Volume 9, Issue 1│January 10, 2025

ASSOCIATION NEWS

President Biden Signs Bill to Add VA Optometrists to Physician Pay Scale

Healio | By Nancy Hemphill fact checked by Heather Biele

January 7, 2025

On Jan. 2 President Joe Biden signed into law a reform bill that would add optometrists practicing in the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs to the physician pay scale, according to the American Optometric Association.

The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act would also allow the VA to provide pay awards, bonuses and annual evaluations, the AOA announced.

Healio previously reported that the legislation was passed by the Senate on Dec. 12 and the House on Dec. 16.

“Including the over 1,000 optometrists within the physician pay administration system with passage of the Elizabeth Dole Act will support VA’s efforts to hire the most qualified providers faster,” Jeanette Carbone Varanelli, OD, said in the AOA’s announcement.

Varanelli was chief of optometry at John D. Dingell VA Medical Center for 13 years before joining the Veterans Integrated Service Network 10 Clinical Resource Hub.

“Raising the entry-level salary and earning potential as a career VA optometrist provides the opportunity to offer a more competitive compensation package to retain providers that understand how to support and care for the unique needs of our nation’s veterans,” Varanelli said.

IOA/AOA Membership Renewal

2025 membership invoices have been mailed out, members should begin receiving invoices! Those on a recurring monthly or quarterly payment do not need to respond as your payment schedule will be automatically renewed.

2025 Dues Contest - Win A FREE Annual Meeting Registration!

Pay membership dues in full by 1/31/2025 and be entered into a drawing to win FREE registration to the 2025 IOA Annual Meeting in Schaumburg, Illinois! This includes your registration for the meeting and all CE testing fees associated with your registration but does not include hotel reservations.

Pay dues online

Registration is now open for the 2025 Winter CE Series. All courses are 6 hours TQ (test included in registration). Courses run from 9am - 4pm CT.

February 2, 2025

Location: Holiday Inn & Suites // East Peoria, IL

Speaker: Mohammad Rafieetary, OD

Course: "Exploring the Retina: Diagnostic Tools, Case Presentation, and Clinical Management"

February 23, 2025

Location: DoubleTree by Hilton Chicago-Alsip // Alsip, IL

Speaker: Chris Borgman, OD

Course: "Unlocking Diagnostic Challenges: A Journey Through Vision Loss, Retinal Brainteasers, Pituitary Insights, and OCT Rounds"

March 2, 2025

Location: Westin Chicago North Shore // Wheeling, IL

Speaker: Mile Brujic, OD

Course: "Anterior Segment Assault: Updates and New Strategies for Patient Management"

For January’s National Eye Care Awareness Month, State Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl is collecting used eyeglasses at her office, 3153 Dundee Rd in Northbrook.

Members of our local Lions Clubs will then get them cleaned, refurbished and distributed all around the world. Stop by to see us and drop off that old pair of readers! Any pair of prescription glasses (incl. bi/trifocals) and nonprescription sunglasses are welcome, but no cases please.

MEMBER NEWS

Mark Colip, OD, attended an exclusive, invitation-only reception hosted by Senator Tammy Duckworth in December. The intimate gathering provided ample opportunity for meaningful discussions with the Senator. Dr. Colip used the occasion to address several key topics related to optometry.

IOA Member Vincent Brandys, OD attended the swearing in ceremony for the new term. He is pictured above with U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez and U.S. Rep. Bill Foster.

IN MEMORIAM

Richard I. Raymer, O.D.

Dr. Richard I. Raymer passed away on December 29, 2024, leaving behind a legacy of resilience, dedication, and love.

Born to Samuel and Lillian Raymer, Richard demonstrated remarkable strength throughout his life, persevering through the loss of his daughter Joanne in 2006 and his beloved wife Donna four years later. Despite these profound losses, he remained a pillar of grace and fortitude for his family and community.

Richard was a proud alumnus of the Illinois College of Optometry and practiced optometry for an extraordinary 70 years. Most of his career was spent serving patients on Devon Avenue in West Rogers Park, where he built lasting relationships with those he cared for. He cherished his patients deeply and considered them an extension of his family-a bond he hoped would be remembered as part of his enduring legacy.

He is survived by his son Joel Raymer (Ana); grandchildren Andrew Raymer (Stephanie), David Raymer (Whitney), Daniel Raymer (Stephanie), and Matthew Dages (Shannon); and great-grandchildren Emily, Casey, and Benjamin.

Tam Tran, O.D.

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Tam Bao Tran, affectionately known as Bin to his family. Born on August 25, 1987, Tam left us peacefully on December 10, 2024. He is deeply mourned by his husband, Yiyun Yu, his parents, Chan and Darrell Klotzbach, his siblings, Iain and Halleigh Klotzbach, and a community of friends who were touched by his kindness and warmth.

Tam’s thirst for knowledge was boundless. After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from the University of California-Davis, he pursued a second degree in Clinical Sciences from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. But perhaps his proudest achievement was returning to school later in life to become the first doctor in his family, earning a Doctor of Optometry degree. This was no small feat, especially after already building a career at Mayo Clinic. He found joy in helping others and spent his final weeks working in his eye clinic, giving his patients the same care and attention that he had always shared so generously with everyone around him.

Beyond his professional success, Tam’s greatest legacy was the kindness and positivity he radiated. He had a way of making everyone feel seen and valued. Those who knew him often spoke of his generosity of spirit, his selflessness, and the warmth that seemed to surround him wherever he went. Tam had a unique ability to lift people up, whether it was through a heartfelt conversation, a handwritten note, or a simple smile that could brighten even the toughest of days. Every holiday season, he would carefully select and send personalized greeting cards, a gesture that reminded his loved ones of just how special they were to him.

Tam was a beacon of light in all things. He had an unwavering positivity and an extraordinary ability to focus on the beauty of the present moment, no matter the circumstances. Even in the face of a devastating lung cancer diagnosis, Tam never lost his spirit. He fought with incredible strength, undergoing relentless chemotherapy and radiation with grace, always looking ahead and making the most of every day. He lived life fully, with an open heart and an adventurous spirit, determined to find joy in every corner of the world.

He had a deep love for the simple things in life: savoring a cup of coffee from a new part of the world, watching Studio Ghibli films, reading horror manga, listening to soothing music, and escaping into the magical realms of Pokémon and Harry Potter. Tam’s love for travel took him to places both near and far, from the enchanted lands of Disney World to the serene onsens of Japan, from the sparkling waters of the Caribbean to California’s sun-kissed shores. His curiosity and zest for life were contagious, and he approached every new experience with enthusiasm and wonder.

Though we mourn the loss of Tam, we also celebrate the joy, love, and light he brought into our lives. His legacy of kindness and positivity will live on in all of us, a beautiful reminder of the extraordinary person he was and the love he gave so freely to everyone he touched.

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2/2- IOA Winter CE Series | East Peoria

2/23- IOA Winter CE Series | Alsip

3/2- IOA Winter CE Series | Wheeling

Report Vision Plan Abuses to the IOA

The IOA recognizes that Vision Care Plan Regulation Act constitutes a significant stride forward for optometry. However, it doesn't signal the conclusion of our efforts to champion fair contracting with vision plans. In the next few years, our members will be renewing and amending their contracts to reflect the changes in the new law. Throughout this process, we will gain valuable insight directly from our members regarding instances of vision plan abuses.

If you encounter vision plan abuses, we ask that you fill out the form below to report abuse. The IOA will collect this information to prevent further vision plan abuses on behalf of our members.

Vision Plan Abuse Reporting Form

FEDERAL NEWS

U.S. And We Are Off Again: 5th Circuit Vacates Stay of Injunction In CTA Case

Forbes | By Matthew F. Erskine, JD

December 27, 2024

In an order filed December 26, 2024, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has vacated their own stay of the District Court’s preliminary injunction of the enforcement of the January 1, 2025 deadline for reporting compliance under the Corporate Transparency Act in Texas Top Cop Shop v. Garland. Previously, FinCEN had extended the deadline from January 1, 2025.

The Fifth Circuit justified this flip flop on the basis that:

“The merits panel now has the appeal, which remains expedited, and a briefing schedule will issue forthwith. However, in order to preserve the constitutional status quo while the merits panel considers the parties’ weighty substantive arguments, that part of the motions-panel order granting the Government’s motion to stay the district court’s preliminary injunction enjoining enforcement of the CTA and the Reporting Rule is VACATED. “

ILLINOIS NEWS

New General Assembly Sworn in as House, Senate Take Different Tones

WGLT | By Staff

January 8, 2024

A new Illinois General Assembly was sworn in for the next two years on Wednesday, with the House and Senate ceremonies taking two starkly different tones.

The House inauguration ceremony, conducted in an auditorium on the University of Illinois Springfield campus, was at times boisterous, featuring speeches that were more politically divisive and sometimes led to jeering.

House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, who was reelected to his third term leading the chamber, tried to strike a chord of unity as he exhorted his colleagues to work together to meet the challenges of what he called a unique moment in history.

“The urgency of this moment shows that unity is our power,” he said. “Members of the 104th General Assembly, let’s rise to meet this moment together. Let’s use this time and all that has been given to us to do the work and move Illinois forward. Winners do the work.”

But there was less talk about unity and cooperation from Republicans who spoke at the ceremony.

Rep. Steve Reick, R-Woodstock, spoke to nominate Republican Tony McCombie as speaker. He said he agreed that cooperation and compromise are needed to solve the state’s problems. But he also criticized “people on both ends of the political spectrum” for pushing “ideas on which there is nothing resembling a social consensus.”

“What results are laws that offend the heart-felt beliefs of people whose voices are not being heard and toothless resolutions that call for us to separate this state from a world class city that’s being driven into the ground,” Reick said.

Meanwhile, McCombie, of Savanna, who was reelected to her second term as minority leader, used her speech to vent some of the frustration she and other Republicans have felt at being locked out of negotiations with majority party Democrats on major legislative issues.

“I, like many, were disappointed with our election outcomes and the ability for us to secure more Republican seats to bring some balance to the General Assembly,” she said. “However, this was not due to a lack of good candidates or hard work, but due to special interest in Illinois’ gerrymandered maps, the most outrageous maps in the nation.”

Senate inauguration

Senators from across Illinois were sworn in Wednesday in the newly renovated Senate chamber. The room had been closed for 2 ½ years while the Senate conducted business in a modified auditorium in a separate building on the capitol complex.

Sen. Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, and Sen. John Curran, R-Downers Grove, were reelected by their colleagues to their positions of Senate president and Senate minority leader, respectively.

The mood in the chamber, where bipartisan engagement has been more common in recent years, was far more reserved than in the House.

“While they may not always see eye-to-eye, they share a mutual respect for each other, our caucus and the constituents that allow them to work together for the good of Illinois,” Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, said of the two leaders in her nominating speech for Curran. “This calm dialogue may not be the exciting drama that you see in D.C.”

Harmon is beginning his fourth term as the chamber’s leader after being elected by his caucus in January 2020 and serving in the Senate since 2003. His 2020 opponent in that contest, Sen. Kimberly Lightford, D-Westchester, gave the nominating speech for Harmon, saying the suburban Democrat has proven to be an effective leader.

“In an era of deeply political division, Don stands apart through his remarkable ability to unite people,” Lightford said.

Harmon’s acceptance speech had one overarching message: be kind. He asked senators to work across the aisle, including on behalf of their constituents who didn’t vote for them.

“Remember that your neighbors in this chamber are some of the only people in Illinois who can relate to what you’re going through,” Harmon said. “The Senate is an active laboratory for coalition-building. Forge those bonds and look out for one another.”

The messages from Harmon and Curran stood out in a week when the House has grabbed headlines for a caucus meeting that left a governor’s office staffer in tears while three of Welch’s senior staff members announced plans to resign.

Curran is beginning his second term as Senate minority leader after being elected by his caucus in 2023. A former Cook County prosecutor, Curran was elected to the Senate in 2016.

“It’s easy to insulate ourselves with people who look, live and think like us,” Curran said. “But if American democracy has taught us anything, it is that real progress comes from stepping outside of your comfort zone and building a coalition of different viewpoints to craft policy for the greater good.”

Of the 59 Illinois senators, three sworn in Wednesday were non-incumbents: Graciela Guzmán, D-Chicago, Liandro Arellano, R-Dixon, and Chris Balkema, R-Channahon.

Pritzker on upcoming challenges

The 104th General Assembly has a lengthy to-do list, ranging from eliminating a projected $3.2 billion budget deficit to reforming transit in the Chicago area.

In a news conference following inauguration, Gov. JB Pritzker spoke about the budget challenges he faces this spring ahead of his late February budget address.

“When we talk about priorities, prioritizing the fiscal health of the state has been, you know, among the most important things that I’ve, I think, achieved and will continue to prioritize,” Pritzker said.

Pritzker also faces a reemerging challenge from his first term as governor: a Donald Trump presidency.

Pritzker said he has general concerns about Trump’s plans, particularly as they pertain to health care. But he is taking a wait-and-see approach before deciding specific actions to counter the Trump administration’s initiatives.

He noted Trump is often “unpredictable.”

“There’s not a specific thing that I can point to though because he hasn’t taken office yet,” Pritzker said, adding he’d remain “on guard” for what actions may be needed in the future.

Capitol renovations

Wednesday’s inauguration also served as the reopening of the Illinois Senate chamber following renovations to the space that began over two years ago.

The north wing of the Illinois Capitol remains in the middle of an expansive $350 million renovation that began in 2022.

Much of the project on the interior of the Capitol is designed to restore the building to how it looked centuries ago. The building was constructed in the late 1800s in the decades after the Civil War and has undergone numerous renovations that have changed its appearance and layout.

In the Senate specifically, construction included restoring the room’s original laylight and making safety upgrades. The stained glass laylight is designed to resemble the chamber’ original look before it was damaged by fire decades ago. Renovations also added more stalls to the women’s restroom to make it comparable to the men’s bathroom.

The project is also aimed at modernizing the capitol complex and includes construction of a new public entrance and visitor center on the north wing. The addition is also designed to improve security at the complex and funnel visitors in through a single space.

Pritzker 'Looking' At Impact of Potential Federal Medicaid, Healthcare Cuts

Health News Illinois | By Ryan Voyles

January 9, 2025

Gov. JB Pritzker told reporters Wednesday that his administration is looking at “all the challenges” that might come from President-elect Donald Trump and a Republican Congress, including how potential cuts to healthcare and Medicaid may affect the state.

“All I can say is that … everything about what we can pay for in the state is dependent upon our ability to balance the budget," Pritzker said during a press conference in Springfield.

The Department of Healthcare and Family Services said last month that state law removes eligibility for the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion population if the federal government reduces the level of federal match to anything under 90 percent.

The ACA Medicaid expansion accounts for roughly 22 percent of Illinois’ Medicaid recipients, or 770,000 adults. The state receives $7.4 billion to provide coverage for them.

A recent KFF Health News report said Illinois was one of nine states to have so-called trigger laws on the books. While Medicaid cuts have been floated, health advisors for Trump have not yet decided how to approach the program.

Pritzker said Wednesday it can be difficult to craft plans, citing the unpredictability of Trump’s first term. But he said changes to Medicaid and healthcare spending are among his highest concerns.

"We’re looking at all the challenges that might come from the administration and also considering what we can afford... in the event that the federal government removes itself from covering certain people," he said.

The Governor’s Office of Management and Budget released a report last fall that projected the state will face a $3.2 billion deficit for the coming fiscal year.

AOA NEWS

Hiring ODs: What the 10 Most Popular Job Listings Have in Common

For practice owners struggling to find an OD, posting a position on the AOAExcel Career Center provides an immediate avenue to reach a new slew of potential candidates across the country. But even with the right venue, it’s crucial to create a compelling job listing to attract the perfect candidate. To help give you an idea of what to include in your listing, AOAExcel researched the most viewed Career Center positions and noted what they all have in common:

· Start with a Descriptive Title—Stand out from generic “Optometrist” job titles. The most viewed Career Center listings all include eye-catching, descriptive titles. Consider including a nearby point of interest, a salary figure or particularly attractive benefit, details on the role—like “private,” “medical" or "optical”—or specifics on candidate type like “new grads welcome.”

· Include Salary and Benefits—An attractive salary and benefit package will appeal to seekers and assure them that your position is worth pursuing. It is common and encouraged to list expected salary, benefits like insurance and retirement plans, and any sign-on bonuses or revenue share opportunities up front.

· Highlight Community—Posting on a nationwide career center likely means your candidate will be making a significant move for them and their family. Highlighting the best aspects of your community, whether that’s a great school system, unique cultural opportunities, or proximity to nature and recreational sites, can help paint a picture of what life will look like for prospective candidates.

· Introduce Your Practice and Team—Showcase everything that makes your practice a great place to work. Mention any cutting-edge technology you use, provide a preview of your services or treatment focus, and describe the facility and exam rooms. Introduce potential candidates to your staff, your practice’s values, and any plans for the future of the role and your practice.

Remember that a listing is your first and best way to make an impression on a job seeker. The more you can show candidates what working at your practice will look like, the more interest your listing will generate. If you would like more help creating a job listing, the AOAExcel Career Center experts are available to review your listing and provide one-on-one assistance. Plus, AOA members receive up to 50% off on job listings. Learn more at aoa.org/career-center/employers.

InfantSEE ®: Upcoming events & opportunities

InfantSEE, a public health program, managed by Optometry Cares - The AOA Foundation, is designed to ensure that eye and vision care becomes an integral part of infant wellness care to improve a child's quality of life. Under this program, AOA member optometrists provide a no-cost comprehensive eye and vision assessment for infants 6-12 months old regardless of a family's income or access to insurance coverage.

Webinar opportunity that is open to paras, students, and doctors

Join us on January 23 at 7pm CT for an Infant Eye Care Webinar entitled Nurturing Vision Health in Children! This session will provide an in-depth exploration of best practices for conducting eye examinations on infants. In this interactive webinar, participants will learn effective techniques to enhance their comfort and competence when caring for this age group. This webinar is open to doctors of optometry, paraoptometric professionals and students.
Please share with support staff and doctors in your area who might be interested.

Call for Nominations for Dr. W. David Sullins Jr. Award

The Dr. W. David Sullins, Jr. InfantSEE Award recognizes an individual doctor of optometry who has made significant contributions to optometry or their community for outstanding public service involving the InfantSEE program. Nominate a deserving colleague by Feb. 10, 2025.
Our challenge is for every state advocate to nominate at least one doctor! We know how many passionate and deserving InfantSEE providers are out there. Please help us recognize them.

New, FREE InfantSEE public awareness materials

Earlier this year, InfantSEE refreshed our public awareness materials (i.e. brochure, calling card, poster, etc.). Order materials to share with your patients or a local community organization. Materials and shipping are free for InfantSEE providers and nonprofit organizations.
Please share these materials with any local community organizations/hospitals/doctors’ offices that you work with or that you think could benefit from more information on the InfantSEE program.

Please submit all outstanding InfantSEE assessments for the year using this quick and easy electronic form.

Important notes:
You do NOT have to login to your AOA account to utilize this form.
We can no longer accept paper forms due privacy considerations.
Every assessment helps us show how impactful this amazing program is!

AOA, WCO Open Call for Abstracts for 2025 Poster Sessions

The AOA and WCO invite you to participate in our Poster Sessions for Optometry's Meeting® 2025!

The Poster Session creates a national forum for clinicians, students and faculty to communicate interesting cases and unique research to their colleagues. Abstracts based on unique clinical cases featuring any and all aspects of optometric research will be reviewed and the submissions meeting the required criteria will be accepted for Poster presentation. All case reports and research must be complete and unpublished at the time of submission. Poster abstracts must be submitted electronically and be received by Feb. 14, 2025.

Important dates

Submission deadline: Feb. 14, 2025
Notification of acceptance: Mid-March 2025
Poster Session Recordings Available: Beginning May 23, 2025
Rapid-fire CE Course feat. Top 5 Poster Presenters: June 27, 2025
Optometry's Meeting: June 25-28, 2025

Visit here for requirements

INDUSTRY NEWS

Concentration Problems Associated with Fatigue Severity in Those with Vision Impairment

Healio | By Kate Young fact checked by Heather Biele

January 6, 2025

Concentration problems and fatigue severity appeared to be positively associated in patients with visual impairment, according to research published in Optometry and Vision Science.

“To date, the association between concentration and fatigue in individuals with [visual impairment (VI)] remains largely unexplored,” Manon H. J. Veldman, MD, a researcher at Amsterdam UMC, and colleagues wrote. “This study aimed to expand upon previous research by conducting a quantitative investigation into the association between concentration problems and the severity of fatigue in adults with VI.”

In a cross-sectional study of 213 adults with VI (mean age, 57.2 years; 61% women), the researchers measured concentration using the Checklist of Individual Strengths subscale Concentration and fatigue using the Checklist of Individual Strengths subscale Fatigue Severity. The researchers also considered potential confounding variables including sociodemographic and vision-related characteristics.

More than 60% of participants experienced severe fatigue, with concentration problems both directly and positively associated with fatigue severity.

Severity of VI, duration of VI and work status were not significantly associated with either concentration problems or fatigue severity. However, the researchers noted that certain comorbidities, negative cognitions, sleep and depression were not included in the study and may influence concentration and fatigue.

“As fatigue has a major impact on people’s daily life and participation in society, research on cognitive overload is necessary to stimulate awareness and treatment of these symptoms in clinical practice,” Veldman and colleagues wrote.

NATIONAL NEWS

Drugmakers to Raise US Prices on Over 250 Medicines Starting Jan. 1

Reuters | By Michael Erman

December 31, 2024

NEW YORK, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Drugmakers plan to raise U.S. prices on at least 250 branded medications including Pfizer (PFE.N), COVID-19 treatment Paxlovid, Bristol Myers Squibb's (BMY.N), cancer cell therapies and vaccines from France's Sanofi (SASY.PA), at the start of 2025, according to data analyzed by healthcare research firm 3 Axis Advisors.

Nearly all of the drug price increases are below 10% - most well below. The median price increase of the drugs being hiked Jan. 1 is 4.5%, which is in line with the median for all price increases last year.

The increases are to list prices, which do not include rebates to pharmacy benefit managers and other discounts.

Larger drug price increases were once far more common in the U.S. but in recent years drugmakers have scaled them back after price hikes drew sharp criticism in the middle of the last decade.

"Drugmakers don't have much real estate any longer to increase prices over time, which means taking greater liberties on launch prices is really the only option they have in the face of expanded penalties for year-over-year price increases," 3 Axis President Antonio Ciaccia said.

A Reuters analysis of prices for new drugs found that pharmaceutical companies launched new U.S. drugs in 2023 at prices 35% higher than in 2022.

The over 250 drug hikes represent an increase from Dec. 29 last year when drugmakers unveiled plans to raise prices on more than 140 brands of drugs.

Drug companies are also reducing some prices on Jan. 1. Merck & Co (MRK.N), plans to cut the list price of its heavily discounted diabetes drugs Januvia and Janumet "to align the list price more closely to the net price."