CMS Pays AI MORE Than Human Interpretation for Diabetic Retinopathy Screening — CPT 92229 = $43.67 (2025) vs 92228 = $29.14

CMS deliberately reimburses autonomous AI more than human interpretation for diabetic retinopathy screening. CPT 92229 (autonomous AI imaging) = $40.94 (2024) → $43.67 (2025); CPT 92228 (MD interpretation) = $29.14; CPT 92227 (staff review) = $17.35. The price differential is intentional policy: CMS uses reimbursement to drive autonomous AI adoption in primary care settings — the policy tailwind for FQHCs is real. Combined with $43.67 reimbursement vs ~$15-25K refurbished Topcon NW400 fundus camera, AI DR screening pays for the equipment within months for any FQHC with a Type 2 diabetes panel. Plus HEDIS EED quality measure improvement (only 64.8% of US diabetics get annual exam vs HP2030 70.3% target). The single most ROI-positive vision technology FQHCs are not adopting at scale.