Volume 8, Issue 19│May 10, 2024
|
|
|
IOA Website Down for Maintenance May 13 - 15
The IOA website will be down for planned maintenance starting on Monday, May 13 through Wednesday, May 15. During this time, members will be unable to login to their profile, pay membership dues, and parts of the IOA and AOA website will be inaccessible. For assistance during this time, please call the IOA office at 217-525-8012. Any updates needed will be processed on Thursday, May 16. We appreciate your patience as we work to improve our website!
|
|
LegucateMe Event at CCO
The Illinois Optometric Association teamed up with HCAPS, Johnson & Johnson, Indiana Optometric Association, and AOA-PAC for the first LegucateMe event at the Chicago College of Optometry. IOA member Dr. Matthew Jones, OD and Indiana member Dr. Jeni Kohn, OD spoke with students at the event to relay the importance of advocacy in Optometry.
|
|
Collaborating with Senator Duckworth
IOA members Dr. Pamela Lowe, OD and Dr. Mark Colip, OD, accompanied by Patrick Fahy and ICO's Matthew Asciutto, took time to meet with Senator Tammy Duckworth to advocate for their patients to have access to quality and affordable eye and health care.
In early April, Senator Duckworth introduced the Contact Lens Prescription Verification Modernization Act (S. 4083) in the US Senate with co-sponsor Sen. John Boozman (R- Ark). Download the robocalls fact sheet to learn more about the bill.
|
|
|
|
Political Fundraiser
IOA member Vince Brandys, OD (right) and John Fron, OD (left) met with Congressman Mike Quigley at Wrigley Field this week.
|
|
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 15.
|
|
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 15.
|
|
Now Accepting Nominations for 2024 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 2024 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, 2024.
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
Volunteers Needed for Special Olympics Lions Club International Opening Eyes Program - June 7-8, ISU Campus, Normal, IL
We are back to hosting a 2-day event at the Special Olympics Illinois State Games this year! We need your help again this year! Of particular need are volunteers for Saturday, since it is a full day of screening. As always, your families and friends are welcome to participate, and we need help from opticians and optical technicians. Make it an office and/or family event!
Special Olympics is an international year-round program offering sports and athletic competitions for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Athletes participating in the Illinois State Games must be at least eight years old to participate. The goal of the Special Olympics Lions Club International Opening Eyes Program is to bring quality vision care to this special population. Our assessment consists of visual acuity testing, cover test, extraocular motility testing, pupils, color vision, stereopsis, non-contact tonometry, slit lamp evaluation, and ophthalmoscopy. If the athlete is determined to need glasses, they are given a full refraction with subjective testing.
Event Details:
Redbird Arena, Illinois State University Campus, Normal, IL
Friday, June 7, 2023 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Saturday, June 8, 2023 9:00am – 4:00pm
To participate, please send the following information to Dr. Christine Allison at callison@ico.edu by May 24:
1. Name of volunteer(s):
2. Phone:
3. Email address:
4. Address:
5. Availability: June 7, June 8, or both
Or, you may mail the form linked below to:
Christine L. Allison, O.D.
3241 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60616
|
|
MEMBER BENEFIT: Have A Billing and Coding Question?
Submit it to the experts at OBC Insurance Billing Specialists! Click here to submit your question. |
|
IDFPR Takes Steps to Improve Healthcare Licensing Process
Published May 8, 2024
Leaders at the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation said Wednesday that they've taken positive steps to improve the state’s ability to process healthcare licenses.
Agency Secretary Mario Treto, Jr. told members of the House's Health Care Licenses Committee that in addition to streamlining the paper application process, they've implemented other improvements and more efficiencies.
That includes creating new P.O. boxes so applications are directed to the appropriate processors, hiring additional staff to review applications, emailing deficiency notices to online applicants so they can quickly provide additional materials for review and making other changes to the online portal.
These steps and others have created “strong, tangible results,” said Camile Lindsay, the acting director of the agency’s division of professional regulation. She said the agency issued over 8,800 licenses in April, compared to 8,400 in March and 8,000 in February
“The numbers are clear," Lindsay said. "More people want to work in Illinois, and IDFPR is committed to answering the call to not only issue those licenses, but to issue those licenses quickly."
Lawmakers also discussed progress on a law signed last December that, in part, tasks the department to pursue an expedited and competitive bid procurement process to update its software. The law gave the department three months to secure the contract to reform its licensing system and another three months to implement the changes.
Committee Chair Rep. Bob Morgan, D-Deerfield, said that while the department missed the procurement deadline, a “variety of other state agencies are working very, very, very hard” to catch up on the issue and improve the system.
Rep. Bill Hauter, R-Morton, said lawmakers deserve answers for why the agency missed the deadline. He said the department “self-imposed" the deadline, and he didn’t understand why they couldn’t meet it.
Treto said he wants to respect the procurement process and not speak on ongoing negotiations. He hopes to have an announcement soon.
“I understand your frustration, I see you, I hear you,” Treto told the committee. “I also hope that you can understand and extend grace to the department.”
Morgan said Hauter’s comments reflect the “majority” of the committee’s frustrations, as the delay prevents lawmakers from taking a deep dive into the issue and knowing what more they can do to help.
Morgan added that the committee will pressure the department to follow through on its goal to improve licensing.
“I would describe where we are at today as seeing meaningful improvement, but much more improvement to go,” he said.
|
|
ISU Professor Awarded $1.5M Grant to Study Reducing Barriers for Blind and Low-Vision Learners
WGLT | By Lauren Warnecke
Published May 8, 2024
An Illinois State University professor landed a $1.5 million grant aimed at improving accessibility in high school science education.
Special education faculty member Natalie Shaheen will spend the next five years studying specific inequities for blind and low-vision students through a combination of research and case-learning with pre-career teachers.
It's the largest grant awarded to a single faculty member in her department in 25 years.
|
|
|
|
Report illegal and unsafe contact lens sales to the FDA & FTC
|
|
|
|
Check out the newest IOA classifieds here!
ODs Wanted:
SPRINGFIELD CLINIC is seeking additional Optometrists to join its Springfield Clinic Eye Institute (Read more)
Part-Time Optometrist
Brookfield Eye Care
Part Time OD needed for Hybrid MD/OD Comprehensive Private Practice – Libertyville, IL ( Read more)
Optometrist Opportunity - Join Our St. Charles, IL Practice ( Read more)
Join our dynamic team at a well-established, multi-location, full-scope private practice in northwest Indiana ( Read more)
|
|
Member Benefit: Complimentary One-On-One Student Loan Consultation
Young ODs with student loan debt may be unfamiliar with the numerous repayment options available, including refinancing, Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and the recently updated Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) program. Navigating all of these choices may feel overwhelming. That’s why AOAExcel has partnered with Laurel Road to provide AOA members with a complimentary one-on-one student loan consultation with one of their GradFin student loan specialists.
In this 30-minute discussion, your student loan specialist will analyze your student loan portfolio and walk you through all your potential repayment strategies. You’ll see in real time how each option would apply to your specific loans and develop a personalized repayment plan. Learn more and schedule your consultation today.
For additional support, AOA members can sign up for an annual GradFin PSLF or IDR Counseling membership at a 20% discount † and get ongoing access to one-on-one student loan expertise and account audits. Thorough these membership options, the GradFin team will help you understand ongoing program eligibility requirements for forgiveness and help you with the annual recertification process year after year.
AOAExcel partners with Laurel Road to provide AOA members with personal financial tools that empower them to practice with confidence. In addition to student loan consultations through their GradFin team, Laurel Road provides AOA members with High Yield Savings, student loan refinancing, and more financial tools. See how Laurel Road can benefit you at laurelroad.com/partnerships/aoa-excel.
|
|
Resources to Educate Your Community
The AOA reaches out to media outlets across the country to inform consumers of the importance of eye health and vision care provided by doctors of optometry. You can do the same in your local community by utilizing the customizable resources on this page.
Public education and campaign materials
Available for your use are customizable news releases, social media posts, infographics and other campaign resources that cover a number of vision and eye-health-related topics. Not only are these tools useful to educate your patients and the public, but they provide an opportunity for you to market your practice and services to your community.
Also available are PowerPoint presentations that can be used for health events, school meetings and other assemblies.
Questions? Please email Yakesha Cooper, AOA’s associate director of public relations.
|
|
|
|
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.)
|
|
Top Barriers to Eye Care Among Americans Include Cost, Accessibility, Health Care Literacy
Published May 8, 2024
Cost, insurance, transport and accessibility, eye health literacy and communication were identified as major barriers to eye care among U.S. adults, with telemedicine cited as a possible solution, according to a systematic review in Cureus.
“Extensive research has identified numerous barriers that put many Americans at a disadvantage when trying to seek high-quality eye care services,” Nicholas Green, OD, FAAO, from Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry, and colleagues wrote. “Not only do the barriers to eye care services create problems for eye health, but also create a poor quality of life.”
Green and colleagues conducted a literature review using Google Scholar and PubMed and included 19 articles related to barriers to eye care. Based on their results, they identified four significant obstacles to eye care: cost and insurance, transportation and accessibility, eye health literacy and communication.
One cross-sectional survey found that 78% of participants cited high medical costs or lack of insurance as an issue. While many patients had insurance or financial insistence, high out-of-pocket costs including copays, co-insurance and deductibles made access to eye care cost-prohibitive. Furthermore, the costs of materials like spectacle lenses, contact lenses and medications had a negative impact on compliance. A survey conducted in Oregon found that fear of surprise costs was a concern for 31% of patients surveyed.
Patients of lower socioeconomic status or those using state or federal health insurance were more likely to have difficulties scheduling appointments.
A study in Alabama found that accessibility and transportation were the biggest perceived barrier to eye care for both patients and providers, citing the need for family members to take time off work to provide transportation and inconvenient locations of eye clinics. Even people in urban communities had difficulties with transportation, despite more transportation options, with 14% of individuals surveyed in Philadelphia citing inability to get transportation and 3.5% citing cost of transportation as barriers to follow-up care.
Inability to understand and interpret health information was also a major barrier, with many patients perceiving vision changes as normal. Some studies indicated that while gaps in knowledge played a significant role in people not seeking proper eye care, a need to prioritize more practical considerations may be a more significant issue.
For example, one study found that although most patients knew diabetes could affect their vision, many did not receive care. Another survey indicated that because the diabetes disease burden is significant, patients are likely to prioritize systemic management over ocular management.
Furthermore, knowledge gaps also were present among eye care providers, with many unaware of the criteria to refer patients for specialty low-vision services.
One survey found that patients cited difficulty understanding their condition as an issue, with many expressing that their doctors spent inadequate time discussing their diagnosis. One study of ophthalmologists, who were filmed educating patients on drop compliance and glaucoma, found that the ophthalmologists talked for 70% of the discussion and only detected 27% of noncompliance with eye-drop usage.
While solutions to these barriers have traditionally focused on increased patient education, these attempts have not always improved follow-up care. However, telemedicine has shown promise in helping eliminate barriers. One study found that 78% of patients reported having a regular relationship with an eye care professional after receiving recommendations based on imaging performed at an emergency room visit for other conditions.
“Many of these factors are influenced by low socioeconomic status and racial and ethnic inequalities within the United States,” Green and colleagues wrote. “However, emphasis should be placed on addressing the practical issues surrounding eye care service access to have the most impact.”
|
|
Gene Editing Improves Vision in Rare and Devastating Retinal Disorder
— Therapy improved best corrected visual acuity in four of 14 patients, and others benefited too
Published May 7, 2024
CRISPR-based gene editing improved vision without serious adverse effects in patients with CEP290-associated inherited retinal degeneration, an interim analysis of a small phase I/II study showed.
Among 14 patients who received the gene therapy known as EDIT-101, meaningful improvements from baseline occurred in best corrected visual acuity (four patients), cone-mediated vision (six patients), and vision-related quality-of-life scores (six patients), reported Mark Pennesi, MD, PhD, of Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, and colleagues.
Notably, no serious adverse events related to the treatment or procedure and no dose-limiting toxicities were observed, they wrote in the New England Journal of Medicine.
"Even though it didn't work in every patient, the fact that it worked in a number of patients is very exciting because it really shows the potential of this technology," Pennesi told MedPage Today. "As ophthalmologists, we were often taught that there aren't really treatments for these rare genetic diseases. That is changing."
|
|
FTC Bans Non-Compete Clauses: What it Means for Optometry
On April 23, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) approved a ban on non-compete clauses that would prohibit employers from issuing non-compete agreements with workers, including paraoptometric staff, doctors of optometry and contracted staff. The rule would also invalidate existing non-compete agreements for many individuals. An AOA frequently asked questions (FAQ) document offers doctors further information about how this affects optometry, including:
What does the FTC ruling do?
- Employers cannot enter into new non-competes with workers on or after the effective date.
- Employers cannot enforce existing non-competes with workers other than senior executives.
- Employers must provide notice to current and former workers that their non-compete clauses are no longer in effect. FTC provided model language that should be used (included in the AOA resource).
What will the ruling go into effect?
- The final rule takes effect 120 days from publication in the Federal Register.
- Unless legal action is taken (and is expected), the effective date will likely be August 2024.
|
|
4 Million Fewer Kids Enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP in Wake of 'Unwinding'
— Most were dropped for paperwork reasons, Georgetown University report finds
Published May 2, 2024
A total of 4.16 million fewer children were enrolled in Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) at the end of last year compared with the month before each state began its Medicaid and CHIP "unwinding" process, a report from Georgetown University's Center for Children and Families found.
Although some children have undoubtedly moved to other types of insurance -- such as the Affordable Care Act marketplaces or employer-sponsored coverage -- dependent coverage is hard to come by for low-wage workers, Joan Alker, MPhil, the center's executive director, said Thursday on a call with reporters. Data that are available show new enrollment of children in the Affordable Care Act's subsidized health insurance marketplaces or other types of coverage appears to be offsetting only a "modest share" of the net decline in Medicaid/CHIP enrollment, she said.
The center used data from CMS to analyze child enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP by state; all states and the District of Columbia are required to report monthly enrollment data to the agency. The data show changes in net Medicaid and CHIP child enrollment, taking into account any enrollment declines, such as from Medicaid unwinding, offset by any enrollment increases.
|
|
THANK YOU TO OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
