Volume 6, Issue 36│September 9, 2022
|
|
|
Courses are Filling Up Fast!
Register ASAP for the
2022 Annual Meeting in Springfield
We hope you will be able to join us for the 2022 Annual Meeting in Springfield, IL, taking place September 29 - October 2, 2022.
Optometrists can earn up to 18 hours of CE at the Annual Meeting. All courses except the workshops are available tested, so attendees can complete all tested hours in one weekend. Paraoptometrics can earn ten hours of AOA & ABO CE over two days.
Attendees can browse the Exhibit Hall on Saturday and Sunday to explore all the latest in the ophthalmic world. On Saturday night, IOA will host Illinois Optometry's Celebration where attendees can meet and network with colleagues, the 2022 award winners will be recognized, and Howl at the Moon dueling pianos will play into the night.
You will not want to miss this year's Annual Meeting!
|
|
Keyperson Training at Annual Meeting
Keyperson Training event is open to all IOA member ODs. If you already volunteer as a Keyperson or are interested in becoming involved, this 1-hour session is a great way to learn how to build or grow a relationship with legislators.
The Keyperson Training session will be held on Friday, September 30 at 4:45pm and will take no more than an hour. Please note: this course will not count for CE credit.
What is a Keyperson?
A Keyperson is an individual OD who serves as a contact to their local senator and/or representative. The relationship with a legislator can be made and maintained by attending their political fundraisers, calling their office, writing letters to the legislator, and/or inviting the legislator for an optometry office tour.
|
|
September is Paraoptometric Appreciation Month
Spotlight on Morgan DiMaggio,
Optical Manager and Technical Manager
Nominated by Clint Taylor, O.D.
Our paraoptometrics are critical components of our teams as they care for patients of all ages. They deserve to be honored this month for their dedication to delivering quality services and supporting our practices.
Morgan DiMaggio started out just 5 years ago, in 2017, as a receptionist, became a technician, was eventually promoted to lead technician, and was then named to her current role – optical manager and technician manager. Her rise through the ranks has been nothing short of meteoric. She has excelled in every role, displaying dedication, attention to detail, and leadership. She has a can-do attitude and infectious personality that inspires co-workers and makes her a favorite with patients. In her current managerial role, she oversees the entire optical, handles all equipment issues, and provides orientation and ongoing training to all technicians and opticians. She also serves as the office’s social media director and is responsible for all social media content. On top of all these responsibilities, Morgan continues to provide direct patient care – both as a technician and as an optician. She handles everything with grace and sets an excellent example for the rest of the team.
Morgan can do any job in the office and is the first one that team members go to when questions come up. She builds her team up - both by example and by direct encouragement. A CPOA herself, Morgan consistently helps other team members study for and attain paraoptometric certification. She was recently named as a member of the AOA's Commission on Paraoptometric Certification, where she will help draft questions for future certification exams. She also has a thirst for knowledge of all things optical - traveling to trade shows and watching webinars in her free time to continue to expand her knowledge base. She has seen first-hand how optical personnel can change lives for the better and is a champion for opticians and technicians everywhere.
|
|
We are celebrating the contributions of paraoptometrics’ all month long. Share your stories of how they help your practice succeed and be sure to send us a photo. You appreciate them, and we know they’ll be grateful for the recognition this month in Insight. |
|
#AskAOA: Best Practices for Addressing Payer Clawbacks, Denials and Records Requests!
Doctors of optometry can learn best practices for addressing common payer challenges with new resources and expert-led training stemming from an organization-wide prioritization on optometric practice success.
Clawbacks, denials, credentialing requirements, downcoding and stagnant reimbursement levels all fuel doctors’ frustrations with health and vision plans and can feel like daunting tasks to appeal or challenge. However, the AOA is prepared to help doctors understand these undesirable policies and actions and learn what it takes to better advocate for their practices.
Toward that end, an upcoming #AskAOA webinar will help educate doctors on claims denials and clawbacks, as well as share best practices for helping practices resolve such situations. Additionally, the AOA offers two new template letters for doctors to use to assist in payer denials and patient communication.
|
|
Report illegal and unsafe contact lens sales to the FDA & FTC
|
2022 Medicare Fee Schedules
|
|
IOA Industry Partner VSP is hosting a special webinar for Illinois ODs on SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 from 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. CDT
Topic: Maximizing the VSP Vision Premier Program
Are you taking full advantage of the Premier Program? Identify gaps and new opportunities in this session as you’ll see from Dr. Winnick’s personal experience key, easy-to-implement, ways to maximize revenue, savings and patient benefits. Learn how to use VSP’s extensive state-of-the-art product portfolio to meet individual patient needs while also creating opportunities to receive more when you choose preferred products. (Hint: Premier Pays More).
VSP is an Industry Partner with the IOA. IOA does not specifically endorse this single product but encourages you to consider if it has a place in your practice.
|
|
Congratulations to
Naper Grove Vision Care on being voted the:
BEST OF NAPERVILLE 2022
From beloved spots to shop and treasured tapas to Top-choice contractors and chiropractors, we’ve collected and counted all your faves in 50 retail and service categories. These businesses have earned our readers’ loyalty and votes—with more than 11,000 cast in all.
OPTOMETRY PRACTICE
WINNER
Naper Grove Vision Care
FINALISTS
- Wheaton Eye Clinic of Naperville
- English Rows Eye Care (tie)
- Lehr Vision Care (tie)
|
|
|
Horizon Pharmaceuticals sued for not disclosing extent of hearing loss caused by eye medication
Claire Wallace - Monday, August 29th, 2022
Becker's ASC Review
Horizon Pharmaceuticals has been sued by a man in Arizona for allegedly failing to inform regulators that its thyroid eye diseases medication, Tepezza, can cause permanent ear ringing and hearing loss, according to an Aug. 25 report from Law360.
Daniel Weibel told the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois that he has suffered permanent hearing loss as a result of taking Tepezza for several months in 2020.
Mr. Weibel claims that Tepezza only received FDA approval because Horizon failed to disclose their data about hearing-related side effects.
Horizon earned $1.66 billion in revenue from the medication in 2021, according to court documents obtained by Becker's.
Mr. Weibel alleges that Horizon warns of "adverse hearing events" in 10 percent of patients on Tepezza's label, but says that only 100 patients were studied in clinical trials.
He also claims in the lawsuit that Horizon told the patients the hearing loss was temporary when it was not.
Mr. Weibel also alleges in the suit that several other physicians, researchers and patients have warned of hearing loss issues tied to the medication.
"[Horizon] should have changed the Tepezza label to include warnings and instructions addressing the risk of injury associated with the drug as soon as they had notice of adverse reports relating to the same," the suit reads.
"We are aware that a lawsuit has been filed by an individual plaintiff claiming to have been inadequately informed about the risk of hearing impairment from treatment with Tepezza," Geoffrey Curtis, Horizon's executive vice president of corporate affairs and chief communications officer, told Becker's in an Aug. 29 email. "Hearing impairment was identified as a potential adverse event in the Tepezza pivotal clinical trials, was thoroughly discussed at the FDA advisory committee meeting prior to the approval of Tepezza and is referenced in the Tepezza product label. We do not believe the lawsuit has merit and intend to vigorously defend it."
Mr. Weibel is suing Horizon for liability and negligence claims, seeking punitive and compensatory damages.
|
|
|
|
Check out the newest IOA classifieds here!
Part-Time OD position available in Chicago's Uptown Neighborhood (Read more)
Hey guys! LensCrafters independent optometrist owned sublease is looking for weekday coverage 1, 2, or 3 days per week starting in October. (Read more)
|
|
Market yourself on more than just Facebook and Instagram. Advertise your business on Nextdoor, either by placing an ad or simply introducing yourself and the services you provide.
Nearly 1 in 3
households are on Nextdoor
76% of neighbors
have been influenced by a recommendation on Nextdoor
88% of neighbors
shop at a local business at least once a week*
|
|
'Operation Disrupt' mental health crisis signage to be posted at 17 Illinois park sites
SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has partnered with the Operation Disrupt initiative working to prevent suicide by posting mental health crisis information signs at Illinois state parks.
The signs display the 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline phone number and website.
These will be posted in at least 17 IDNR sites in remote locations around Illinois including parks like Starved Rock, Giant City and Pere Marquette.
|
|
Walmart teams with UnitedHealth Group, Optum on Patient Experience
The collaboration will start in 2023 with 15 Walmart Health locations in Florida and Georgia, and will expand into new geographies over time.
Walmart and UnitedHealth Group, along with UHG subsidiary Optum, are beginning a 10-year collaboration the companies describe as "wide-ranging," and intend to leverage their combined expertise to improve health outcomes and the patient experience.
The collaboration will start in 2023 with 15 Walmart Health locations in Florida and Georgia, and will expand into new geographies over time. Ultimately the companies expect to serve hundreds of thousands of seniors and Medicare beneficiaries in value-based arrangements through multiple Medicare Advantage plans.
Optum will lend Walmart Health clinicians access to its analytics and decision support tools to deliver what they call "comprehensive value-based care." These capabilities are intended to enhance the care already being provided at Walmart Health centers, which operate on a team-based delivery model focusing on patient outcomes – and thus on the transition to value-based care.
|
|
Attorney General Tong Announces $22 Million False Claims Settlement with Essilor
(Hartford, CT) -- Attorney General William Tong announced today that Connecticut has joined 34 other states in settling allegations of kickbacks paid to referring providers against Essilor International, Essilor of America Inc., Essilor Laboratories of America Inc., and Essilor Instruments USA (Essilor), headquartered in Dallas. Essilor manufactures, markets, and distributes optical lenses and equipment used to produce optical lenses. Pursuant to the settlement, Essilor will pay the United States and 35 states a total of $22 million plus interest. The Connecticut Medicaid program will be paid $999,698.91 through the settlement.
|
|
Clinical Trial Evaluating Monkeypox Vaccine Begins
NIH Trial is Evaluating Intradermal Delivery to Expand the Vaccine Supply.
A clinical trial evaluating alternative strategies for administering the JYNNEOS monkeypox vaccine to increase the number of available doses has begun enrolling adult volunteers. The trial, which will enroll more than 200 adults across eight U.S. research sites, is sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health. JYNNEOS is manufactured by Bavarian Nordic, based in Copenhagen. It is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the prevention of smallpox and monkeypox disease in adults 18 years of age and older determined to be at high risk for smallpox or monkeypox infection.
|
|
THANK YOU TO OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
