Family Nurse Practitioner Exam

Which service is not covered by Medicare Part B?

1. Outpatient physician visits that are medically necessary

2. Durable medical equipment

3. Outpatient laboratory and radiology tests

4. Eyeglasses and routine dental care

The correct answer is: Eyeglasses and routine dental care

Medicare Part B primarily covers medically necessary services and supplies to treat health conditions, including outpatient physician visits, durable medical equipment, and outpatient laboratory and radiology tests. However, routine vision and dental care, which includes eyeglasses and routine dental care, fall outside the scope of standard Medicare Part B coverage. Eyeglasses often require special circumstances for coverage, such as following cataract surgery, and routine dental care is typically not covered under Medicare at all. Therefore, services like eyeglasses and routine dental care are categorized as elective or non-medically necessary, making them ineligible for reimbursement or coverage through Medicare Part B. This distinction is critical for understanding the limitations of Medicare benefits and the specific areas of care it does not encompass.