Volume 6, Issue 8 │February 25, 2022
|
|
|
Masks Continue to be Required in Healthcare as State Lifts Indoor Mask Mandate on Feb 28
Gov. Pritzker announced earlier this month that the indoor mask mandate would be lifted on February 28 as long as COVID numbers continued to drop. However, mask requirements still apply in healthcare settings.
The governor's press release outlines the following situations where masking will continue to be required:
Masking requirements are also outlined in an FAQ here.
|
Reminder: Executive Order on Vaccine/Testing Mandate
As a reminder, the Executive Order mandating that all health care workers must either be vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo weekly (at minimum) testing for COVID-19 is still in effect. Employers must either maintain proof of vaccination status or proof of weekly negative COVID-19 tests in their personnel files.
Click here for a Q&A issued by the Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
Click here for information about a COVID-19 saliva testing program through ArcticDX
|
|
Report illegal and unsafe contact lens sales to the FDA & FTC
|
2022 Medicare Fee Schedules
|
Labor Law Poster - 2022 Updates |
|
Winter 2022 IOA Journal Out Now
The Winter 2022 edition of the IOA Journal is now available! Follow the link below to read about IOA's 2021 & 2022 legislative efforts, a message from IOA President & Chair Tim Cundiff, OD, and more!
|
|
In Memoriam: Philip Ortiz, OD
The IOA was saddened to hear of the passing of Philip Ortiz, OD. Dr. Ortiz was born on April 15, 1935. He married Gaydeen Horna in 1958 and graduated from ICO in 1963. After graduation, Dr. Ortiz joined his father-in-law, Jerome Horna, OD, in practice before opening his own practice, Ortiz Eye Associates, P.C., in 1964. The practice continued to grow and underwent four additions. Dr. Ortiz volunteered for VOSH beginning in 1978 and co-founded I Care International in 1987 with his wife Gay and the late Dr. Charles Cools. He was an active member of the Starved Rock Optometric Society and was a member of the Grundy County Board of Health where he helped to organize vision screenings for pre-schoolers. Dr. Ortiz retired in 1999 and was a 62-year member of the IOA/AOA. His son, Tim Ortiz, OD, took over the practice after his retirement.
A celebration of life is planned for Wednesday, June 29 at 3pm at the Morris Country Club in Morris, IL.
|
|
Members in the News
Congratulations to Bill Park, OD, whose practice, Park Family Eye Care, is celebrating 45 years in the Fox Valley community. Dr. Park practices with his children, Lena Park, OD & Quentin Park, OD. Congratulations to Park Family Eye Care on this amazing milestone!
|
|
License Renewal Portal
We wanted to bring to your attention that the license renewal portal is currently not open on IDFPR's website. The IOA has been in contact with IDFPR and have been informed that the agency is working through some technical issues. The IOA will update you via Insider Alerts when the licensing portal opens for your 2022 renewal. The IDFPR has also indicated that they will email you with instructions on how to sign in to the portal when it becomes available.
|
|
Make Sure You're Ready When License Renewal Opens! Complete Your CE ASAP!
Don't forget! Illinois licenses renew on March 31, 2022 and ODs are required to complete 30 hours of CE before their license renewal. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, IDFPR has allowed optometrists to complete all 30 hours online provided by IL-licensed CE providers. As a licensed CE provider, all IOA courses will count for Illinois credit.
Renewal Requirements:
- ODs must earn 30 hours of CE from April 1, 2020-March 31, 2022.
- Tested hours were waived for the 2020-2022 licensing cycle.
- 1 hour of sexual harassment CE must be taken by all licensed optometrists (except at first license renewal) in order to renew a license.
- 3 hours of safe opioid prescribing CE must be taken by all optometrists who hold a Controlled Substance license in order to renew the license.
- First-time renewal applicants are exempt from regular CE requirements at the time of their first renewal. However, if the licensee holds a controlled substance license, they must comply with the 3-hour opioid CE requirement, even if this is the first renewal.
|
|
|
|
Check out the newest IOA classifieds here!
Optometrist needed for a fill-in maternity leave coverage in Buffalo Grove, IL starting July 2022 through September 2022. ( Read more)
Excellent Private Practice Opportunity in Northbrook, IL The Optometrists of the North Shore is a well-established, private practice ( Read more)
Assistant Professor - Primary Care/Ophthalmic Optics - Chicago College of Optometry Candidates are expected to be highly knowledgeable in the field of Primary Eye Care and Ophthalmic Optics ( Read more) |
|
Proposed Legislation Would Require Expedited Licenses
The Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus reports that Senate Bill 670, a bill that would require IDFPR to issue state licenses in four weeks, has advanced out of the Senate and now moves to the House for consideration. The bill's sponsor, state Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) said the bill would cut down on the time it takes for healthcare workers, accountants, speech pathologists, and many others to secure a license and start working. "My office has heard concerns from our community about workers waiting months for licenses to be distributed," says Glowiak Hilton. "While I appreciate the department's efforts to reduce processing times with electronic renewals, I believe our state could improve the timeliness and help residents enter the workplace sooner." |
|
Managed Care Enrollment Numbers See Slight Decrease in January 2022
HFS reports that enrollment in Medicaid managed care plans has increased slightly since December 2021. January enrollment data shows an overall 0.81% decrease in enrollment from December 2021 to January 2022. Total MCO enrollment for January 2022 was 2,854,090.
Enrollment changes by MCO:
- Aetna Better Health enrollment: 438,300 - 6.65% decrease from December 2021
- Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois enrollment: 702,366 - 0.9% increase
- Cook County Care enrollment: 424,878 - 0.7% increase
- Humana Health Plan enrollment: 15,907 - 8.9% decrease
- Medidian Health Plan enrollment: 894,164 - 0.09% decrease
- Molina Healthcare enrollment: 342,597 - 0.24% increase
|
|
State Revenue $4.6 Billion Higher Than Expected
Capitol News Illinois reports that the IL Department of Revenue (IDOR) projects the state's economy is "steadily moving back toward a level of pre-pandemic normalcy". During a House Revenue and Finance Committee meeting on Thursday, IDOR Director David Harris noted that COVID-19 caused a "black swan event" which saw tumbling state revenues followed by a nationwide shift to purchasing more goods than services and direct payments to Americans from the federal government which sparked substantial state revenue growth. Revenues for the 2021-22 fiscal year "are expected to be about $4.6 billion greater than were projected when the governor signed the budget into law last year." Harris projected that FY 2023 will "continue to see a solid revenue performance, but it will also begin a period of leveling." One caveat: Harris commented that he does not yet know if the Russian invasion of Ukraine will be a black swan event that will ripple across revenue streams, noting that projections will be updated as needed.
|
|
Public Health Officials Announce 13,028 New Cases of Coronavirus Disease Over the Past Week
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 13,028 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including an increase of 355 deaths since February 18, 2022.
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 3,026,737 cases, including 32,654 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Since February 18, 2022, laboratories have reported 716,997 specimens for a total of 54,338,979. As of last night, 1,143 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 211 patients were in the ICU and 103 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from February 18-24, 2022 is 1.8%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from February 18- 24, 2022 is 2.4%.
A total of 21,070,546 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of last midnight. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 16,309 doses. Since February 18, 2022, 114,160 doses were reported administered in Illinois. Of Illinois’ total population, 76% has received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, more than 67% of Illinois’ total population is fully vaccinated, and almost 49% boosted according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Vaccination is the key to ending this pandemic. To find a COVID-19 vaccination location near you, go to www.vaccines.gov.
|
|
AOA/AOSA Opportunities in Optometry Grant
To promote diversity and equity in the optometric profession for generations to come, the American Optometric Association (AOA) and the American Optometric Student Association (AOSA) have created the AOA/AOSA Opportunities in Optometry Grant program. This fund is designed as a one-time stipend for under-represented minority students interested in the field of optometry to help defray the costs associated with applying to optometry school.
Multiple grants of $1,500 each will be awarded annually to students who are chosen by the selection committee in 2022. Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria to be considered by the selection committee. These funds can be used toward the very first steps necessary when pursuing a doctor of optometry degree – off-setting the cost of the OAT exam, school application costs, professional attire or travel costs associated with interviews.
The AOA Diversity and Inclusion Task Force and the AOSA Diversity Project Team have made a commitment to pave a path toward a broader and more diverse profession. The AOA/AOSA Opportunities in Optometry Grant program is a sustained effort to encourage under-represented minorities to join the family of optometry and expand access to primary eye care across the nation.
|
|
THANK YOU TO OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
