Volume 9, Issue 14│April 11, 2025 | | | |
Bill Status of HB2676: Health Care Provider Workforce Act
This week, legislation passed the Illinois House of Representatives to add optometrists to healthcare professionals who are eligible for loan repayment assistance if they practice in a designated shortage area. The bill will now move to the Illinois Senate.
The Underserved Health Care Provider Workforce Program (UHCPW) is administered by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to address healthcare disparities by recruiting qualified providers to serve in designated shortage areas across Illinois.
Funds are used to repay educational loans of eligible health care providers in exchange for full-time or half-time service in shortage areas.
Recipient Requirements for Loan Repayment:
- Hold a valid Illinois license to practice.
- Have educational debt from a governmental or commercial lending institution.
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Practice at a qualifying medical facility in a designated shortage area, including optometric offices.
- Accept specified forms of payment, have no federal debt judgment liens, and not be excluded by a federal agency.
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Sign a written agreement committing to loan repayment and service.
- Be a U.S. citizen or national and not currently enrolled in other loan repayment programs.
Currently the program is only open to medical & chiropractic students. More information about the current program can be found here.
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Now Accepting Nominations for 2025 OD & Young OD of the Year Awards 📢
Do you know an outstanding optometrist who should be recognized for their efforts in the field of optometry? Consider nominating them for the 2025 Optometrist of the Year or Young Optometrist of the Year awards. The Optometrist of the Year award recognizes an individual for performance of outstanding services on behalf of the profession and to the visual welfare of the public. The Young Optometrist of the Year award recognizes an optometrist who, within their first decade of practice, has shown leadership skills when serving their profession, their patients, and their community.
A nomination may be made by a member in good standing or by a society. Nominees must be current members of the IOA. Nominations for each award should be submitted online via the links below. A head and shoulders photograph must be included with the nomination. Nominations must be submitted by July 31, 2025.
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ELIGIBILITY FOR OPTOMETRIST OF THE YEAR
- Any member in good standing who has been practicing for 11 years or more.
- Cannot be a current member of the Board of Directors or a Past President of the Association that has served in the last 5 years.
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ELIGIBILITY FOR YOUNG OPTOMETRIST OF THE YEAR
- The nominee must be a member in good standing and be in active optometric practice 10 years or less (including residency or fellowship).
- Cannot be a current member of the Board of Directors.
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Now Accepting Student and Paraoptometric of the Year Nominations | | |
The IOA recognizes a student entering their 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year of Optometry School who shows leadership skills when serving their profession and their community, as well as earning academic achievements. Students may nominate themselves or another student.
The Student of the Year will be awarded a $2,000 grant to be used at the winner's discretion and will be recognized at the IOA Annual Meeting.
Nominations are due by July 31, 2025.
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The IOA Paraoptometric of the Year Award recognizes a deserving individual paraoptometric who has made outstanding contributions to the profession of optometry, patients, and the public. This individual must be employed by an IOA member doctor.
A paraoptometric is one who works under the direct supervision of a licensed doctor of optometry, collects patient data, administers routine and technical tests of patient’s visual capabilities, and assists in office management. A paraoptometric may assist the doctor in providing patient care, examination and treatment services, including, but not limited to, contact lenses, low vision, vision therapy, ophthalmic dispensing, and office management.
The Para of the Year will be awarded free registration to the IOA Annual Meeting and will be recognized at the IOA Annual Meeting.
Nominations are due July 31, 2025.
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Now Accepting Applications for 2025-2026 IOA Board of Directors
The IOA is now accepting nominations for the 2025-2026 Board of Directors. Any IOA member with five years’ post-optometry school experience who is in good standing, and in a membership category which is eligible to run for office, may seek election. Please complete the nomination form linked below to be considered by the Nominating Committee.
An individual wishing to be nominated as a candidate for Chair or Chair-Elect is required to:
o Be a member in good standing
o Have served as a Director during at least one (1) of the preceding four (4) years
o Submit a completed application to the Nominating Committee
o Be endorsed by at least eight (8) Members with voting privileges
o Turn in application to the Secretary/IOA office no later than 45 days prior to the date set for the Annual Meeting of the IOA.
An individual wishing to be nominated as a candidate for Secretary or Director is required to:
o Be a member in good standing with five years' post-optometry school experience, involved with the IOA, and in a membership category which is eligible to run for office
o Submit a completed application to the Nominating Committee
o Be endorsed by at least eight (8) Members with voting privileges
o Turn in application to the Secretary/IOA office no later than 45 days prior to the date set for the Annual Meeting of the IOA.
The deadline to apply is August 11, 2025.
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Mark your calendar for the 2025 IOA Annual Meeting held at the Renaissance Convention Center Hotel in Schaumburg on September 25-28, 2025. The meeting will kick off with the Annual Golf Classic and Gray Cup on Thursday, September 25 followed by three days of CE on September 26-28 where doctors may earn up to 18 hours of TQ CE.
This gathering serves as a platform for professionals to come together, exchange knowledge, and foster meaningful connections within the industry.
Registration will open in July, offering you the opportunity to join us for an enriching experience filled with insightful discussions, innovative ideas, and networking opportunities. We look forward to welcoming you!
| | ICO AOSA recently held their annual Quiz Bowl where they came dressed up and cheered on contestants as they competed. Joe Tawfic (Class of 2026) will be representing ICO in the Annual Student Bowl at Optometry's Meeting in Minneapolis. Best of luck! 🎉 | | 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. | | |
MEMBER BENEFIT: Utilize FREE Classified Ads on The IOA Website
Did you know that members of IOA can advertise their classifieds on the IOA website for no charge? Classifieds are highly frequented pages on the IOA website, particularly as the graduating class of 2025 seeks employment opportunities.
Classified ads for OD employment are broken down by region, and opportunities for full-time, part-time, or even temporary fill-in work can be posted to the website. Classifieds for Practices for Sale, Equipment for Sale, or Para/Support Staff roles can also be placed on the IOA website.
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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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Report illegal and unsafe contact lens sales to the FDA & FTC
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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.
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Introducing a New AOA Member Benefit!
Introducing AOA Focus: a brand-new AOA member benefit! This dynamic online content hub is the next evolution of the AOA’s flagship magazine—bringing you 24/7 access to the latest news, expert insights, and essential resources, all in one powerful platform. Whether you're at the office, on the go, or catching up at home, AOA Focus delivers the content you care about, when and where you need it.
👉 Explore it now at aoa.org/news and experience the future of AOA content!
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AOA Health & Vision Plan Action Report
Plan: Aetna
Member Doctor Concern/Complaint: Doctors across the country have reported being included in the Aetna automatic downcoding program.
Action: Ongoing plan engagement to oppose automatic downcoding.
Result: AOA met with Aetna in February 2025 to discuss the downcoding progam. If you are included in the downcoding program, it is recommended that you review the patient record and then appeal the claim, when appropriate. By following these links, you will find a template appeal letter and an example of strong documentation to support the level of care provided.
Strong documentation is critical to successful appeals. A template for appeals related to 99xxx codes is available here.
Have a plan issue to report? Send your request to stopplanabuses@aoa.org.
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Cast Your Vote! 🏆 Help See the Eye Win a Webby!
We’re thrilled to announce that the latest initiative as part of AOA’s Eye Deserve More campaign, See the Eye, has been nominated for a Webby Award—and your vote can make the difference! This recognition highlights the AOA’s commitment to educating Americans on the importance of taking care of their eye health with a doctor of optometry.
Now, we need your help! The Webby People’s Voice Award is determined by public vote, and your support can help us win.
How to Vote:
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Visit the Webby Awards voting page.
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Sign up to cast your vote. After signing up, you will be required to confirm via email to prove you’re human. Your votes for The Webby People's Voice Awards will only count after you complete this step.
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Find See the Eye in the Health & Wellness category.
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Click Vote and share with your network!
Voting is open until Thursday, April 17, so don’t wait—help us bring home this prestigious honor! Thanks for your support!
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AOA Leadership Institute 2.0 Applications Open Soon!
The AOA Leadership Institute 2.0 is a three-day, intensive workshop, designed to foster the continued leadership growth and development of early-to-middle career doctors of optometry as they consider leadership roles within the AOA and its affiliates. Limited to 50 participants, this select group will build upon their leadership skills through a deeper dive into media training, effectively working with industry, relationship-building with legislators, strategic planning and committee leadership.
Developed by the AOA Leadership Development Committee, the AOA Leadership Institute 2.0 seeks to provide growth and development opportunities that will empower optometry's champions to pursue additional leadership opportunities, both personally and professionally, as well as build a diverse leadership class reflective of changing demographics in our profession. Open to active AOA members who are in an early-to-middle career phase or having completed the AOA Leadership Institute program, the AOA Leadership Institute 2.0 is your next step for honing leadership skills that can shape the future.
Applications open: April 14, 2025
Application deadline: July 1,2025
In-person education workshop in Washington, D.C.: September 26-28, 2025
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Study Finds Methylphenidate May Impact Corneal Cells in Children with ADHD
Optometry Times | By Lynda Charters
April 7, 2025
A study of the effects of methylphenidate in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) found lower corneal endothelial cell counts in those diagnosed with ADHD and undergoing treatment with methylphenidate compared with untreated children and a control group.
The authors also reported that the ganglion cell layer (GCL) measurements were lower in the untreated children who were diagnosed with ADHD compared with those receiving methylphenidate and the control group.
First author Dilek Uzlu, MD, and colleagues from the Department of Ophthalmology, Medical Faculty, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey, reported their results in International Ophthalmology.
Methylphenidate is a central nervous system stimulant that is used to treat ADHD, a very common diagnosis in children in the US.
This study focused on elucidating the ocular effects of methylphenidate on children diagnosed with ADHD and healthy controls. The participants were divided as follows: those diagnosed with ADHD and undergoing methylphenidate therapy (group 1), newly diagnosed untreated patients (group 2), and healthy, controls (group 3). The researchers evaluated the morphology and numbers of corneal endothelial cells, corneal thickness, choroidal thickness (CT), retinal thickness (RT), GCL, and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) were evaluated.
Comparison of the 3 groups
Group 1 included 30 children (mean age, 10.53 ± 2.78 years) with ADHD treated with methylphenidate for a minimum of 1 year; group 2, 32 newly diagnosed untreated children (mean age, 9.21 ± 1.85 years); and group 3, 35 healthy children (mean age, 11.03 ± 3.01 years).
While the groups did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) in age, visual acuity level, or refractions, the researchers found that the endothelial cell counts and hexagonality values differed significantly between groups 1 and 2 (P = 0.041 and P = 0.031, respectively).
Other observations were that the GCL values differed between groups 1 and 2 and between groups 2 and 3 (P = 0.0001 and P = 0.02, respectively), but not between groups 1 and 3 (P = 0.551), the researchers reported.
The other parameters evaluated, ie, the central CT, central RT, and mean RNFL values did not differ significantly among the three groups (P > 0.05).
Uzlu and colleagues concluded, “Corneal endothelial counts were lower in the children diagnosed with ADHD and receiving methylphenidate therapy than in those not receiving treatment and the control group. In addition, GCL measurements were lower in the children diagnosed with ADHD and not using medication compared to those using methylphenidate and the control group.”
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Data Trends in Optometric Education Available on ASCO Website
ASCO | By Staff
Monthly Newsletter
Did you know that the number of female applicants to schools and colleges of optometry has increased by 26% since 2010-2011? And that the number of female students enrolled over roughly the same period of time has increased 37%? Or that the average GPA of both admitted applicants and of the entering class has risen over those same years? You can access tables showing these and many other trends in optometric education in the Data & Reports section of ASCO’s website, www.optometriceducation.org.
If your interest lies in data about faculty, research, or residents at the schools and colleges, you will find trend reports about data points such as degrees earned by full-time faculty, faculty participating in research, and research funding levels at member schools. Another trend report shows that average residency stipends show a 35% increase since 2016-2017, with the number of residency positions increasing 17% over the same time period.
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Proposal to Raise Age for Senior Road Tests Clears First Legislative Hurdle
Daily Herald | By Marni Pyke
April 9, 2025
A bill raising the age of road tests for seniors from 79 to 87, backed by Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, passed the Illinois House unanimously Wednesday.
The legislation comes on the heels of a surge of complaints from older drivers about the fact that Illinois is the only state in the U.S. with a mandatory exam for elderly drivers.
Many seniors and advocates like AARP Illinois contend the status quo is discriminatory and the right to drive should be based on ability, not age.
Current law requires drivers aged 79 and 80 to take a road exam when their four-year license renewal is up. For drivers aged 81 to 86, it’s every two years, and for those 87 and older, it’s yearly.
State Rep. Jeff Keicher, a Sycamore Republican, and Rep. Joyce Mason, a Gurnee Democrat, had sponsored previous bills to end the age requirement but those never made it to the House floor.
“I’m glad that after all the hard work Rep. Mason and I did last year in the House and Sen. (Don) Dewitte in the Senate to advance this issue for Illinois seniors, that we finally got it over the first goal line,” Keicher said.
The legislation also means that drivers ages 81 through 86 would not need a road exam to renew their license but must take a vision test. Renewals are in-person, every two years.
Rules for drivers ages 87 and older would stay the same, with a road exam and a vision test required annually.
The Illinois Senate still must vote on the proposal.
Giannoulias introduced the legislation in January, saying it would “help create a more effective and efficient process for keeping the most unsafe drivers off our roads and a more just policy for ensuring fairness for our senior drivers.”
The bill also includes a new provision letting family members report unsafe motorists of any age based on health issues affecting driving.
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House Approves Regulations of AI Use by Insurance Coverage, Other Bills
Health News Illinois | By Ryan Voyles
April 10, 2025
The Illinois House approved a bevy of healthcare bills Wednesday, including one regulating how health insurers use artificial intelligence to decide coverage and whether to deny care.
The plan from Rep. Bob Morgan, D-Deerfield, expands the Department of Insurance’s oversight of insurers to include how they use AI systems to make or support adverse determinations that affect consumers.
Insurers would have to provide certain information so the agency can investigate or perform market conduct reviews related to AI tools. They also cannot deny, reduce or terminate plans or benefits based solely on using any AI system such as generative or machine learning.
Another provision requires the annual disclosure to consumers of how AI could be used to determine a claim.
“At the end of the day, what we have to make sure is that AI is not denying your health insurance claims,” Morgan told colleagues. “It's that simple.”
Rep. Jeff Keicher, a Republican from Sycamore and an insurance agent, said they are still concerned that the language is too broad and may affect other, non-health insurers.
He also asked if the language would affect AI in administrative processing and billing.
Morgan said they’ve amended the bill to clarify that it only applies to health insurers and that the goal is to address “adverse consumer outcomes.”
The plan passed mostly along party lines and will head to the Senate for further consideration.
In other business, the chamber also approved a plan from Rep. Yolonda Morris, D-Chicago, to allow certified nurse midwives to enter a collaborative agreement with a physician that does not provide home birth services in a provider shortage area or maternal care desert.
Senators also signed off on a plan from Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, to allow licensed health practitioners from other states or territories to practice in Illinois while under the auspices of the American Red Cross.
An approved plan from Rep. Bob Rita, D-Blue Island, will require dental insurance plans and carriers to establish an eligibility and benefit verification portal.
The Senate also approved a bill from Rep. Nicolle Grasse, D-Arlington Heights, intended to streamline reimbursement and reduce administrative burden for dental care
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IDPH Launches Dashboard to Help Schools Monitor Measles Outbreaks
Health News Illinois | By Ryan Voyles
April 10, 2025
The Department of Public Health has launched a new dashboard to help school officials and members of the public assess the potential severity of a measles outbreak.
The agency said the page will provide predictions, projections and estimates for the size and spread of a measles outbreak at individual Illinois schools from Pre-K through 12th grade.
While Illinois has not reported any measles cases since early last year, IDPH said they are monitoring the outbreak in Texas and New Mexico that has resulted in more than 530 confirmed cases and the death of two children.
“The department is building on the lessons we learned from our successful measles response in 2024 by ensuring that our residents have access to meaningful information to guide their decision-making,” agency Director Dr. Sameer Vohra said in a statement.
The site uses 2023-2024 school vaccination and enrollment data and additional model parameters. Once available, updated data from the current school year will be added.
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Medicaid Rolls Drop 1.2 Percent in January
Health News Illinois | By Ryan Voyles
April 8, 2025
Illinois’ Medicaid managed care rolls fell nearly 1.2 percent in January, according to recent data from the Department of Healthcare and Family Services.
Enrollment in HealthChoice Illinois was 2,481,729 as of Feb. 1, down from the 2,511,505 enrolled on Jan. 1.
All five health plans saw dips in their Medicaid rolls.
As of Feb. 1, enrollment totals were:
· Aetna Better Health – 345,453 (1.2 percent decrease from Jan. 1)
· Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois – 714,734 (0.2 percent decrease)
· Molina Healthcare – 289,093 (1.5 percent decrease)
· CountyCare Health Plan (Cook County only) – 412,936 (0.9 percent decrease)
· Meridian Health Plan – 687,611 (2.2 percent decrease)
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HHS To Restore States' Public Health Funds to Comply With Order
Bloomberg Law | By Mary Anne Pazanowski
April 8, 2025
The US Department of Health and Human Services will continue providing over $11 billion in public health care grants to 23 states and Washington, D.C., following a federal judge’s order blocking plans to end the payments, the agency said.
Judge Mary S. McElroy granted the mostly Democratic-led states’ motion for a temporary restraining order in the US District Court for the District of Rhode Island on April 3. HHS filed a notice of compliance Monday, saying it would notify all its departments, employees, and contractors of the order.
The agency, however, also filed an emergency motion for reconsideration the same day, saying McElroy should have considered whether she had jurisdiction under the Administrative Procedure Act before entering the TRO. In a similar case April 4, the US Supreme Court allowed the federal government to continue withholding education-related grants due to jurisdictional concerns.
Under the federal Tucker Act, the US Court of Federal Claims has exclusive jurisdiction over suits alleging the US is obligated to pay money under a contract or grant, HHS said. The question here, as in the Supreme Court case, was whether the Tucker Act or the APA applied, the agency said. McElroy should vacate her decision in light of the justices’ answer, it said.
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