Volume 6, Issue 17 │April 29, 2022
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AOA on Capitol Hill
This week, doctors, students, and members of the IOA leadership team attended AOA on Capitol Hill to advocate for the profession. Attendees met with members of Congress and their staff to discuss the DOC Access Act and increase awareness of optometrists as primary eye care providers. IOA members met with US. Reps. Bill Foster and Mike Bost, along with Senator John Boozman and staffers of Sen. Durbin. Check out the social media feed from AOA on Capitol Hill for a recap of the event.
Thank you to the doctors and students who took valuable time out of their schedule to attend AOA on Capitol Hill! We greatly appreciate your dedication to the profession!
Pictured above: Illinois delegation to AOA on Capitol Hill
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Additional New Coverage from Capitol Hill
The Will County Gazette reported that Illinois U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush tweeted that he was honored to receive the AOA Health Care Leadership Award during AOA on Capitol Hill. Rep. Rush's award was presented to him by IOA member Stephanie Johnson-Brown, OD.
Pictured: Dr. Stephanie Johnson-Brown presents the Health Care Leadership Award to Rep. Bobby Rush in Washington, D.C.
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Recently Retired? Let Us Know By May 2
Let us know if you recently retired or pl an to fully retire soon so we can update your membership. The deadline for membership changes is Monday, May 2. Members are considered eligible for retired membership if they are fully retired by May 31, 2022. Please reach out to Travis Hamlin, IOA Finance & Business Manager, at thamlin@ioaweb.org or call the IOA at 217-525-8012.
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Report illegal and unsafe contact lens sales to the FDA & FTC
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2022 Medicare Fee Schedules
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Labor Law Poster - 2022 Updates |
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Scam Alert: Scammers Impersonating State Board Members, DEA Agents
Scam artists have been reaching out to ODs in other states posing as State Board members or DEA agents requesting personally identifiable information including the doctor's social security number. The DEA posted a warning about similar scams in March 2021, notifying the public that DEA agents will not call to demand money or personal information. Similarly, IDFPR staff and board members will not call licensed ODs to demand money or personal information over the phone. If you receive a similar call, you should hang up immediately. |
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Public Health Committee Update: IDPH Issues Warning About Severe Hepatitis in Children
The Illinois Department of Public Health issued a warning this week that healthcare providers should be on the lookout for severe hepatitis cases that have affected a growing number of children throughout the country, including at least three Illinois cases. The CDC noted that the hepatitis cases appear to have an association with adenovirus 41. Adenoviruses spread from person to person and most commonly cause respiratory illness, but can cause other illnesses such as conjunctivitis. |
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Volunteers Needed: 2022 Special Olympics Opening Eyes Program
The Special Olympics Lions Club International Opening Eyes Program is back for the first time since 2019 and are looking for volunteer optometrists, students, and opticians. The goal of the Special Olympics Lions Club International Opening Eyes Program is to bring quality vision care to children and adults with intellectual disabilities. the 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.
Opening Eyes Program details:
When: Saturday, June 18 from 9am- 4pm
Where: Illinois State University in Normal, IL.
If you have any questions, please contact Christine Allison, O.D. at 312-949-7336 or callison@ico.edu. Follow the link below to register to volunteer.
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IOA Members Out & About
This week, IOA Secretary Dr. Sam Forzley attended a political fundraiser for Rep. Dan Brady who is running for Secretary of State.
Thank you to Dr. Forzley for representing optometry!
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License Renewal Portal Open through May 31, 2022
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (DFPR) has extended the license renewal deadline until May 31, 2022. IOA has published FAQs on how to renew under the updated license renewal process.
Doctors who did not receive an email from IDFPR with their username and password should follow the MATCH instructions posted here.
To begin the renewal process:
After logging in to your profile, click on "My Account". Then click "Create/Continue a Renewal".
Click here to read the FAQs before renewing your license.
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ANNUAL MEETING SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT
Paul Chous, O.D.
"Current Treatments in Diabetes & Non-Ocular Complications"
This course will consider treatment algorithms for type 1 and type 2 diabetes, with an emphasis on newer therapies, cardio-, reno-and retino-protection, and game-changing technologies with which every health care provider should be familiar.
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Check out the newest IOA classifieds here!
Ophthalmology practice with optical dispensary. Position involves medical ophthalmology, optometry, contact lens fitting. ( Read more)
We are currently accepting applications for full time, part time and fill in optometrists. We offer a stable, collegial, successful and patient oriented practice environment. ( Read more)
Over $200,000 Potential Salary with Signing Bonus -Seeking career minded optometrist to join our state of the art OD/MD practice (Read more)
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Illinois Elections Update
The deadline has passed for candidates running for office to get on the ballot and many candidates have faced challenges to their campaigns. Below is an update on districts where candidates have been removed from the ballot.
Governor's Race
Two Republican candidates, Keisha Smith and Emily Johnson, were removed from the ballot over issues with their nomination petitions.
Senate
1st Senate District: Sen. Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) has withdrawn from the race. His future son-in-law, Javier Loera Cervantes, will run unopposed in the district.
2nd Senate District: Jackie Baez withdrew from the Democratic primary, leaving incumbent Sen. Omar Aquino (D-Chicago) with two primary opponents, both of whom are facing petition challenges.
10th Senate District: Sen. Rob Martwick (D-Chicago) will face Republican activist and Chicago police detective Erin Jones after a challenge to her candidacy failed.
11th Senate District: Sen. Steve Landek (D-Bridgeview) has withdrawn from the ballot. Mike Porfirio will run unopposed.
48th Senate District: Appointed Rep. Sandy Hamilton (R-Springfield) no longer has primary opposition after William Eddington was kicked off the ballot. Hamilton will face incumbent Sen. Doris Turner (D-Springfield) in the general election.
57th Senate District: Sen. Chris Belt (D-Swansea) will no longer face a primary challenger after Barbara Fulton Henderson was removed from the ballot.
House of Representatives
6th House District: Rep. Sonya Harper (D-Chicago) survived a petition challenge and will face Carolyn Crump and Steven Williams
13th House District: Becky Levin has dropped out of the race to replace Democratic Majority Leader Greg Harris, who is retiring.
19th House District: Rep. Lindsey LaPointe (D-Chicago) will face against Tina Wallace, a realtor, in the primary.
32nd House District: Appointed Rep. Cyril Nichols (D-Burbank) is now the only Democrat on the ballot for the 32nd District after Safaa Zarzour dropped out of the race.
37th House District: Rep. Tim Ozinga (R-Mokena) will not face a primary challenger after August Deuser was removed.
116th House District: Rep. Dave Severin (R-Benton) will no longer face a primary challenger after Gary Carter was removed from the ballot.
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Rep. Paul Jacobs, O.D. Fundraiser
The Carbondale Reporter notes that State Rep. Paul Jacobs, OD, is hosting a "Pints & Politics" fundraiser on May 12 at Mary's Restaurant in Herrin, IL. Jacobs will face Aaron Smith, a construction business owner in Marion, in the June 28th primary election. Follow the link below to learn more about the fundraiser. |
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Arctic Dx to Continue Offering Weekly COVID-19 Testing
Offices utilizing Arctic Dx's weekly in-office COVD testing program recently received a notice that the program would be discontinued. After several offices reached out, Arctic Dx has chosen to continue the program into at least early June, when they will re-evaluate the need for the program.
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
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Public Health Officials Announce 24,646 New Cases of Coronavirus Disease Over the Past Week
IDPH is Stressing the Availability of Therapeutic Medications to Treat COVID-19 And the Importance of Starting Treatment Quickly
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 24,646 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 46 deaths since April 22, 2022.
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 3,138,682 cases, including 33,614 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois since the beginning of the pandemic.
As of last night, 732 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 75 patients were in the ICU and 32 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators. The preliminary seven-day statewide case rate is 193 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 Illinoisans.
IDPH officials noted that the case rate has been slowly rising in the state and five Illinois counties are now rated by the CDC as having a Medium Community Level of COVID-19. These counties are DuPage, Lake, Champaign, Logan and McLean. At the Medium Community Level, persons who are elderly or immunocompromised (at risk of severe outcomes) are advised to wear a mask in indoor public places. In addition, they should make sure to get up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines or get their 2nd booster, if eligible.
IDPH Acting Director Amaal Tokars said the State of Illinois remains strongly positioned to respond in the event of a new COVID-19 surge. The department has been supporting pharmacies and healthcare providers in efforts to increase their inventories of the various FDA-authorized treatment. There are over 2,200 treatment locations in Illinois - including all the major retail pharmacies - and that over 96.7% of the state’s population is within a 10-mile radius of one of these locations.
“The most important point we want to stress about COVID-19 treatments is that timing is essential, and the public should know that it is critically important to consult a healthcare provider and seek treatment immediately if you test positive,” Tokars said. “The treatments are widely available with a prescription, and they are much more effective at preventing hospitalizations and deaths when they are taken early in the course of the illness.”
A total of 21,871,464 vaccines have been administered in Illinois. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 15,913 doses. Since April 22, 2022, 111,391 doses were reported administered in Illinois. Of Illinois’ total population, more than 76% has received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, more than 68% of Illinois’ total population is fully vaccinated, and more than 51% of the vaccinated population is boosted according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Data indicates that the risk of hospitalization and severe outcomes from COVID-19 is much higher for unvaccinated people than for those who are up to date on their vaccinations.
Vaccination is the key to ending this pandemic. To find a COVID-19 vaccination location near you, go to www.vaccines.gov.
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Nearly 60% Of US Population Has Had SARS-CoV-2 Infection, CDC Data Show
The Washington Post (4/26, A1, Keating, Achenbach, Sun) reports that “before omicron, one-third of Americans had been infected with the coronavirus, but by the end of February, that rate had climbed to nearly 60 percent, including 3 out of 4 children, according to” CDC data. These “data from blood tests [offer] the first evidence that over half the U.S. population, roughly 190 million people, have been infected at least once since the pandemic began,” which “is more than double the official case count.” Many of these “infections are likely to have been asymptomatic or with few symptoms.”
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Nearly 100,000 Dementia Cases In The US Could Have Been Prevented By Improving Vision, Researchers Posit
MedPage Today (4/25, George) reports, “Nearly 100,000 dementia cases in the U.S. could have been prevented by improving vision,” investigators concluded. According to their “cross-sectional analysis,” the “population attributable fraction – the proportion of dementia cases that potentially would be prevented if a risk factor was eliminated – of vision impairment was 1.8% in the 2018 Health and Retirement Study, representing more than 100,000 prevalent cases.” The findings were published online in a brief report in JAMA Neurology.
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THANK YOU TO OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS! |
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