IOP news & updates
December 5, 2020 | Issue 4
Upcoming Events

Cancelled! 2021 Day at the Capitol,
due to group size restrictions.

2021 IOP Annual Congress
October 14-16
Congratulations to
Randy Andregg,
2020 Idaho OD of the Year!

Thank you to our 2020 Annual Congress Sponsors

Their contributions assisted us in offering quality education to over 120 OD's and 40 paraoptometrics. Please thank them for their support.

Platinum
Pacific Cataract and Laser
Hollingshead Eye Center

Silver
Vision Quest Medical Center
Idaho Eye and Laser Center
VSP

Bronze
MacuHealth
Allergan
Maculogix
Hoya
2021 CPT Code Updates
  • Learn about important coding updates taking effect in 2021.
  • Join this webinar on Tuesday, Dec. 8, at 9 p.m. ET.  
  • Register Here
  • Read More Here
President's Comments
It’s hard to believe that 2020 is almost in the history books, and it’s definitely not a moment too soon. There are a lot of things that I would like to say about 2020 and everything associated with it, but I’ll refrain from that. However, when I think of 2020, one thing that I will think of is how individuals, businesses, and organizations were forced to reinvent themselves. Unprecedented times such as 2020 often necessitate the need for reinvention and adaptation. Some of these changes may be temporary, but many will be permanent as they displayed a better and more efficient way to do things. 

While our profession of optometry has had to adapt to the challenges of 2020 there are many other challenges that have faced and continue to face our profession. These challenges will require us to rethink and reinvent how we do things, even more so than from Covid-19. The challenges that we face come in the form of large corporations dictating what constitutes a comprehensive eye exam, online contact lens and glasses retailers, online eye exams, and ophthalmology constantly downplaying the current level of optometric education. While our state and national association do everything in their collective power to defend our profession against these outside forces, we must assume that the future of optometry looks different than what it has looked like in the past and different than what it looks like now. Any aspect of our profession that can be commercialized and devalued will be.  

So the question is how do we reinvent our profession to stay viable in the future. I believe the answer is relatively simple. We must focus on the specialized areas of optometry that can’t be performed and sold online. These areas include, but are not limited to medical optometry, vision therapy and development, specialty contact lenses, low vision, sports vision, myopia prevention, and neuro-optometry. By embracing more specialized areas of our profession, we fortify ourselves against all of the forces that seek to devalue what we do. I’m not saying that tomorrow you should close your optical and stop fitting soft contact lenses. What I am saying is that it is going to become increasingly difficult to remain profitable in these two traditional areas of optometric practice. If we begin to specialize and diversify now, we’ll be prepared when selling glasses and contacts are truly not an efficient way to use our space, time and staff. As we embrace change in our profession, we will ensure that the great profession which we have inherited will remain great and viable for generations to come.  

Jared Birch, OD
IOP President
2021 Legislative Organizational Session

This week, both the Idaho House of Representatives and the Idaho Senate conducted an organizational session to prepare for the 2021 Idaho Legislative Session that begins on Monday, January 11, 2021. Both chambers elected their leadership, selected committee chairs, and made committee assignments. Both the House and Senate Health & Welfare Committees experienced significant membership changes. The IOP has built strong relationships with many of the members of leadership and health and welfare committee members. During the 2021 Legislative Session, we will continue to strengthen existing relationships and build new ones with key legislators to improve the profession of optometry throughout the state of Idaho.



Kris Ellis
Ellis Consulting
Membership Committee
Welcome our newest member to the IOP, Dr. Kurt Hepworth!
 
We are looking for ways to get updated personal contact information to better update our current and prospective members. Please contact Lisa White at execdir@iopinc.org or Dr. Doug Adams at iopmemcomm@gmail.com to update your information.

In other ways to keep members and our community updated with IOP news, Dr. Jeffrey Ness will be taking over social media outlets. Trends in eye care, recommendations, and education will be highlighted on Instagram @idaho_optometric_physicians, Facebook Idaho Optometric Physicians, and Twitter.

Please look out for different means of contact, either via text message or email for new and meeting updates regarding the IOP.

Doug Adams, OD
IOP Membership Committee Chair
IMPAC - Informal Medicare Professional Advisory Council
Dear Colleagues,

I wish you all a happy holiday season. The last IMPAC meeting was quite a bit shorter than usual and had less attendees. The matters discussed did not pertain to any issues that concerned optometry, and much was reviewed from topics previously discussed at the prior meeting. In my last article (click here to read) there was a list of resources from CMS for issues due to COVID-19. Please use that as a resource if you have any questions regarding billing or if you have specific questions for CMS regarding COVID-19. I hope to have more information for you after my next IMPAC meeting.

Sincerely,
Gideon Bender, OD
IMPAC Representative
Media Task Force
As our state and profession continues to recover from the turmoil of 2020, the ‘IOP Media Task Force’ has remained steadfast pushing forward in its attempts to provide all of Idaho’s communities with accurate information regarding the services, training, and dedication of Idaho Optometry.

Our last video, featured at Congress and edited by IOPs very own Dr. Neal Guymon, is a great example of our commitment to using the media arts to highlight Idaho Optometry’s dedication to excellent patient care. You can view this video HERE

We will likely have another filming session at our next Congress in 2021 in Coeur d'Alene. If you are interested in participating or helping with this committee, please contact me or our Executive Director Lisa White. 

Best Regard, 
Daniel D. Schrempp, OD 
Paraoptometric Committee
I am Tami Arnett and I have served on the Para Board since 2018 - you may have met me at Congress, para classes in the Treasure Valley, or seen my face in the quarterly newsletter.   

If you did not attend the 2020 Congress in Boise, it was decided at the Membership Meeting to dissolve the IOPPS membership. Some other changes that came from the dissolving of the membership is that we no longer have an IOPPS Board or Area Representatives. If your doctor(s) are IOP members, their paras have access to free CE from the AOA. Want to know more? Shoot me an email, iop.para.cc@gmail.com.

The IOP executive board has elected me to be the chair of new Paraoptometric Committee. The committee will continue to plan speakers/classes for Congress. The 2021 schedule has changed slightly; 12 lecture hours will be offered on Thursday afternoon and all day Friday. We will ask for feedback after Congress for your opinion on the changes. Watch more details in upcoming newsletters for what we have planned!! I will also be available to answer your certification questions.

Just some quick things about myself: I have been working as a para at Eagle Vision One since 2013. Coming into this field, I didn’t have any personal experience with needing glasses or eye exams. Now I do a little bit of everything in the office! I have both my ABO and CPOA certifications - so I know how important CE is to those of you out there! If I am not working, I am painting, watching new movies at the theaters, or daydreaming about riding roller coasters. 

I look forward to the changes for the IOPPS and hope to meet you in CDA in 2021!

Tami Arnett
Paraoptometric Committee Chair
Have you seen me?
Hello, I am a collector of vintage optometry equipment and have recently purchased an historic optometrist’s advertising sign. The seller has provided me with this photo and said they believe the office/store in the picture was located in Idaho. I would like to establish the provenance of the etched glass mirrored Snelling sign. It is probably a needle in a haystack question but thought I’d ask if anyone has information or idea about who this is, when (1930’s?) or where. Thank you for your time.
 
Meet your 2021 IOP Board
Dan Schrempp, OD
President and
Communication Committee Chair
Jared Birch, OD
Immediate Past President
Todd Slusser, OD
President Elect
Cody Jones, OD
Vice President
Brian Miller, OD
North A Regional Director
Enjoli Cooke, OD
North B Regional Director
James Bewley, OD
Southwest A Regional Director
Shelby Strick, OD
Southwest B Regional Director
Elisabeth Lehr, OD
South Central Regional Director
Michael Tucker, OD
South East Regional Director
Lauren Huber, OD
Legislative Committee Chair
Gideon Bender, OD
IMPAC Chair
Terri Haley, OD
Third Party Chair
Doug Adams, OD
Membership Committee Chair
Tami Arnett, ABO, CPOA
Paraoptometric Committee Chair



IOP Staff

Lisa White
Executive Director

Misty Mendiola
Event Coordinator

As this year comes to an end, I would like to wish you all a happy holiday season. I thank you for your encouragement, support, and good thoughts throughout this year and most importantly for your continuous support of the IOP. I wish you and yours a New Year full of health, joy, and success.  

Lisa White
Executive Director