Volume 6, Issue 47│December 16, 2022
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Remembering a Friend of Optometry
State Senator Scott Bennett
The IOA joins many friends and colleagues across the State of Illinois by expressing deep sadness about the sudden passing of State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign). We offer our condolences to his wife and young family at this difficult time.
We are grateful to Senator Bennett for his votes in support of HB 429, the Vaccination Authority bill for Optometrists, and SB 567, The Telehealth bill.
Illinois State Senate President Don Hamon issued the following statement:
“I was devastated to learn of the death of Senator Scott Bennett,” said Senate President Don Harmon. “My heartfelt sympathy and prayers are with his wife Stacy and their children during this unimaginably difficult time.”
Services will be at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts on Monday December 19th at 10:00 A.M. The family requests donations be made in Scott’s memory to CU Able or the Champaign Urbana Autism Network, causes Scott had planned to focus on in the upcoming legislative session.
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Couch Conversations With The Doctors |
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Ansel Johnson, O.D. was proud to join U.S. Congressman Danny Davis as a member of the panel of doctors for this week's live stream of Couch Conversations with the Doctors.
Join them Mondays at 7:00 PM Hot Topic Questions With Your Community Doctor. Featuring great guests, they share Community Wealth thru Health. No question is too big or small. No medical question is off-limits. You can place your questions in the comment section or you can inbox Dr. Tony Hampton through the YouTube link. Broadcast on Facebook Live, / Each Monday, at 7:00 pm All Are Welcome, Health Is Wealth & Knowledge Is Power!!!
Powered by a panel of doctors who will answer any questions you have during the weekly livestream.
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Third Party Committee Alert: End-of-Year Training Modules for Medicare, Medicaid, & MMAI Providers
Medicare, MMAI, and Medicaid providers may be required to complete training modules through their insurance panels. Many insurance panels will accept courses taken from other insurance companies. Below are links to the training modules & more information for most insurance providers in Illinois.
*Davis and March Vision: Attest on your own and have a signed dated document of attestation that can be produced if needed within 10 years
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Reminder: All IL Employees Required to Complete Yearly Sexual Harassment Training
Illinois employers are required to provide annual sexual harassment training for all IL employees. The Illinois Department of Human Rights has a free PowerPoint available to meet the requirement. Follow the link below to download the model Sexual Harassment Prevention Training in PowerPoint or PDF. Employers are required to keep records of all trainings. A certificate is included at the end of IDHR's model course. Employers should keep a copy of this or a signed employee acknowledgment in their personnel files.
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Take Action: Ask Your Congressional Leaders to Stop Medicare Reimbursement Cuts
Dear AOA Advocate,
With 2022 drawing to a close and the threat of nearly double-digit Medicare pay cuts in just a few weeks, AOA Advocacy is right now mobilizing thousands of doctor and student advocates just like you and asking that you contact your Senators and Representative today to demand that Congress take immediate steps to stop the entirety of Medicare reimbursement cuts scheduled to take effect January 1, 2023. AOA’s Advocacy Team is hearing that lawmakers are discussing plans to stop some of the cuts and allow others to be implemented– we can’t let this happen!
Here are three steps to take action to stop the Medicare payment cuts right away:
1. Send a letter to your U.S. House Member and Senators through the AOA’s Online Action Center or on your mobile device by texting "payment" to 855.465.5124.
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- Hello, I'm a Doctor of Optometry living and working in _________ and I’m committed to providing the quality eye health and vision care that our community needs.
-I’m calling today to urge Rep/Sen. ___________ to demand that Congressional leadership stop the entire reduction to Medicare payment rates from being implemented on January 1, 2023.
- On top of the nearly 4.5% Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) payment cut, optometry and other medical practices throughout the country are experiencing significant inflationary pressures.
-The impending Medicare cuts will further exacerbate the significant financial hardship clinicians are already facing and undermine Medicare’s ability to deliver on its promises to your senior and future generations.
-While I appreciate all that Congress has done to prevent much of these cuts from taking effect in the past, I hope you and your colleagues will take action again to stop planned cuts now.
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2. Call Your U.S. Senators and House member – Lawmakers need to hear from you immediately about how urgent it is to stop the coming Medicare payment cuts. Here are four steps to making your call:
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If needed, lookup your Senators and House member. Contact AOA advocacy staff with any questions.
- Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for one of your Senators or House member. If you are unable to reach their D.C. office, lookup and call their local district or state office. Repeat for your other two lawmakers.
- When connected, use the talking points below.
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Report needed follow-up to AOA advocacy staff.
3. After you reach out to your Member of Congress, please contact AOA Advocacy staffers, Matt Willette or Ruth Hazdovac, with any questions or to discuss needed follow-up. Thank you for taking action and for all that you have done and continue to do for patients and the profession.
William T. Reynolds, O.D.
AOA Advocacy Chairman
AOA Trustee
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A direct and compelling headline |
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On November 19, the Illinois College of Optometry held its very first Pre-Health Professions Crash Course on campus. They had a great group of students who met at ICO to learn not only about optometry but other health professions. It was a great way for students to learn about future opportunities and also to learn about why representation in health care matters. This will be an ongoing event, and the ICO is excited that the first session went so well! |
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Roger C. Croland, age 78, of Peoria, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022 at 9:25 a.m. at the Richard L. Owens Hospice Home in Peoria.
Dr. Roger Croland was born March 21, 1944 in Patterson, New Jersey, to Herman and Rose (Koningswood) Croland. He married Patricia “Patty” Harmon on April 21, 1985 in Peoria. She survives along with one son, Joshua (Jennifer) Croland of Peoria, one daughter, Melissa Croland (Marin Brandt) of Lake Worth, FL, and four grandchildren: Kennedy Croland, Zander Croland, Savannah Brandt, and Olivia Hopwood.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Roger was an Optometrist in the Peoria area from 1977 until his retirement in 2018, last working at Bond Eye Associates. He was a member of the Illinois Optometric Association and the local Peoria chapters of The Shriners and the Freemasons. Roger also served as a past Commodore of the Illinois River Basin Boating Association for many years.
Cremation rites have been accorded. There will be a celebration of Roger’s life on December 31st in Peoria. Additional details to follow. Davison-Fulton Woolsey-Wilton is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to OSF HealthCare Senior World or OSF HealthCare Richard C. Owens Hospice Home.
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We want to hear your memories of the IOA! In celebration of our 125th anniversary in 2023, the IOA is collecting your stories about the organization.
Please share your thoughts on the importance of IOA membership, favorite memories from IOA, or your thoughts on the history of the IOA.
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IOA/AOA Membership Renewal Update
2023 membership invoices have been mailed out, so members should begin receiving invoices soon! Those on a recurring monthly or quarterly payment do not need to respond as your payment schedule will be automatically renewed.
On September 30, 2022, the IOA Board of Directors voted to keep IOA membership dues at the same rate as 2022. Likewise, the AOA Board of Directors did not issue a dues increase, so IOA/AOA membership fees will remain the same in 2023.
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2023 Dues Contest
Pay membership dues in full by 1/31/2023 and be entered into a drawing to win FREE registration to the 2023 IOA Annual Meeting in Schaumburg, Illinois! This includes your registration for the meeting and all CE testing fees associated with your registration but does not include hotel reservations.
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LAST DAY! Call for Courses - 2023 Annual Meeting
The IOA has opened the Call for Courses for the 2023 Annual Meeting in Schaumburg, IL on September 28-October 1. Lecturers are invited to submit their lecture(s) and workshop courses in the online portal at the link below. All courses must be submitted online by December 16, 2022.
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2022 Medicare Fee Schedules
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Report illegal and unsafe contact lens sales to the FDA & FTC
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1/25/2023: South Suburban Optometric Society CE (details & registration coming soon!)
2/8/2023: Fox Valley Optometric Society CE (details coming soon!)
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Check out the newest IOA classifieds here!
Seeking Optometrist (Part-Time or Full-Time available) EVERY OTHER SATURDAY OFF! ( Read more)
Region: Suburbs: Upscale 6 location private practice located in the north suburbs (AccuVISION) looking for a personable P/T or F/T OD (Read more)
Complete custom solid wood dispensary fixtures for sale. Approximately 20 feet long maple display with recessed light, wall mount barn door (Read more)
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Use Hashtags in Your Social Media Posts
Hashtags are a way to connect social media content to a specific or trending topic, event, theme, or conversation.
Hashtags make it easier for users to discover posts and engage in conversations surrounding that topic by filtering relevant content. Social media users will search for a specific topic they are interested in learning more about, and the correct hashtag can lead that person to you. The more visibility and traffic you get from users searching your hashtag, the more likely you are able to create a larger audience of fresh leads for your practice.
The most effective platforms for hashtags are Twitter and Instagram, which is the main search feature for specific topics. While Facebook allows hashtags, most Facebook users do not utilize them for a search; instead, they use the search bar, so when using hashtags on Facebook, use them sparingly; too many have been shown to annoy readers. Avoid them on LinkedIn. Currently, LinkedIn does not support hashtag search, so utilizing them on this platform does nothing more than add words to your post.
#usehashtags #increasevisability #attractnewpatients #optometry
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Reminder: Minimum Wage Increases to $13 an Hour on Jan. 1, 2023
Fox 32 reports that the minimum wage will increase to $13 per hour effective January 1. The increase is part of legislation that passed in 2019 to establish a $15 minimum wage by 2025.
Please note that Cook County and Chicago both have higher minimum wages currently in place. The Chicago minimum wage increased in July 2022 to $15.40 per hour for businesses with 21+ employees and $14.50 per hour for businesses that have between four and 20 employees. The minimum wage in Cook County for non-tipped workers is $13.35 per hour.
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Durbin Meets With Sinai Health CEO Dr. Ezike
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Dr. Ngozi Ezike, the new CEO of Sinai Chicago System and former Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. During their meeting, Durbin and Dr. Ezike discussed bolstering health care resources in Illinois for violence prevention, closing racial and ethnic health disparities, and addressing workforce shortages in hospitals.
Durbin and Dr. Ezike also talked about new goals for the Chicago HEAL Initiative, including fortifying the health care pipeline, building out school and community prevention programs, expanding access to post-injury trauma recovery, and improving data sharing.
“In the last few years, our health care system and the professionals who keep it running have been placed under enormous strain. In meeting with Dr. Ezike of Sinai Chicago today, I reiterated my appreciation for the taxing work our health care workers do and my commitment to support them in their safety net mission,” said Durbin. “I’ll continue to be a strong partner to our health care workforce and expand federal support to give patients access to the best care possible.
To address health care workforce issues, Durbin secured a historic $1 billion for the National Health Service Corps in the American Rescue Plan for scholarship and loan repayment awards to recruit more physicians, doctors, and behavioral health providers to provide care in underserved areas.
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Making Sense Out of Presbyopia Clinical Study Data
December 11, 2022
Considering safety and efficacy of new drops and the potential impact on your patients.
With the first presbyopia-correcting drops already FDA-approved and a raft of new pharmacological treatments for presbyopia coming to the marketplace soon, it is a good time to start paying attention to clinical trial data for these products.
Every company likes to put the most positive spin possible on study data—it’s called marketing for a reason. But the good news is that all of the new presbyopia drops will be held to a similar standard by the FDA, making it easier for busy doctors to compare safety and efficacy and figure out what will work for our patients.
The primary efficacy end point in clinical trials for the first presbyopia-correcting drop (Vuity; Allergan)—and likely for all future such drops—goes something like this:
A statistically significant difference between the study drug and vehicle (placebo) in the percentage of eyes gaining ≥3 lines of distance-corrected mesopic near visual acuity, without losing >1 line of distance visual acuity, at a prespecified time point after instillation on day 30.
That’s a mouthful! Let’s break that efficacy end point down into each of its components:
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Optimizing Visual Performance in Sports
December 13, 2022
Graham Erickson, OD, gives key takeaways from his discussion titled, "Optimizing visual performance for sports,"
Graham Erickson, OD, professor at Pacific University in Oregon, shares highlights from her discussion titled, "Optimizing visual performance for sports," which he is presenting during the 2022 American Academy of Optometry meeting, held this year in San Diego
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Too Much Screen time is Creating Generation of Near-Sighted Young People, Expert Says
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Screens are the new pandemic when it comes to children's eyes. That's the message from a board-certified optometrist.
"Screens are completely ruining our kids' eyes and brains."
Dr. Bryce Appelbaum is an optometrist board-certified in vision therapy and a graduate of the Illinois College of Optometry. He says the amount of time children are spending on their computers, tablets, and phones is creating a generation of near-sighted young people.
"We live in a three-dimensional world, and we should be engaging in three-dimensional space and yet kids are being exposed to screens in technology earlier than ever before and being asked to read at earlier and earlier ages before they're visually ready."
Appelbaum says children are reading before they're even in kindergarten now. While that may sound great to some, he says before age six, children don't have the visual foundation to support that.
"With technology and screens and facetiming and tablets and phones, you know, we see infants that are staring at screens all day long and getting this crazy dopamine hit from what's being presented and we're not, we don't have the brain development and the visual development to support that."
Some of the warning signs that screens are taking a toll…
"Children aren't learning how to engage with humans, interpersonal communication. From a vision standpoint, we're noticing vision and eye strain and visual fatigue and environmentally induced near sightedness. We're adapting to up close because that's where the stress is and that means, far away becomes blurry."
So, what's the solution? Children should take breaks.
"At the maximum, we don't spend more than 20 minutes on a device without looking away and resting our eyes for 20 seconds at something at least 20 feet away."
Dr. Appelbaum says optometric vision therapy - which is like physical therapy for the eyes - can help children support their continued use of screens.
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Presbyopia: The Ever-Changing Environment and Elusive Holy Grail
December 14, 2022
Lynda Charters Optometry Times Journal, December digital edition 2022, Volume 14, Issue 12
Panel discusses the highs and lows of treating patients with this condition.
An expert panel of physicians discussed the various choices that eyecare professionals must make to manage presbyopia, with special emphasis on the emerging miotics for presbyopia.
The panel included S. Barry Eiden, OD, FAAO, president and medical director of North Suburban Vision Consultants and Eyecare Specialties of Illinois in Deerfield, Illinois; Francis Mah, MD, FAAO, FNAP, director of the cornea service and codirector of the refractive surgery service at Scripps Clinicin La Jolla, California; and Andrew Morgenstern, OD, AAO, FNAP, a subject matter expert for Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
All agreed on the huge toll of presbyopia.
Generally, Mah said, presbyopia affects individuals more today because of the extensive use of digital devices in daily activities. Patients express a great deal of disability navigating through their daily social/work activities.
An array of presbyopia treatments is available to ODs and MDs, including reading glasses, bifocals, multifocal contact lenses for monovision, LASIK, PRK, clear lens extractions, phakic intraocular lenses, and miotic drops.
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How to Order Free COVID Tests by Mail
Published December 15, 2022 at 4:00 AM CST
Americans can order four more free COVID-19 tests through the mail, starting on Thursday. It's part of the Biden administration's plan to deal with an increase in COVID cases sparked by indoor holiday gatherings.
The tests can be ordered on COVIDtests.gov and will start to ship the week of Dec. 19, a senior administration official told reporters on a conference call. The government is urging people to test themselves when they have symptoms, and before visiting with family.
It's the fourth round of free rapid tests this year. The White House had suspended the program in September and said that it would not be able to send out more kits because Congress denied requests for more funding for the program. But the administration shuffled around funds to buy more of the tests for the national stockpile, the official said.
"We know that the virus will circulate more quickly and easily as folks gather indoors for the winter holiday season," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Officials saw cases increase after Thanksgiving, and anticipate that there could be another uptick after December holiday celebrations.
Tests are also available at community testing sites, food banks and schools, and through Medicare. People covered by private health insurance plans can get fully reimbursed for eight tests per month.
The federal government is trying to make it easier for Americans to get vaccines, tests and COVID treatments like Paxlovid during the winter months. It is staging supplies like ventilators as well as personal protective equipment, and wants to help states set up mobile and pop-up vaccination sites.
The government has a particular focus on nursing homes and long-term care facilities, and wants to work to vaccinate residents with the latest booster shot, and offer Paxlovid to people who get the virus.
"We are a few years into this pandemic, and we are prepared for this moment," the official said.
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How the Minimum Wage Changed Throughout the US in 2022
December 15, 2022 — 08:00 am EST
Written by Andrew Lisa for GOBankingRates
Workers who toil for the federal minimum wage have not seen their pay increase in 13 years. Despite repeated attempts at hiking the lowest pay allowed by law, legislation that would boost the minimum wage remains stalled in Congress — but that doesn’t mean that the whole country is stuck at a paltry $7.25 an hour.
Half the States Bumped Their Minimum Wages in 2022
According to the Economic Policy Institute, workers in 21 states got a raise on New Year’s Day in 2022. Minimum wage increases ranged from $0.22 to $1.50 an hour, adding between $458 and $3,120 to the annual earnings of full-time minimum wage workers.
The following nine states saw increases through previously scheduled inflation-based adjustments:
- Arizona: $0.65 increase from $12.15 to $12.80
- Colorado: $0.24 increase from $12.32 to $12.56
- Maine: $0.60 increase from $12.15 to $12.75
- Minnesota: $0.25 increase from $10.08 to $10.33
- Montana: $0.45 increase from $8.75 to $9.20
- New York: $0.70 increase from $12.50 to $13.20
- Ohio: $0.50 increase from $8.80 to $9.30
- South Dakota: $0.50 increase from $9.45 to $9.95
- Washington: $0.80 increase from $13.69 to $14.49
Another 12 states increased their minimum wages through legislation or ballot measures:
- California: $1 increase from $14 to $15
- Delaware: $1.25 increase from $9.25 to $10.50
- Illinois: $1 increase from $11 to $12
- Maryland: $0.75 increase from $11.75 to $12.50
- Massachusetts: $0.75 increase from $13.50 to $14.25
- Michigan: $0.22 increase from $9.65 to $9.87
- Missouri: $0.85 increase from $10.30 to $11.15
- New Jersey: $1 increase from $12 to $13
- New Mexico: $1 increase from $10.50 to $11.50
- Rhode Island: $0.75 increase from $11.50 to $12.25
- Vermont: $0.80 increase from $11.75 to $12.55
- Virginia: $1.50 increase from $9.50 to $11
Four more states increased their minimum wages later in the year.
- Connecticut: On July 1, Connecticut’s minimum wage increased from $13 to $14 an hour.
- Florida: As of Sept. 30, Florida’s minimum wage is $11 an hour. It will rise by $1 per year until it hits $15 in September 2026.
- Oregon: On July 1, Oregon’s location-based minimum wage rose to $12.50 in non-urban counties, $13.50 for the state standard and $13.75 for Portland metro.
- Nevada: Starting July 1, Nevada’s minimum wage jumped to $9.50 for workers who receive health benefits and $10.50 for those who don’t.
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THANK YOU TO OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS! |
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