Volume 9, Issue 41 │October 31, 2025 | | | |
Overview of Illinois E-Prescription Mandate and Waiver Options (P.A. 103-0425)
Effective January 1, 2024, Illinois requires prescribers to issue electronic prescriptions for controlled substances. However, two waiver options are available through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR):
- Economic Hardship Waiver:
- Available until January 1, 2026, for prescribers who can demonstrate financial difficulty in obtaining or managing an e-prescribing system.
- Starting January 1, 2026, only those who have received a federal CMS waiver for economic hardship under the Electronic Prescribing for Controlled Substances (EPCS) program may qualify.
- Requires documentation of annual income and two cost quotes for e-prescribing setup (kept by licensee, submitted upon request).
- Low-Volume Waiver:
- Applies to prescribers who issue 150 or fewer prescriptions in a 12-month period.
- Starting January 1, 2029, this threshold drops to 50 prescriptions per year.
- Certification is made via an attestation question on license renewal; no documentation required initially.
Additional Details:
- Waivers can be reapplied for during renewal cycles.
- There is no set deadline for requesting waivers, but starting in 2026, hardship waivers require federal CMS proof of hardship from the prior compliance year.
| | Mark your calendars! The IOA Winter CE Series is just around the corner. Registration will open in mid-November, don’t miss it! | |
2026 membership dues invoices are being prepared and will be sent out by the start of November, so be on the lookout! 🎉
This year, the 2026 dues contest will be related to making your dues payment via Zelle. Zelle is a direct and fast way to send and receive money that will reduce transaction costs to the Association. Details on making your dues payment via Zelle will be located in your invoice mailing and emails.
If you are planning on retiring before the end of 2025 or in 2026, please reach out to discuss membership options.
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Optometry Applications Reach All Time High
ASCO | Press Release
October 27, 2025
The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) is happy to report that for the second year in a row its U.S. institutions received the highest number ever of applicants during the 2024-2025 OptomCAS application cycle.
Optometric institutions collectively saw 2,897 applicants; the previous highest number of applicants was 2,868 in the 2023-2024 application cycle.
More noteworthy highlights include:
- The average number of applications per applicant was 4.33.
- The median age of applicants was 22 years old, with 73% female and 26% male. Less than 1% declined to state gender.
- The ethnicity breakdown for applicants was 42% White, 31% Asian, 13% Spanish/Hispanic/Latino/Latina, 5% Black/African-American, 4% Two or More Races, and less than 1% American Indian/Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander. Four percent of applicants did not report a race.
- The average overall cumulative GPA for all applicants was 3.45.
“It’s exciting to see record-breaking interest in optometry for the second year in a row,” said ASCO President Dr. Alicia Feis. “Our Optometry Gives Me Life campaign continues to resonate with STEM students, helping them discover the meaningful, balanced, and innovative career that optometry offers. With the launch of our Eye Opener Sessions, we’ve expanded our reach and deepened engagement, creating more opportunities for students to connect directly with passionate optometrists. We encourage more professionals to get involved and share their stories, reminding future applicants of the profound impact we make in our communities and the fulfillment this profession brings. We’re proud to welcome a new generation of talented applicants and look forward to growing the profession with high-quality future optometrists.”
Applicants apply through OptomCAS, the Optometry Centralized Application Service. OptomCAS launched in June for application cycle 2025-2026, and already the results are very positive. All 25 ASCO member schools and colleges in the U.S. participate in OptomCAS.
A full report on the 2024-2025 application cycle will be available by the end of the year. Visit www.optomcas.org or contact Paige Pence, ASCO Director of Student and Residency Affairs, at ppence@opted.org with any questions.
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MEMBER BENEFIT: Have a Billing and Coding Question?
Submit it to the experts at OBC Insurance Billing Specialists! Click here to submit your questions.
| | The Eyes on Tomorrow Fund, previously known as the Legislative Equity Fund, is a dedicated resource created by and for optometrists to support the Illinois Optometric Association’s (IOA) state-level advocacy efforts. This fund directly empowers optometry’s fight for scope expansion, the regulation of Vision Benefits Managers (VBMs), and other legislative battles crucial to protecting the profession and ensuring patient care. Unlike political action committees (PACs), this fund is not used to support candidates but instead provides critical resources for advancing optometry in Illinois. | | |
The PAC (Political Action Committee) is a group organized to promote its members' views on selected issues, usually through raising money that is contributed to the campaign funds of candidates who support the group's position to keep our friends in office. Now more than ever, we need strong, principled leaders who will fight for equal rights, and access to essential services —Will you pitch in today to help us protect our profession and the patients we serve?
Contributions to the IOA PAC can be made as a One-Time Donation or as Recurring Monthly Donation and deducted automatically from donor's bank account or charged to their credit card. Selecting to contribute a set amount on a monthly basis is a painless and effortless way to contribute to and support the IOA PAC. Contributions to the IOA PAC fund are not deductible for federal income tax purposes.
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We want to hear from YOU!
Do you have a business question or a dilemma we can answer for you? Others may have the same inquiry. Ask away! We will answer your question in an upcoming issue.
(Don't worry, we won't include your name.)
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Eye care practitioners should report all violations of the FCLCA, including instances in which contact lens sellers fail to comply with the prescription verification provisions of the law.
| | Contact Lens Safety Month: Health Care Alliance for Patient Safety | | |
October is Contact Lens Safety Month, a critical time to reinforce safe use and care practices of contact lenses, and to confront policies that compromise patient safety. The health of the more than 45 million contact lens wearers in America is put at risk every day by a major loophole: the use of automated, passive robocalls to "verify" contact lens prescriptions.
That's why HCAPS is focused on advocating for the Contact Lens Prescription Verification Modernization Act (H.R. 4282). This bipartisan legislation will prohibit contact lens bad actors from using robocalls for prescription verification.
Take action today and tell your representative to support the Contact Lens Prescription Verification Modernization Act!
Our movement grows stronger with every new voice. If you know a friend, family member, or colleague who cares about eye health, invite them to sign up with HCAPS. Let's expand our grassroots network and make an even bigger impact on patient safety policy!
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The Vision Council Urges Commerce Department to Exclude Optical Products from Potential Tariffs
Eyewire | By Staff
October 29, 2025
The Vision Council has submitted formal comments to the US Department of Commerce opposing potential new tariffs that could affect essential optical products and equipment.
The comments respond to two ongoing Section 232 national security investigations concerning (1) personal protective equipment (PPE), medical consumables, and medical equipment (Docket No. BIS-2025-0258) and (2) robotics and industrial machinery (Docket No. BIS-2025-0257). The broad scope of these investigations could encompass spectacle lenses, frames, diagnostic instruments, and the machinery used in optical manufacturing.
In its submissions, The Vision Council cautioned that imposing additional tariffs on optical products would harm public health by increasing costs for patients and providers. The organization urged the Department to exclude optical devices and related manufacturing equipment from any new tariff actions, emphasizing that these goods support, rather than threaten, US health and economic security.
“Affordable access to corrective eyewear is a public health necessity,” said Ashley Mills, CEO of The Vision Council. “Additional duties on optical devices or equipment will make it harder for Americans to access the care they need.”
The Vision Council noted that optical medical devices—such as eyeglasses, contact lenses, and low vision aids—are among the most commonly used medical products in the country. Roughly 61% of Americans wear prescription eyeglasses, with more than 81 million pairs of lenses dispensed annually. New tariffs, the group warned, would drive up costs throughout the supply chain, limiting access to essential vision care—particularly for children, veterans, and vulnerable populations.
The organization’s filings also pointed to the negative economic impact of existing trade measures, including Section 301 tariffs and duties imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Many optical companies, The Vision Council reported, already face higher operating costs, reduced margins, and delayed growth as a result of these policies. Furthermore, the optical industry’s supply chains—linking trusted partners in Italy, Germany, Japan, and Mexico—pose no threat to US national security, the Council said. Instead, they are dedicated to supporting consumer health and advancing vision care technologies.
The Vision Council’s comments call for a broad and transparent exclusion process for optical products and related manufacturing equipment. The submissions include detailed lists of Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) codes identifying the optical devices, diagnostic tools, and machinery that should be exempt from Section 232 measures.
In addition to its Commerce Department filings, The Vision Council’s Government and Regulatory Affairs team continues to work closely with members of Congress and federal agencies to advocate for tariff relief and to underscore the impact of existing duties on the vision care industry.
“Our mission is to ensure policymakers understand that optical products are health tools, not security threats,” said Omar Elkhatib, Senior Manager of Government Relations. “Tariff relief is essential to maintaining affordable, high-quality vision care for millions of Americans.”
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Nominate Today for the 2026 AOA Leadership Institute!
Nominations are now open for the AOA Leadership Institute 2026, designed to prepare optometry’s champions to take on impactful roles at the local, state and national levels.
The Leadership Institute is a six-month program (January - June 2026) that equips participants with the skills, confidence and connections to lead within their affiliates and the AOA. Graduates will join 600+ leaders who have completed the program with enhanced leadership capacity and readiness to step into key roles across the profession.
Program highlights include:
- Personal and professional attribute assessment.
- Leadership branding.
- Leading change.
- Negotiation skills.
- Public speaking training (delivered in person at Optometry's Meeting® in Phoenix, June 18-19, 2026).
Key details:
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Nominations may be submitted via the Leadership Institute Nomination Form.
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Nominations close October 31, 2025.
- Once nominated, doctors will receive an application to complete. Those accepted will be notified in November, with the program officially beginning in January 2026.
We encourage you to consider doctors who show leadership potential and a passion for advancing optometry, whether they are seasoned volunteers or new voices ready to step up.
Thank you for your support in developing the next generation of leaders for our profession.
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Aetna and Humana Collaborate with AOA to Exempt Optometrists from Auto-Downcoding Edits
AOA | By Staff
October 8, 2025
AOA advocacy has resulted in a first-of-its-kind organizational agreement to eliminate certain automatic downcoding programs, which have been targeting optometry practices across the country.
Key Takeaways
- Across the health care sector, physician complaints about downcoding have been on the rise.
- The AOA continues to oppose the use of any automatic downcoding systems.
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Doctors of optometry who are impacted by any downcoding should appeal every claim and report the downcoding to stopplanabuses@aoa.org.
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Resources for appeals can be found here.
- Appropriate and complete and comprehensive documentation is the best defense against any downcoding or post payment review audit.
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Legislative Call to Action - Urge Congress to Pass Children's Vision Legislation
Children's eye health and vision care has long been a cause championed by the American Optometric Association. This always-on advocacy, magnified by recent public health conversations, is yielding greater awareness of the importance of comprehensive eye care from an early age.
In the U.S., 1 in every 4 children has a vision disorder that requires diagnosis and treatment by an eye doctor, yet most may never see an eye doctor. Undiagnosed and untreated eye disorders have enormous, long-lasting consequences for kids.
To help solve these problems, the Early Detection of Vision Impairments in Children Act (H.R. 2527) would ensure that every child with a potential vision problem is identified and connected to appropriate eye care as early as possible to receive a diagnosis and necessary treatment by providing grants and resources for states and communities to establish, modernize, or improve state-based programs.
Urge your U.S. federal legislators to take action today!
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Gold Opportunity Award: Applications are Open
Application Overview
The committee responsible for evaluating the Golden Opportunity Award is committed to a thorough and equitable assessment process that considers a diverse range of factors. Application questions have been crafted to gather comprehensive insights into applicants' personal achievements, challenges and future goals. Financial questions are designed to understand the unique financial context of each applicant, enabling the committee to make informed decisions that align with the programs goal of providing golden opportunities to those who will benefit most.
Application Timeline
Friday, October 17, 2025 - Applications Open
Monday, January 26, 2026 - Applications Close
April 2026 – Finalists selected
May 2026 – Finalists present to the awards committee in person or virtual
June 2026 – Awards announced at Optometry’s Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona
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Officials Warn of Drastic Spikes in ACA Premiums
HNI | By Ryan Voyels
October 28, 2025
Illinoisans with Affordable Care Act coverage will see premiums skyrocket next year, with state officials saying Monday that residents in one southern Illinois county will have a fourfold increase in household premiums.
Department of Insurance Director Ann Gillespie told reporters during a virtual press conference that the average Illinois household will see a 78 percent increase in their premiums for the 2026 plan year.
In Cook County, the average monthly premium for a single household is set to be about $441, a 99 percent increase. Surrounding counties will see rate increases ranging from 47 percent in Lake to 83 percent in Will.
Gillespie said the increases are most likely to be felt in southern Illinois, where there are fewer providers and specialty centers, a higher Medicaid population and other factors that drive up healthcare costs.
The average monthly premium for a household in Effingham County will be $1,029, a 456 percent increase. In Jackson County, the premium increase is expected to be $458, a 274 percent increase.
“We're going to have more uninsured Americans,” Gillespie said. “And this is all going to equal higher costs for everyone, including self-funded plans as well as non-ACA insurance plans.”
Letters are being sent this week to Illinoisans with insurance through the exchange to outline how their costs may increase next year.
Along with inflation, several insurance carriers leaving the market and the general rise in healthcare costs, officials noted Monday that the brunt of the increase comes from the enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits that are set to expire at the end of the year.
Gillespie said about 91 percent of the record-high 550,000 Illinoisans who enrolled in a marketplace plan during the last enrollment period received the enhanced premium tax credit.
A recent report from the Urban Institute found roughly 106,000 Illinoisans would become uninsured if the credits are not extended.
Morgan Winters, the director of the state-based marketplace GetCovered Illinois, said they do not have specific enrollment estimates for the coming plan year if there are no changes in federal policy.
He pointed to Congressional Budget Office estimates of a national coverage reduction between 30 percent and 50 percent.
“We think that's broadly the ballpark for what we'll see here in Illinois if those enhanced subsidies are not extended by Congress,” he said.
With Illinois moving to a state-based exchange this year, Winters said they have increased flexibility to help residents get coverage, such as investing in certified brokers and navigators.
Winters also said it’s possible to have a special enrollment period for individuals if Congress does approve an extension of the tax credits or some other type of supplemental support.
Several insurers have also left the Illinois exchange, leading to some of the increases. Aetna CVS Health, Health Alliance and Quartz will no longer offer exchange plans in Illinois. Additionally, Celtic will no longer offer bronze plans throughout the state, and Cigna will no longer offer plans in Cook County.
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Illinois' Medicare Experience Ranks 37th in Nation
HNI | By Ryan Voyels
October 27, 2025
Illinois ranks 37th among states for Medicare experience, according to an inaugural report from the Commonwealth Fund.
The report looked at differences in program beneficiaries’ ability to afford care, find doctors and avoid unnecessary hospitalizations. Researchers noted that while Medicare is a federal program, state and local factors can impact Medicare members’ ability to find care and have better outcomes.
Illinois was 34th nationally when it came to performance on indicators tied to care access. It ranked 42nd on costs and affordability, 43rd on care quality and 26th on population health measures.
Just over 19 percent of Illinoisans are enrolled in Medicare. Of those, 7.7 percent are in Medicare Advantage plans.
“By learning from states where Medicare works best, policymakers and health leaders can strengthen the program for everyone,” Gretchen Jacobson, Commonwealth Fund vice president for Medicare, said in a statement.
The report used 31 health system performance indicators to score states.
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Check out the newest IOA classifieds here!
Northern IL:
Excellent Opportunity for Optometrist, Bloomington IL (Read more)
Join Aroura Health Optometry (Read more)
Great Full-time or Part-time Associate OD Opportunity Available in Melrose Park (Read more)
American Vision Center is Seeking Full or Part Time OD (Read more)
Looking for an Optometrist to Join Team Full or Part-Time (Read more)
Optometrist Wanted at Trusted Practice (Read more)
Part-Time Opportunity at Low Vision Rehab Non-Profit (Read more)
Optometrist Needed in Algonquin & Mundelein (Read more)
Optometrist Needed in Western Chicago Suburbs (Read more)
Optometrist Needed in Glenview & Pingree Grove IL (Read more)
Central IL:
Excellent Opportunity for Optometrist, Central IL (Read more)
Optometrist Opportunity – Advanced Medical Eye Care Practice (Read more)
Gailey Eye Clinic Seeking OD in Peoria/Galesburg (Read more)
Southern IL:
Join our Team and be Part of 100 Years of Optometry Excellence (Read more)
Optometrist Needed in Southern IL & Greater STL Area (Read more)
Out of State:
Pediatric Optometrist Needed in West Des Moines, Iowa (Read more)
OD Needed in Jackson Michigan (Read more)
Join Our Dynamic and Growing Practice in Beautiful Door County, WI (Read more)
Practices for Sale:
Long-established family owned private practice in the South Chicago Suburbs (Read more)
22-Year-Old Private Practice for Sale in Oak Brook, IL (Read more)
Practice for Sale in Peoria, IL (Read more)
Equipment for Sale:
Canno RK 5 Autorefractor-Keratometer-PD-retro- illumination (Read more)
| | THANK YOU TO OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS! | |
Illinois Optometric Association
217-525-8012
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