Volume 10, Issue 3 │January 23, 2026

ATTENTION: Effingham Winter CE attendees, event has been postponed!

Out of an abundance of caution due to the upcoming winter storm, we have decided to postpone the CE course this weekend in Effingham.

The CE has been rescheduled to Sunday, February 15, and will remain at the Thelma Keller Convention Center in Effingham, IL with the same speakers. 

IOA leadership attended the 2026 AOA Presidents Council in Orlando, joining affiliate leaders from across the country to engage in meaningful discussion on priority issues impacting the profession. The event provided valuable leadership development, volunteer orientation, and collaboration opportunities to help guide optometry’s future.

IOA Leadership join’s Ohio Optometric Association Leadership at Presidents Council, along with AOA Vice President Terri Gossard, AOSA President James Chung and Shane Foster 2026 AOA Trustee Candidate.

Attention: Illinois Controlled Substance license holders!

Please be aware that when renewing an Illinois controlled substance license, IDFPR has the previous requirement of 3 hours of continuing education listed as a condition of renewal. This was changed on 1/1/2025 to 1 hour of continuing education. Only one hour of CE on safe opioid prescribing is required per state law.

License renewals are now OPEN!



The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) has officially opened the renewal cycle. If you’re ready to renew your license, please click the link below to log in and access resources on renewing through IDFPR.

Do you provide home visits? Eye exams in Spanish? Aviation vision? Update your doctor profile today!



Every week patients use the doctor lookup feature on the IOA/AOA website or call the IOA looking for an OD in their area. Oftentimes they are looking for services such as home visits or optometrists who speak a certain language. Update your IOA/AOA profile so patients can easily find you by logging into your profile at the link below.

2026 Dues Contest! 📣 Win A FREE Annual Meeting registration.

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



Pay membership dues in full by 1/31/2026 via Zelle and be entered into a drawing to win FREE registration to the 2025 IOA Annual Meeting in Springfield, Illinois! This includes your registration for the meeting and all CE testing fees associated with your registration but does not include hotel reservations.

If you are planning on retiring in 2026, please reach out to discuss membership options as soon as possible.

Click below if you would like to pay your dues online.

Please join the Southern Illinois Optometric Society and the IOA in supporting State Rep Paul Jacobs, O.D., in his race for the Illinois Senate!

An IOA member Rep. Jacobs is currently running for the Illinois Senate in the 59th district to replace retiring Senator Dale Fowler. Join your fellow optometrists in supporting the ONLY optometrist in the Illinois General Assembly. Your contribution will help support the campaign for State Rep. Paul Jacobs, O.D. as he runs for the Illinois Senate.

Contributions may be made to the campaign via check.

About Rep. Paul Jacobs, O.D.

Representative Paul Jacobs has been an optometrist for over 45 years, practicing in several communities throughout Southern Illinois. He currently serves in the 118th district as the elected representative for all of Alexander, Pulaski, and Union Counties and portions of Jackson and Williamson Counties. Some of his committee assignments include Appropriations-Higher Education, Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, & IT, Health Care Licenses, Higher Education, Veterans' Affairs, and Higher Ed-Degree Conferral. 

Dr. Jacobs has been a strong advocate for the Illinois Optometric Association, supporting their efforts to enable optometrists to practice to the full scope of their license in VA hospitals, ensuring that our nation's veterans receive essential eye care. 

Representative Jacobs also sponsored SB764, known as the Vision Care Plan Regulation Act, which introduced reforms to ensure fairness and transparency in contracts with vision plans. A key provision of this legislation prohibits vision care plans from limiting an eye care provider's freedom to choose their suppliers, materials, or labs, or from requiring them to purchase materials from a source owned by the entity that issued the vision care plan. SB764 also mandates that eye care providers post a notice to patients if they do not accept the fee schedule set by the insurer for vision plans. 

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 2026 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.

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.

Third Party Committee Update: 2026 Medicare Allowables now available!

The IOA Third Party Committee has updated the list of 2026 Medicare allowables for Illinois, available for download below. They can be downloaded in Microsoft Excel or Adobe PDF format. For a list of localities and the counties included, please reference the chart below.

Medicare Allowables:

Locality 12 - Excel or PDF

Locality 15 - Excel or PDF

Locality 16 - Excel or PDF

Locality 99 - Excel or PDF

Locality & County Information

12: Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Randolph, St. Clair, Washington

15: DuPage, Kane, Lake, Will

16: Cook

99: All other counties

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.

Filing a complaint? Use the resources below to get started.

If you believe a health insurance company is violating the Vision Care Plan Regulation Act, please file a complaint with the Illinois Department of Insurance by following the link below. If appropriate, please also encourage your patients to file a complaint. Doing so is what drives the Department of Insurance to take action against insurance companies who aren’t following the law. File a complaint with the Department of Insurance at the link below. 

Vision Plans & Insurance Companies:

Dept of Insurance Complaint Submission - How to File a Complaint

Office of the Illinois Attorney General - File a Complaint

Report illegal and unsafe contact lens sales to the FDA & FTC:

Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act compliance and safety | AOA

IDFPR:

IDFPR | File a Complaint

Medicaid Managed Care Complaint Portal:

Managed Care Provider Resolution Portal | HFS

Important Updates on the Medicare Medicaid Alignment Initiative (MMAI) transition to Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) 

HFS | Provider Notice

January 20, 2025

This notice provides updates regarding the transition of the Illinois Medicare-Medicaid Alignment Initiative (MMAI) program to fully integrated dual eligible special needs plans (FIDE SNPs) and the process for verifying FIDE SNP enrollment. 

Department Enrollment Systems 

***UPDATE: The Department’s enrollment files are now updated with accurate FIDE SNP enrollment information.  The Department’s enrollment files include MEDI and 270/271 transactions. As stated in Provider Notice issued 12/24/2025, FIDE SNPs will appear as follows in MEDI: 

• Aetna Medicare FIDE (HMO D-SNP):  Contract Number: H9771001, Health Plan Name Displayed in Medi: AETNA BETTER HEALTH SNP 
• Humana Dual Fully Integrated (HMO D-SNP): Contract Number: H4329001, Health Plan Name Displayed in Medi: HUMANA HEALTH PLAN INC SNP 
• Molina Medicare Complete Care Plus (HMO D-SNP) 
• Contract Number: H3093001, Health Plan Name Displayed in Medi: MOLINA HEALTHCARE OF ILLINOIS: Service area includes these counties in Illinois (Region 1 – Northwestern): Boone, Bureau, Carroll, DeKalb, Fulton, Henderson, Henry, Jo Daviess, Knox, La Salle, Lee, Marshall, Mercer, Ogle, Peoria, Putnam, Rock Island, Stark, Stephenson, Tazewell, Warren, Whiteside, Winnebago, and Woodford. 
• Contract Number: H3093002, Health Plan Name Displayed in Medi: MOLINA HEALTHCARE OF ILLINOIS: Service area includes these counties in Illinois (Region 2 – Central counties): Adams, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Champaign, Christian, Clark, Coles, Cumberland, De Witt, Douglas, Edgar, Ford, Greene, Hancock, Iroquois, Jersey, Livingston, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Mason, McDonough, McLean, Menard, Montgomery, Morgan, Moultrie, Piatt, Pike, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, and Vermilion. 
• Contract Number: H3093003, Health Plan Name Displayed in Medi: MOLINA HEALTHCARE OF ILLINOIS: Service area includes these counties in Illinois (Region 3 – Southern counties): Alexander, Bond, Clay, Clinton, Crawford, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Massac, Monroe, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Richland, Saline, St. Clair, Union, Wabash, Washington, Wayne, White, and Williamson. 
• Contract Number: H3093004, Health Plan Name Displayed in Medi: MOLINA HEALTHCARE OF ILLINOIS: Service area includes these counties in Illinois (Region 4 – Cook county): Cook. 
• Contract Number: H3093005, Health Plan Name Displayed in Medi: MOLINA HEALTHCARE OF ILLINOIS: Service area includes these counties in Illinois (Region 5 – Collar counties): DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, Will. 
• Wellcare Meridian Dual Align (HMO D-SNP): Contract Number: H6971001, Health Plan Name Displayed in Medi: MERIDIAN HEALTH PLA INC SNP 

Per Provider Notice issued 12/24/2025, FIDE SNPs have the most accurate enrollment information. The reason is that the health plans, not HFS, enroll members in the FIDE SNP program. The Department encourages all stakeholders to verify enrollment information with the FIDE SNPs. For detailed instructions on how to contact the FIDE SNPs to verify enrollment, please refer to the Provider Notice issued 12/24/2025. 

Please email any questions to HFS.DSNPInquiries@Illinois.gov. 

Meidl Named New President of OSF HealthCare

Health News Illinois | By Ryan Voyles

January 20, 2025

Sister M. Mikela Meidl will serve as the new president of OSF HealthCare.

The Peoria-based health system said Meidl will help oversee the leadership transition as the current president, Michelle Conger, will become CEO in April upon the retirement of Bob Sehring.

Meidl joined OSF HealthCare in 2014 through the merger of Alton’s Saint Anthony’s Hospital into OSF HealthCare. She currently serves as executive vice president and chief ministry officer, overseeing its legal services and mission Services.

OSF Healthcare said Meidl will serve as the “strategic partner” to the CEO and help strengthen the health system’s “mission culture while guiding executive priorities.”

“Having worked with Sister M. Mikela for over 10 years, I am confident of her leadership and her ability to help guide OSF HealthCare as we continue our mission to serve with the greatest care and love,” Conger said in a statement.

$12 Million Recovered for Doctors Through AOA’s Targeting of Plan Denials, Credentialing and Claim Edit Errors

AOA | By Staff

January 11, 2025

Problematic downcoding, large-scale coding and editing issues, and issues with vision plans and Medicare credentialing can quickly erode profits in optometry practices. Ongoing, direct advocacy by AOA, affiliates and the strong network of AOA’s Third Party Center volunteer doctors restored more than $12.1 million in reimbursement payments to thousands of AOA and affiliate members since 2023.

The Third Party Center Committee, chaired by Steven Eiss, O.D., has worked tirelessly to ensure that time-intensive records requests, inappropriate denials, Medicare Risk Adjustment audits and downcoding delays were adequately compensated or halted, with a total of over more than $4.6 million restored during the last six months.

AOA President Jacquie M. Bowen, O.D., says there is more to do, and implores doctors of optometry to report plan abuses immediately, no matter how large.

“We are committed to doing all we can to support our member practices, help them thrive and break down any barriers to care,” Dr. Bowen says. “Uncompensated and undercompensated care doesn’t just hurt optometrists’ financial sustainability. It drives up the cost of care and lowers accessibility for those who need it most.”

Fighting the onslaught of financial burdens from payers

Along with time-intensive records requests, several other actions can create undue financial burdens on providers. Fielding unfair or automated denials by health payers costs $43.84 to fight a single denied claim. Although 97% of claims are eventually paid, providers spend $19.7 billion annually for the administrative labor to make that happen.

Downcoding that delays or reduces payments, contract renewal issues, and credentialing issues diverts staff resources from patient care. In September 2025, AOA won a huge victory with the halt of Aetna’s downcoding program. AOA reached a first-of-its-kind agreement with the payer, ending auto-downcoding of 92xxx EMR codes. This change alone represents thousands in savings for impacted optometrists. Providers who were previously downcoded by Aetna can still file appeals with AOA’s backing and administrative support. partnering with providers to demand compensation for administrative labor for these requests.

A victory like this is evidence of the value of the Third Party Center. Instead of expecting doctors to shoulder this undue financial burden, the AOA acts as an extra administrative staff member to fight claim denials, inaccurate network directories, or a host of other issues that arise. Often, it only takes one doctor’s report to uncover a problem that affects doctors statewide, or even nationwide, such as new codes and system updates that can lead to claim denials across the industry.

Report issues immediately. If you are experiencing an issue, the likelihood is high that other providers are as well. The Third Party Center Committee is ready to investigate and advocate on your behalf.

Connect with the Third Party Center Committee at stopplanabuses@aoa.org

SC Supreme Court Upholds Ban of Online Eye Exams for Glasses, Contact Lenses

WV News | By Staff

January 19, 2025

COLUMBIA — South Carolinians who wear glasses or contact lenses will have to continue getting fitted for a new prescription at a professional’s office.

The state Supreme Court ruled unanimously Wednesday that a ban of online vision tests does not violate the state constitution.

The court’s ruling closed out a nearly decade-old lawsuit filed by Visibly, a Chicago-based telehealth company, formerly known as Opternative, which uses software that conducts vision tests over a person’s computer or smartphone so patients don’t have to make an in-person visit to an optometrist or ophthalmologist.


When using Visibly, the patient stands 10 feet away from a computer screen and verbally answers the questions posed by the vision test. Visibly then sends the recorded test to a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist in the user’s state for review. A patient, age 18 to 55, had to previously have a lens prescription to be able to take the test.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared technology that’s in use in 35 states. But not in South Carolina.

Visibly provided its virtual vision test in the state from 2014 until 2016, when a law backed by the SC Optometric Physicians Association took effect and essentially banned the practice. Eye doctors can use the technology, but patients must still come into the office after the test for another eye exam, defeating the purpose of the service.

The Gov. Nikki Haley vetoed the law but the General Assembly overrode her objection in May 2016.

Visibly sued five months later, asking the courts to overturn the law as unconstitutional.

The courts disagreed, siding with the defense that legislators passed the law to “protect the public from receiving inadequate eye care,” Judge Kristi Curtis wrote in Jully 2024. Then a Circuit Court judge, Curtis now sits on the state Court of Appeals.

Lawyers for the company argued the only thing the law protects are the profits earned by optometrists when they sell glasses to patients at their office.

“If you’re not coming in, they’re losing that opportunity to make a sales pitch,” Visibly attorney Joshua Windham told the SC Daily Gazette.

“That’s what these companies always say in court,” said Dr. Kevin Campbell, chairman of the state optometrists organization.

“As professionals, we strongly believe that a patient’s eye health should never come down to a sales pitch,” he added.

Campbell, who practices at clinics in Hilton Head and Bluffton, celebrated the ruling.

“We know an in-person exam is the safest and most comprehensive form of care,” he said.

The state Supreme Court upheld the lower-court decision.

In the opinion, authored by Justice John Few, the court cited testimony from a pair of eye specialists — an optometrist and a neuro-ophthalmologist — who said requiring annual, comprehensive, in-office eye exams to renew a prescription is one way doctors can catch diseases, such as glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration and irritation caused by overwearing contact lenses, as well as diabetes, hypertension and autoimmune disorders.

While the optometrist group in the state pushed for the law, the state ophthalmologists organization did not share the same concern, said Dr. Kurt Heitman. Young, healthy patients with glasses don’t need to come into the office every year, he said.

“If the technology is accurate, it’s actually beneficial because it’s less expensive and increases access to care,” said Heitman, who practices in Greenville. “This is the new age we’re in. Technology is taking over and making things more accessible. If it increases access to care, how could you be against it unless you’re just trying to protect you’re revenue source.”

Lawyers for the company also argued the law treats eye specialists differently from other types of doctors who can prescribe nearly any other treatment, including eye drops, over a telemedicine call. The only explicit exceptions in state law are opioids, medication abortions, glasses and contact lenses.

“Glasses are not like opioids and abortion,” Windham, the Visibly attorney, told the SC Daily Gazette.

Few, in his opinion, drew the distinction that other forms of telemedicine involve photos and live video calls where physicians visually diagnose a patient’s condition.

“This approach still involves a direct evaluation of the patient’s physical symptoms. In contrast, prescribing corrective lenses based solely on a patient’s responses to an automated eye chart —without the eye doctor ever visually examining the patient’s eyes — is fundamentally different,” he wrote.

Windham blasted the ruling as “an abdication of the court’s duty.” He said the law was “tailor made to destroy one company just to protect an out-dated business model from competition” and “the South Carolina Supreme Court just blessed that.”

“It’s a naked abuse of governmental power,” Windham said.

The justices did give a nod suggesting the Legislature should give the law another look as telemedicine has become more commonplace.

“In light of the speed in which artificial intelligence and other technology continues to develop, we are confident the General Assembly will continue to monitor the policy rationale behind the Eye Care Consumer Protection Law,” Few wrote at the end of his opinion.

West Virginia Court Voids Rule Allowing Optometrists to Perform Eyelid Surgery

WV News | By Staff

January 19, 2025

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Kanawha County Circuit Court judge has invalidated a rule that would have allowed West Virginia optometrists to perform certain eyelid surgeries, handing a victory to medical doctors who argued the expansion compromised patient safety.

The court ruled that the West Virginia Board of Optometry (WVBO) failed to follow mandatory "Sunrise Procedures" before attempting to expand the scope of practice for optometrists. The decision voids West Virginia Code R. § 14-14, which sought to authorize optometrists—who are not medical doctors—to perform surgical procedures on the eyelid.

The West Virginia Academy of Eye Physicians & Surgeons (WVAEPS) and the West Virginia State Medical Association filed the lawsuit, arguing that the board exceeded its authority. Dr. Abraham S. Mitias, President of WVAEPS, emphasized that ophthalmologists undergo more than 17,000 hours of medical and surgical training, whereas optometrists lack equivalent surgical schooling.

“Patients should be confident that their surgeon has undergone years of medical school and rigorous surgical training,” Mitias said following the ruling.

The court’s decision ensures that complex surgeries on and around the eye remain the exclusive domain of ophthalmologists. The West Virginia Board of Optometry has not yet announced if it intends to appeal the decision.

Pennsylvania Optometric Association Issues Patient Safety Alert for Eye Exam Kiosk Pilot

InVision | By Staff

January 19, 2025

Vision test kiosks emerging at major retailers across Pennsylvania prompted a statewide safety alert warning consumers against sub-standard eye health and vision care.

On Monday, the Pennsylvania Optometric Association (POA) issued its patient safety alert concerning Eyebot, a largely unregulated, automated vision-testing kiosk installed at 16 Walmart and Sam’s Club locations across the state. Though the retailer considers such kiosks a “pilot program” for expanding access, the POA and American Optometric Association (AOA) both warn an autonomous, 15-minute vision test is no substitute for comprehensive eye health and vision care provided by an eye care provider. Further, Eyebot runs the risk of disincentivizing consumers from seeking regular, comprehensive eye examinations

“The POA strongly supports innovation that improves access to eye care and embraces new technology when it enhances patient outcomes,” says POA President Erin Draper, O.D. “However, we oppose the introduction of kiosk refractions because they do not provide a comprehensive eye exam and may give end-users a false sense of reassurance regarding their ocular health.”

Deferring routine care increases the risk of delayed diagnosis for conditions that might lead to vision loss or other serious health complications. Dr. Draper adds: “Rather than improving access to eye care, this type of care model is likely to further widen healthcare disparities.”

The POA patient safety alert notes that Eyebot placements elsewhere have already resulted in detailed complaints with state regulatory officials, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA), gathered and reported not only by the AOA but also other health advocacy groups.

Every Pennsylvanian deserves the recognized standard of care, an in-person eye examination with their eye care provider—and there is no substitute for that care. Dr. Draper strongly condemns that “any corporation advising otherwise can and should be publicly fact-checked and, when necessary, investigated by the authorities.”

With health misinformation on the rise and patients facing potential new risks, the patient safety alert says, the POA and its doctors are prepared to answer questions about essential eye health and vision care services, patient access and the limits of products and services that are intended to stand apart from or work to undermine doctor-led and coordinated health care delivery. The alert urges patients to consult with their local POA doctor of optometry to get accurate information regarding Eyebot.

The company’s announcement of its Pennsylvania pilot program elicited a direct response from many within the optometric community, including Cory Lappin, O.D.’s, column Optometric Physician. Dr. Lappin warns the pilot program, if deemed successful, might be expanded into as many markets as possible—to the detriment of consumers.

“If everyone is being honest,” Dr. Lappin writes, “the general public does not know the difference between a vision test and an eye exam … In many patients’ minds, the prescription is the exam. The company behind Eyebot not only knows this; they are counting on it. Despite their lip service, they are aware that most who use the kiosk will never get an in-person exam.”

Dr. Lappin continues: “There will be some challenges to this of course, as the AOA has already raised safety concerns over the technology and certain states have safeguards in place to define what constitutes an eye exam, but you can clearly see the push and money behind this trend.”

AOA Advocacy

The POA’s advocacy comes as the AOA continues to raise concerns about Eyebot kiosks, a technology that began emerging in New England in 2024. The kiosks promise 90-second “vision tests” and doctor-reviewed eyeglass prescriptions through a partnership with Zenni Optical. These are free with the purchase of a pair of glasses priced at $49 or more.

In a joint letter to the FTC and FDA, then-AOA President Steven T. Reed, O.D., and David Metsch, O.D., president of the Massachusetts Society of Optometrists, encouraged further assessment to safeguard patient health and privacy, as well as the relationship between Eyebot and Zenni Optical.

“We believe that the technology needs to be assessed to ensure compliance with federal rules and immediate attention is warranted to address misinformation regarding the capabilities and accuracy of this product,” the letter states.

In addition, AOA raised concerns with a potential violation of PART 456—OPHTHALMIC PRACTICE RULES (EYEGLASS RULE) section 456.2, separation of examination and dispensing. The regulations indicate it is an unfair act or practice for an ophthalmologist or optometrist to fail to provide to the patient one copy of the patient’s prescription immediately after the refractive eye examination is completed and before offering to sell the patient ophthalmic goods, whether or not the prescription is requested by the patient.

Eyebot and Zenni’s offering to patients inherently ties the purchase of prescription eyewear to the release of the prescription, and those who choose not to purchase from Zenni are forced to pay for the prescription and vision test if they choose not to purchase from Zenni.

In 2025, the AOA revised its Policy Statement on Telemedicine in Optometry to specifically refer to technology such as Eyebot. Direct-to-patient technology should not be used as a replacement for a comprehensive eye exam or for diagnostic eye, health or vision conditions.

The AOA is monitoring the situation and will continue to advocate for the highest standard of care.

US Flu Infections Show Slight Decline, but it’s Not Clear This Severe Season Has Peaked

AP | By Mike Stobbe

January 9, 2025

U.S. flu infections showed signs of a slight decline last week, but health officials say it is not clear that this severe flu season has peaked.

New government data posted Friday — for flu activity through last week — showed declines in medical office visits due to flu-like illness and in the number of states reporting high flu activity.

However, some measures show this season is already surpassing the flu epidemic of last winter, one of the harshest in recent history. And experts believe there is more suffering ahead.

“This is going to be a long, hard flu season,” New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, in a statement Friday.

One type of flu virus, called A H3N2, historically has caused the most hospitalizations and deaths in older people. So far this season, that is the type most frequently reported. Even more concerning, more than 91% of the H3N2 infections analyzed were a new version — known as the subclade K variant — that differs from the strain in this year’s flu shots.

The last flu season saw the highest overall flu hospitalization rate since the H1N1 flu pandemic 15 years ago. And child flu deaths reached 289, the worst recorded for any U.S. flu season this century — including that H1N1 “swine flu” pandemic of 2009-2010.

So far this season, there have been at least 15 million flu illnesses and 180,000 hospitalizations, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates. It also estimates there have been 7,400 deaths, including the deaths of at least 17 children.

Last week, 44 states reported high flu activity, down slightly from the week before. However, flu deaths and hospitalizations rose.

Check out the newest IOA classifieds here!

Chicago:

Optometrist Needed in Chicago (Read more)

Northern IL:

Small Private Practice in Morris, IL Seeking PT Optometrist (Read more)

Chicago Suburbs:

Optometrist Needed in Algonquin & Mundelein (Read more)

Associate Optometrist – Part-Time with Path to Ownership (Read more)

Great FT or PT Opportunity at Primary Eyecare Center in Rockford, IL (Read more)

Part Time OD Needed at Private Practice in Schaumburg, IL (Read more)

Optometrist – Full Time - Private Practice - Yorkville, IL (Read more)

Excellent Private Practice Opportunity for Part-Time Associate in Northbrook, IL (Read more)

Optometrist Opportunity — Lake Zurich & Grayslake, IL (Read more)

Optometrist Needed in Western Suburbs (Read more)

Full-Time Optometrist Needed at Geneva Eye Clinic in Geneva, IL (Read more)

On-Site OD Needed with Illinois Department of Corrections (Read more)

Optometrist Opportunity in Riverwoods, IL (Read more)

Central IL:

Join the Community Eye Care Family! Full-Time Optometrist – Pana & Taylorville, IL (Read more)

Join the Community Eye Care Family! Full-Time Optometrist – Mt. Zion, IL (Read more)

On-Site Opportunity with IL Dept of Corrections (Read more)

Southern IL:

OD Needed in Greater STL Area & Throughout Southern IL (Read more)

On-Site Opportunity with IL Dept of Corrections (Read more)

Out of State:

Pediatric OD Needed in West Des Moines, IA (Read more)



OD Needed in Waukesha, WI (Read more)

Pediatric Optometrist Needed in West Des Moines, Iowa (Read more)



OD Needed in Jackson Michigan (Read more)

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