Bupa confirms cut to cataract surgeons' fee

Healthcare insurance firm Bupa has more than halved the fee it pays consultants to carry out cataract surgery.

The company said that the fee reduction, from £741 to £289, adequately reflected the time and complexity involved and was 'more than reasonable'.

Bupa confirmed the change to Optician amid a warning from The Federation of Independent Practitioner Organisations (FIPO) that Bupa patients could face increased need for co-payment to cover reduced consultation fees (News 27.07.12).

FIPO was also critical of Bupa's new open referral system, which lets practitioners refer patients directly to Bupa recognised consultants.

Bupa has insisted the changes would not impact its customers, and were needed to keep its health insurance affordable to members.