including what type of service is to be provided, who can provide them, how it will be paid and what is the financial impact on the federal budget. This information must be provided by the Medicaid State Agency and approved by the CMS.
With the availability of a local provider who can provide this service, Medicaid will be able to establish this benefit on island for the eligible residents of the territory.
For further information, please contact the American Samoa Medicaid State Agency at 699-4777.