Volume 6, Issue 20 │May 20, 2022
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Governor JB Pritzker Signs COVID-19 Vaccine Legislation Allows
Illinois Optometrists to Administer Vaccine
Illinois optometrists' scope of practice has been expanded to allow ODs to administer COVID-19 vaccines to patients 17 years and older, effective January 1, 2023. House Bill 4929, recently signed into law by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, allows optometrists to complete training to administer the COVID vaccine. Illinois optometrists were first allowed to administer the vaccine under a proclamation issued by IDFPR Secretary Deborah Hagan in March 2021, and now it is part of optometry's scope.
“Our doctors are well prepared to step in and serve patients by offering preventive vaccines against COVID-19, in addition to providing eye care for patients of all ages," said Leigh Ann Vanausdoll, Chief Executive Officer of the IOA.
An amendment to the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987 expands the scope of work and wouldn’t be possible without the efforts of the PAC Committee and Donors, the Keyperson Network, and our supportive members who helped promote this important effort.
The IOA is grateful to members of the general assembly for their dedication and commitment to the legislation. The House sponsors are Rep. Theresa Mah, Rep. Dagmara Avelar, and Rep. Paul Jacobs. The Senate sponsors are Sen. Laura Murphy, Sen. Christopher Belt, and Sen. Omar Aquino.
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A Message from IOA Legislative Director, Clint Taylor, O.D.
IOA Members,
As you know, Illinois optometry has always supported legislators who support us. This support of optometry-friendly legislators has enabled us to develop relationships that have allowed us to effectively advocate for our profession and our patients.
Senator Tammy Duckworth is one such friend of optometry. From giving the commencement address at ICO to being the lead sponsor of the contact lens safety bill (S1784), Senator Duckworth has always been there for our profession. With AOA’s Optometry’s Meeting taking place in Chicago this summer, we are honored to host a reception for her.
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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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To show our gratitude for her support of optometry, I would like to ask you to do two things. First, please consider attending the reception for Senator Duckworth during Optometry's Meeting. We would love to have a big turnout for this event. Second, please consider contributing to Senator Duckworth’s campaign. Details on how to RSVP for the reception and/or contribute are available here.
Thank you for your consideration and thank you for continuing to advocate for optometry!
Sincerely,
Clint Taylor, OD
Legislative Director
Illinois Optometric Association
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Get to Know an IOA Board Member: Ryan Witt, O.D.
What Dr. Witt loves most about his job?
"There is no day like the last! Whether it is helping someone see the world better, treating their acute eye conditions, or managing long-term issues, we get to impact people’s lives for the better.”
Advice for new optometrists?
“You have joined a great profession! The opportunities that exist are endless. Embrace the full scope of your education to help people see clearly, manage their chronic conditions, and be there to support any urgent needs they may have. Welcome technology and incorporate it into your patient care. Finally, be involved in your profession- you can make a difference!”
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For 24 years, the National Optometry Hall of Fame has recognized and honored doctors of optometry who have made significant and enduring contributions to the optometric profession.
The inductees will be honored during the AOA Awards and National Optometry Hall of Fame ceremony on Thursday, June 16, from 8-10 p.m. during Optometry’s Meeting® in Chicago.
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Political Fundraisers
This week, Angela Oberreiter, O.D. attended a political fundraiser for Illinois Senator Sally Turner (R-Lincoln). Thank you Dr. Oberreiter for representing optometry!
(Pictured right: Public Health Director Angela Oberreiter, O.D. & Sen. Sally Turner)
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Welcome New IOA/AOA Members!
The IOA would like to welcome the following new members who joined the IOA/AOA:
Molly Guithues, O.D.
Mid-State Optometric Society
Delia Malone, O.D.
West Suburban Optometric Society
Welcome to the IOA!
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License Renewal Deadline Approaching: Renew by May 31, 2022
The deadline to renew an optometry & controlled substance license is May 31, 2022. If you have your login information but have been unable to proceed through the renewal process, here are steps to take to renew your license:
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Log in with your username and password here: https://online-dfpr.micropact.com/
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Click on "My Account" at the top right of the page.
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Click on "Create/Continue a Renewal" under "More Online Services", as shown in the screenshot below.
- Complete all steps of the license renewal process. An updated license with a 3/31/2024 expiration date will be available within 1-5 business days.
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The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (DFPR) has extended the license renewal deadline until May 31, 2022.
Doctors who did not receive an email from IDFPR with their username and password, or who cannot log in with their username and password, should follow the MATCH instructions posted here.
Click here to read the FAQs before renewing your license.
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Are you on the updated report of providers missing digital contact information?
The CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) Public Reporting of Missing Digital Contact Information has been updated. The report includes the names and National Provider Identifiers of providers who did not update their digital contact information (endpoints) in NPPES as of March 31, 2022. Are you on the list?
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ANNUAL MEETING SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT
Will Smith, O.D.
Dr. William “Will” Smith earned his undergraduate degree, a B.S. in Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology from University of Tennessee, while also playing on the varsity football team. Dr. Smith is a graduate of University of Alabama-Birmingham School of Optometry. He continued his optometric training through Residency at the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Hospital specializing in hospital-based Optometry and Ophthalmologic co-management of glaucoma, cataracts, inflammation, trauma, retinopathy, and other ocular disease. Currently, Dr. Smith resides in Jacksonville, FL at an optometric group practice. Dr. Smith has served as a volunteer for many organizations such as: Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH), Special Olympics, WeCare and Camp Abilities. He is also a member of Northeast Florida Optometric Society and American Optometric Association.
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6/29/2022: Fox Valley Meeting & CE (details coming soon!)
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Check out the newest IOA classifieds here!
Looking for coverage in my Bloomingdale office. The dates are June 16, 17, 18, 20, 23, 25, or 27. (Read more)
Doctor of Optometry needed for Full Medical Scope / Dry Eye Clinic - Full Time - Rockford, Illinois (Read more)
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CDC Recommends Indoor Masking in Eight Illinois Counties
Health News Illinois reports that CDC is recommending masking in indoor public settings in eight Illinois counties. Boone, Champaign, Ford, Lee, Peoria, Stephenson, Tazewell, and Winnebago counties are all at high community COVID-19 levels, according to data released on Thursday by CDC. 39 Illinois counties are at medium levels and 1,083 patients were in the hospital with COVID-19 as of Wednesday - up 203 from the prior week.
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Illinois Undercount in 2020 Census Points to Population Growth of 257,000
Capitol News Illinois reports that the Census Bureau released survey data on Thursday showing that Illinois' population may have been undercounted by nearly 2 percent in the 2020 census. Illinois was one of six states reported to have been undercounted, while 8 states had statistically significant overcounts. 36 states had neither a statistically significant overcount nor undercount. The official 2020 census reported Illinois' population as 12,812,508, a decline of 18,124, or 0.1 percent from the last census. This resulted in Illinois losing one congressional seat. If the undercount estimate is correct, "that would have meant that the population actually grew by more than 257,000, putting it at just over 13 million." The results "do not change the official population numbers of any state, nor do they affect congressional reappointment, but they do help guide the bureau in its planning for the next decennial census."
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Weekly COVID-19 Testing Program
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.
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Click here for a Q&A put together by the IOA
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Click here for a Q&A issued by the Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
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Click here for information about a COVID-19 saliva testing program through ArcticDX
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The Federal Government is Offering Another Round of Free Covid Tests
Americans can once again order free COVID-19 tests from the federal government by visiting COVIDtests.gov. In this round, the U.S. Postal Service will deliver eight free rapid antigen tests to any household in the U.S. that wants them, according to the website. That brings to sixteen the total tests offered per household so far.
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US To Extend COVID-19 Public-Health Emergency Past Mid-July
Bloomberg reports, “The US government will extend the Covid-19 public-health emergency past mid-July, continuing pandemic-era policies as the nearly 2 1/2-year outbreak drags on.” Last week, several health organizations “wrote to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra urging the Biden administration to maintain the emergency ‘until it is clear that the global pandemic has receded and the capabilities authorized by the PHE are no longer necessary.’”
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THANK YOU TO OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS! |
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