VISION The Journal of theMissouri Optometric Association

Late Spring 2011

Severe WeatherAffects Missouri ODs

MOA inWashington D.C.

Brothers, Bezold & AssociatesFront Signage Following the Joplin Tornado May 22, 2011.

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGEAs the 2011 legislative session ends, the MOA can reflect on our successes and failures of this past year. Optometry, as a legislated profession, is directly shaped by the events that occur in Jefferson City. We must be engaged in the process if we are to shape and mold the future that we want.

As you may have heard, Kentucky recently celebrated a significant legislative victory in extending the care they can provide to their patients. In discussions with Kentucky Optometric Association members, it became very clear that their victory was not by chance but was through a strong effort by the KOA and the individual doctors of the state. What started with a small group of ODs with a dream, developed into one of the greatest OD legislative victories of the 21st century. They shaped the future they wanted rather than allowing their futures to be shaped by others.

As I wrote the message for this edition of Vision, I watched my son working with his play dough and carefully roll, fold, work, and shapedthe dough into objects. He opened can after can of play dough, then he came to a container that was old, brittle, and inflexible. I thought how much the play dough can be an analogy for optometry.

Our profession has been molded, worked, and shaped over the last 100 years through efforts of ODs in the state of Missouri who have given their time and energy to ensure the future. Countless hours were spent at the capitol molding and directing the future of our profession. We have celebrated many victories since 1921, but if we focus on our past and don’t prepare for the future by working and molding our profession it will become brittle, old, and loose its adaptability. The health care act presents such a scenario for our profession. The Harkin amendment is a significant victory for our profession, but if we do not remain active in the development of the process we could be stripped of the advantages that this amendment provides our profession. We must be actively involved as the MOA and individual doctors to shape the place that optometry will have within this new health care system.

I recently had the opportunity to attend two separate student events at UMSL and SCO. I appreciated the hospitality of both groups and was encouraged for the future of our profession. As I have met with students over this year, I am struck with the diversity of these emerging students. Many of them have chosen this profession after other career choices but have found security in optometry. This diversity will be a strength to our profession as we move forward, but a concern for us now as we develop our association today to meet the needs of this diverse group for the future.

It is my responsibility as the MOA president, the responsibility of the MOA Board, and the responsibility of each Missouri OD to help us to work, mold, and shape the future for these new doctors.

Continued on page 20

Shape the future you want, or risk being shaped by

the future.

2

Dr. Duane Thompson MOA President 2010 - 2011

3

Severe Weather affectS MiSSouri oDS

Remember the old saying, “In like a lion, out like a lamb”? Meaning the harsh weather would even out as winter progressed to spring. This spring the citizens in Missouri felt the “teeth” of severe weather that resulted in dangerous flooding and tornadoes.

In late April, heavy rains caused flood waters to threaten homes, lives, and property in the eastern half of the state. Rivers and streams spread out of their banks and caused roads, offices, and homes to be threatened with damage from the flood waters. The Missouri National Guard was called out by Governor Jay Nixon, to help with local rescue and deliver needed supplies to the flood victims. There were several rescues of people stranded in flooded homes and cars.

There were no optometry offices damaged from the spring flooding, but water did get near the back door of offices in Cape Girardeau and Doniphan, Missouri.

The flooding caused many more people to have flooded basements and to sand bag their property to minimize the damage. Optometry offices suffered by having staff unable to travel through flood waters to get to work or having their patients not able to make it to the office for their exams because of flooded roads.

As the flood waters receded and water crests traveled down the Mississippi River another disaster struck Joplin, Missouri at 5:41 p.m. CDT on May 22. A massive tornado blasted a six-mile path across southwest Missouri. The Sunday afternoon twister killed at least 89 people and injured many more, but officials warn the death toll is likely to rise still further as more of the missing are recovered and definitively identified.

The road to Dr. Jim Hunt’s homein Doniphan, Missouri.

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It is almost impossible to understand the extent of the damage. All landmarks are gone. There are no familiar structures, trees, or signs to guide you through this completely changed world. During the first several days following the tornado information was hard to gather due to cell phone towers being down. Cell phone reception did start to return — which, on the surface, seemed like a good thing — though this increased communication brought mostly bad news. People begin to understand who was lost and how, and as their stories sift from the rubble, it will soon become clear that everybody knows somebody now gone.

Following the disaster the Missouri Optometric Association Executive Director, LeeAnn Barrett, began trying to find the fate of friends and colleagues that lived in the Joplin area. Over several days information started coming into the main office of the MOA, accounts of people scrambling to seek shelter in their homes.

We are thankful that no doctors of optometry or their staff lost their life but a lot of people have no home. Their homes are gone. Dr. Bob Cable and his wife took shelter in their back bathroom and suffered minor cuts and bruises. They were treated at a hospital and are now staying with friends.

Others have damage to their offices and most have had no electricity since the storm. There have been reports that Dr. Lorry Lazenby received minor damage to his office building.

Dr. Dan Brothers had his front windows blown in from the storm causing water damage. “Thank goodness our roof is still attached but all of our front windows found their way into our waiting area. There were lots of glass and wet carpeting”, according to Dr. Brothers. He also reported, “We were most fortunate not to lose our whole building, unlike most of the rest of the Joplin medical community that lost everything. We own a building across our parking lot that lost its roof completely. It had stored a lot of our paper records”.

Dr. Brothers appreciates the way that optometry bands together in difficult times. He stated, “We have had a lot of support from our local optometrists as well as the area doctors throughout the state and region”.

Continued, page 17

Photos from Brothers, Bezold & Associates following the Joplin Tornado. Top: Back Parking Lot; Middle: Medical Records Building; Bottom: Waiting Room

Moa Delegation attenDS aoa congreSSional aDvocacy conferenceMissouri was well represented in the nation’s capital during the AOA Congressional Advocacy Conference held April 4th and 5th. In spite of the looming budget crisis and government shut down, visits were made to all Missouri’s senators and congressman. Extra kudos to Congressmen Billy Long and Sam Graves who attended the reception held in the Cannon Building for AOA members and members of Congress.

The thirteen UMSL optometry students in attendance could state our case for HR 1195, the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Improvement Act, which would end the exclusion of optometrists from the program. The NHSC provides access to quality health care services for millions of Americans, who might otherwise be forced to do without or delay care.

The NHSC program helps bring together dedicated health care providers with the rural and urban community health centers who need their services. Only 11% of community health centers (CHC) have a full-time eye care professional on staff. A recent study recognized the lack of access to eye care services through CHCs as a major public health crisis.

We also talked with our representatives about HR 1219, the Optometric Equity in Medicaid Act. Reps Ralph Hall (R-TX) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) have worked with optometrists and ophthalmologists on a bi-partisan approach to getting expanded access to essential eye care to the communities where it is most needed.

HR 1219 seeks to guarantee access to primary eye care for Medicaid patients by amending the Federal Medicaid statute to recognize optometrists to provide medical and other health services to the extent those services may be performed under state law.

Our in-person interaction with our senators and congressmen puts optometry’s issues front and center.

It is also beneficial if all optometrists in Missouri make contact with their US Congressmen and ask them to support these important pieces of legislation. If you would like additional information, please contact the MOA central office.

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Physician Quality Reporting System The Physician Quality Reporting Initiative began as an effort to transform Medicare from being a passive purchaser to an active purchaser of high quality health care. In 2007, Medicare started the implementation of the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) and at this time the reporting continues to be voluntary.

Currently, however, the physician quality reporting is no longer an ‘initiative’; as such, the previous acronym ‘PQRI’ that we have used no longer applies. In its place, the program is now referred to as the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS). Eventually, this pay for performance measure will result in a three or four tier payment system, with the highest reimbursements reserved for those providing and reporting the best care. That is why–if you are not reporting yet–you need to start immediately.

Optometrists do not need to enroll or file any intent to participate. Simply report the appropriate quality measure data on claims submitted to claims processing contractor. Accepting assignment on claims is not necessary to participate in PQRS. When this was first implemented there were only about 12 PQRI codes related or used by optometry. Since the initial implementation, several codes have been deleted and many new codes relevant to optometry have been added. Currently, there are more than 30 relevant or qualifying PQRS codes.

Some PQRS codes apply to specific diagnosis and procedure combinations. For example, patients who are over 18 years of age with a diagnosis of Primary Open Angle Glaucoma and performing 920xx/992xx Exams, Medicare, through their PQRS code 2027F, wants an Optic Nerve Head Evaluation. There are also PQRS codes for reporting a patient’s current medications and inquiring about Tobacco usage (which requires two PQRS codes) and Advising Patients to Quit. For these codes, there is no specific diagnosis requirement, but apply only to Evaluation & Management exam visits.

Always report the PQRS on the CMS claim form, as a procedure line item, placing it directly below the procedure associated with PQRS code being reported.

If you completed the requirement of the PQRS, report the code without any modifier. If you did not complete the requirement of the PQRS, report the code with a modifier. Any time you do not complete the PQRS requirements, you must use a modifier. There are four modifiers that can be used with the PQRI code. If you do not perform the PQRI requirements, you must still report the PQRI code in order to keep with the minimum 80% success rate.

The PQRS codes are reported on the CMS 1500 with a zero dollar charge. If the Practice Management System being used cannot accommodate a zero charge item, then enter the amount of 0.01. As Medicare will not pay at the time of claim processing, the line item will be denied with an indicating Remarks Code. The PQRS codes go on your bill with a zero dollar charge. Medicare will not pay the one cent.

The voluntary PQRS participation will end soon and when it does, there will be no more bonuses paid. Instead, there will be imposed monetary penalties for not complying with PQRI reporting. This will result in a significant decrease in your reimbursement when you fail to submit the PQRS.

PQRS: Start Doing It Now!Get accustomed to it now so when

it is no longer voluntary, you are proficient and not playing catch up. Otherwise, you will be losing

significant reimbursement.

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9

MOA President Visits MOSA at SCO April, Dr. Duane Thompson recently had the opportunity to visit with some future doctors of optometry of the MOA in who are currently attending school in Memphis at Southern College of Optometry.

With about 25 students in attendance, Dr. Thompson met with the group to discuss the MOA organizational structure, ongoing goals, and value of membership.

Because optometry is a legislated profession, he stressed the importance of becoming involved in efforts to positively affect the future of optometry.

Over the last several years, many of these students have assisted the MOA at continuing education meetings like Midwest Eye Conference and MOA Annual Conference.

“The current student doctors of optometry are the future leaders, and it is the responsibility of every OD to help nurture and develop these students to ensure the future strength of our profession,” said Dr. Thompson.

“It was my pleasure to visit with the Missouri Club at SCO and I look forward to seeing each member join our association.”

VISION USA UpdatesIn honor of VISION USA ’s 20th anniversary, the program enhanced its operations and application processes. The following changes are now in effect:

• ClearVision will donate a kit of assorted frames (four men’s, four women’s) to any VISION USA provider who requests it

• Doctors can control quotas on a monthly and/or yearly basis and designate the patient radius they are willing to serve

• Extended screening process includes income verification

• Additional eligibility requirements include US citizenship / proof of legal residency

• Maximum of four applicants, per household, per year• New Patient Information Forms now collect more

demographic information. • Current providers will receive information discussing

these enhancements in a mailing.

If you are not yet a VISION USA provider and would like to become one, please send e-mail visionusa@aoa.org.

InfantSEE® UpdatesOptometry Cares is excited to announce the following updates for its InfantSEE public health program.

Nominations for the Dr. W. David Sullins, Jr. InfantSEE® Award are accepted each spring, and the winner is recognized during Optometry’s Meeting®. The recipient will receive a $1,000 travel grant and gold medallion.

The award recognizes an individual doctor of optometry who has made significant contributions to optometry or his/her community for outstanding public service involving the InfantSEE® program. For questions about this award, please e-mail Mark Schwartz at MASchwartz@aoa.org.

Recent national and regional coverage of InfantSEE® include mentions in: Baby Talk magazine, Pregnancy & Newborn magazine, the local CBS affiliate in New York interviewed Dr. Andrea Thau and WCAV in Virginia interviewed Dr. Shannon Franklin. Please join the InfantSEE® Facebook conversation!

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hca: health care acronyMSSometimes it seems there are more health care acronymns than there are conditions needing treatment! To help keep all these acronymns straight, the MOA has compiled a list of HCA (health care acronyns!) to make things easier for you.

General Health Care TermsCMS – Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services An agency with the Department of Health and Human Services that administers the Medicare program and jointly administers the Medicaid program with the individual states. CMS will also have a role in running many major initiatives in the Health Care Reform legislation including Medicaid expansion and several of the changes to Medicare.

CPT – Current Procedural Terminology The CPT code set accurately describes medical, surgical, and diagnostic services and is designed to communicate uniform information about medical services and procedures among physicians, coders, patients, accreditation organizations, and payers for administrative, financial, and analytical purposes.

HCPCS – Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System HCPCS are a set of health care procedure codes established to provide a standardized coding system for describing the specific items and services provided in the delivery of health care and can include services that are not assigned a CPT code. HCPCS allows CMS to reimburse new medical services that may not have a CPT assigned to it yet. HCPCS includes CPT but CPT may not necessarily include HCPCS.

ICD-10 – International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision ICD-10 was created by the World Health Organization (WHO) and will be used in the United States starting in 2013 for medical coding and reporting to CMS and the National Center for Health Statistics (NCS). There are two types of ICD-10 codes that will be used in the US. The ICD-10-CM (clinical modification) is a morbidity classification for classifying diagnoses and reason for visits in all health care settings. The other type is ICD-10-PCS, PCS stands for “procedural coding system,” and will replace Volume 3 of ICD-9-CM as the inpatient procedural coding system. ICD-10 will not replace CPT as the coding system for physician coding services.

NPI – National Provider Identifier A unique identification number for covered health care providers. The NPI replaces legacy provider identifiers in the HIPAA standards transactions.

PECOS – Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System This is a database of doctors who have enrolled or re-enrolled in Medicare since 2003. Medicare will only reimburse health care providers who have complete enrollment records including NPI in the government health plans.

OIG – Office of the Inspector General The duty of the OIG is to protect the integrity of Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) programs, as well as the health and welfare of the beneficiaries of those programs. The OIG has a responsibility to report both to the Secretary of HHS and to the Congress program and management problems and recommendations to correct them. The OIG’s duties are carried out through a nationwide network of audits, investigations, inspections and other mission-related functions performed by OIG components. The OIG conducts frequent audits of provider billing practices to CMS and will receive a greater oversight authority as health care reform is implemented.

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CHIP – Children’s Health Insurance Program CHIP is a program created in 1997 and covers about six million children that allows states to cover children beyond Medicaid eligibility levels through CHIP(133% of federal poverty level starting in 2014). States set premiums and cost sharing on a sliding scale based on income and can provide a more limited set of benefits than Medicaid. States and the federal government jointly fund both programs, although the Federal government pays a higher proportion of CHIP costs up to a capped total amount for each state. Some states offer a vision and hardware benefit but it is not mandated by the Federal government.

PPACA – Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act This is the name of the healthcare reform legislation signed into law on March 23, 2010. It also applies to a companion piece of legislation called the Health Care and Education Reconciliation act of 2010. The law includes numerous health-related provisions to take effect over a four-year period, including expanding Medicaid eligibility, subsidizing insurance premiums, providing incentives for businesses to provide health care benefits, prohibiting denial of coverage/claims based on pre-existing conditions, establishing health insurance exchanges, and support for medical research. It also has a nondiscrimination provision (AKA Harkin amendment) that is described below.

Healthcare Reform Market Based TermsACO – Accountable Care Organization A network of health care providers that bands together to provide the full continuum of health care services for patients. The network would receive a payment for all care provided to a patient, and would be held accountable for the quality and cost of care. New pilot programs in Medicare and Medicaid included in the health reform law would provide financial incentives for these organizations to improve quality and reduce costs by allowing them to share in any savings achieved as a result of these efforts. ACO’s will generally be associated with large integrated health networks like Kaiser Permanente, Mayo Clinic, or the Cleveland Clinic or possibly a large hospital system but the goal of the pilot programs is to bring the concept to smaller healthcare entities.

Employer Pay or Play This is a provision in the PPACA that requires employers to provide health insurance for their workers or pay a fee or penalty to the government. Also known as an employer mandate, it would exempt small businesses with fewer than 50 employees.

ERISA – Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 Legislation enacted in 1974 to protect workers from the loss of benefits provided through the workplace. ERISA does not require employers to establish any type of employee benefit plan, but contains requirements applicable to the administration of the plan when a plan is established. The requirements of ERISA apply to most private employee benefit plans established or maintained by an employer, an employee organization, or both.

Essential Benefits The PPACA requires all health-insurance plans sold after 2014 to include a basic package of benefits, including hospitalization, outpatient services, maternity care, prescription drugs, emergency care and preventive services, among other benefits. It also restricts the amount of cost-sharing that patients must pay for these services.

Grandfathered Plan A health plan that an individual was enrolled in prior to March 23, when the act was signed. Grandfathered plans are exempted from most changes required by the PPACA. New employees may be added to group plans that are grandfathered, and new family members may be added to all grandfathered plans.

Hannibal800-325-4676

Lenexa800-397-2020

13

HIE – Health Insurance Exchanges A purchasing arrangement through which insurers offer and smaller employers and individuals purchase health insurance. The PPACA creates new “American Health Benefit Exchanges” in each state to assist individuals and small businesses in comparing and purchasing qualified health-insurance plans. Exchanges also will determine who qualifies for subsidies and make subsidy payments to insurers on behalf of individuals receiving them. They also will accept applications for other health-coverage programs such as Medicaid and CHIP. An example of this arrangement is the Commonwealth Connector, created in Massachusetts, in 2006.

CAQH – Council for Affordable Quality Health Care This credentialing service, launched by an alliance of health plans, networks and industry trade associations, streamlines the initial application and re-credentialing process. It offers health organizations real-time access to reliable provider information for quality assurance and support services, such as directories and claims processing.

NQF – National Quality Forum This organization convenes healthcare experts and patients to define quality with uniform standards and measures that apply to patient care. This information is reported and analyzed to pinpoint where patient care falls short. Caregivers use this information to improve their quality of care.

MLR – Medical Loss Ratio A requirement under the PPACA that mandates what percentage of premium dollars an insurance company must spend on medical care, as opposed to administrative costs or profits. Specifically, the PPACA requires insurers in the large group market to have an MLR of 85% and insurers in the small group and individual markets to have an MLR of 80%.

PCMH – Patient Centered Medical Home A healthcare setting where patients receive comprehensive primary care services; have an ongoing relationship with a primary care provider who directs and coordinates their care; have enhanced access to non-emergent primary, secondary, and tertiary care; and have access to linguistically and culturally appropriated care. Optometry has an opportunity to be involved in this concept because primary care physicians are looking for professionals to work with and can actively participate in the continuum of care.

PQRI – Physician Quality Reporting Initiative This authorizes financial incentive for professionals by reporting quality data. This is considered a first step toward pay for performance.

IACS – Individuals Authorized access to CMS Computer Services This is the security system CMS uses to register users and control issuance of User IDs, passwords and access to CMS web-based applications. You can also access PQRI feedback reports.

VBP – Value Based Purchasing This is a key mechanism for transforming Medicare from a passive payer to an active purchaser. Current Medicare fee schedules are based on quantity and resources consumed (volume). This will change it to be based on quality or value of services.

P4P – Pay for Performance A payment system in which providers receive incentives for meeting or exceeding quality and cost benchmarks. Some systems also penalize providers who do not meet established benchmarks. The goal of pay for performance programs is to improve the quality of care over time.

QHP – Qualified Health Plan a health-insurance policy that is sold through an exchange. The PPACA requires exchanges to certify that qualified health plans meet minimum standards contained in the law.

15

Harkin Amendment – Language in the PPACA sponsored by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) that creates the first-ever federal standard of provider non-discrimination and will bar certain plans from discriminating against ODs and other providers. Beginning in 2014, health insurers, ERISA plans and the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program (FEBHP) would be prohibited from discriminating against licensed and certified health professionals with regard to health plan participation or coverage. However, the language will not prevent a group health plan, health insurer or the Secretary of HHS from establishing varying reimbursement rates based on quality or performance measures.

NBCH - National Business Coalition on Health This is a national, non-profit, membership organization of purchaser-led health care coalitions. NBCH and its members are dedicated to value-based purchasing of health care services through the collective action of public and private purchasers.

Healthcare Reform Health Information Technology Terms EMR – Electronic Medical Record A computer-accessible resource of medical and administrative information available on an individual collected from and accessible by providers involved in the individual’s care within a single care setting.

EHR – Electronic Health Record A computer-accessible, interoperable resource of clinical and administrative information pertinent to the health of an individual. Information is drawn from multiple clinical and administrative sources and is used primarily by a broad spectrum of clinical personnel involved in the individual’s care, enabling them to deliver and coordinate care and promote wellness.

PHR – Personal Health Record A computer-accessible, interoperable resource of pertinent health information on an individual. Individuals manage and determine the rights to the access, use, and control of the information. The information originates from multiple sources and is used by individuals and their authorized clinical and wellness professionals to help guide and make health decisions.

MIPPA - Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 This act became law on July 15, 2008 and creates financial incentives to Medicare providers who e-prescribe. A 1.0% bonus can be obtained in 2011 and 2012, and 0.5% in 2013, for eligible physicians on all Medicare claims if they successfully e-prescribe. Medicare has also been authorized by congress to penalize eligible doctors who don’t e-prescribe by 1.0% in 2012, 1.5% in 2013, and 2.0% in 2014 and the years that follow.

NEPSI – National E-Prescribing Safety Initiative This is a new coalition of the nation’s most prominent technology companies and healthcare organizations dedicated to improving patient safety and reducing medication errors. To accelerate the adoption of e-prescribing, NEPSI is offering free Web-based software from Allscripts called eRx NOW™ to every physician in America.

ERx – Electronic Prescribing or e-prescribing The electronic transmission of prescription information from the prescriber’s computer to a pharmacy computer. It replaces a paper prescription that the patient would otherwise carry or fax to the pharmacy. It is believed to improve patient safety by reducing possibility of a prescribing error due to various causes including poor handwriting or ambiguous nomenclature.

HIE – Health Information Exchange The electronic movement of any and all health-related data according to an agreed-upon set of interoperability standards, processes, and activities across nonaffiliated organizations in a manner that protects the privacy and security of that data and the entity that organizes and takes responsibility for the process. HIEs must be self-sufficient by 2015 through some type of funding mechanism (dues, fees, or government financing).

HITECH Act- Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009 The HITECH Act was signed into law on February 17, 2009 as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The HITECH Act stipulates that, beginning in 2011, healthcare providers will be offered financial incentives for demonstrating meaningful use of electronic health records (EHR). Incentives will be offered until 2015, after which time penalties may be levied for failing to demonstrate such use. The Act also establishes grants for training centers for the personnel required to support HIT infrastructure so it offers opportunity to office support staff to be trained in HIT.

CCHIT – Certification Commission for Health Information Technology This is the certifying commission for EHRs.

Meaningful Use Meaningful use refers to measures that healthcare providers are using HIT at a level that the Federal government deems necessary to obtain the financial incentives under the HITECH Act and starting in 2015 used to determine that provider will not have their Medicare payments penalized.

ONC – Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology A Federal office within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and is the principal Federal entity charged with coordination of nationwide efforts to implement and use the most advanced health information technology and the electronic exchange of health information.

RHIO- Regional Health Information Organization A multi-stakeholder government entity that brings together nonaffiliated health and healthcare-related providers and the beneficiaries they serve for the purpose of improving healthcare for the communities in which it operates. It has responsibility for the processes that enable the electronic exchange of interoperable health information within a defined contiguous geographic area.

REC – Regional Extension Center There will be an estimated 70 regional centers each serving a defined geographic area. They will support health care providers with direct, individualized and on-site technical assistance in selecting and implementing a certified EHR product.

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Each OneReach One

Making MOA Stronger... Together 16

2011 cALENDAR

June

15-19 2011 Optometry’s Meeting Salt Lake City, Utah

October

13-16 2011 MOA Convention Chateau on the Lake Branson, Missouri

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Severe Weather affectS MiSSouri oDS continued from page 4

There are many optometrists in Missouri, Arkansas, and across the country who, upon hearing about the tragedy, have donated to the Red Cross or the Salvation Army.

Another way optometry is helping its own is through Optometry Cares. Optometry’s Fund for Disaster Relief, administered by Optometry Cares, is ready to assist optometrists whose practices and/or homes were impacted by the recent tornado in Joplin, as well as tornadoes in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Tennessee.

This Fund provides immediate assistance in the aftermath of natural disasters. Optometrists may contact their state association or Optometry Cares directly to initiate financial assistance.

To ensure that funds are available for all who need assistance, AOA members are encouraged to make donations to Optometry’s Fund for Disaster Relief. Your contribution is deductible to the fullest extent of the law, as no goods or services are furnished by the Optometry Cares – The AOA Foundation, a 501(c) (3) organization, in exchange for the gift to Optometry’s Fund for Disaster Relief.

MOA Central Office has information available for optometrists (members or not) to get grants from the AOA Disaster Relief Fund. If you are an optometrist who has been affected by the tornadoes in Joplin, please contact Dr. Barrett at the MOA for more information.

SOcIETY REPORTSCentral Missouri Optometric Society (COS)Trustee: Jeffrey Gamble, OD

No Report Available

Greater Ozark Optometric Society (GOOS)Trustee: Scott Burks, OD

Dr. Duane Thompson and Dr. Lee Ann Barrett visited GOOS on March 9th. We had great attendance and a pleasant evening. We may have another meeting later in May or June before we take our traditional Summer Break.

Kansas City Optometric Society (KCOS)Trustee: Melanie Linderer, OD

We had a wonderful meeting in May with Dr. Jeff Gerson talking about ARMD. Dr. Mark Bunde also spoke about the Children’s Center for Visually Impaired in Kansas City. Our next meeting is June 6 at Longview Lake. We will have our annual legislative BBQ. This is a great time to meet your Senator and Representative and thank them for their hard work this legislative session.

Northeast Optometric Society (NEOS)Trustee: Mindy Blackford, OD

The NEOS met on Thursday, May 5 for a social meeting at AJ’s Restaurant in Macon, MO. There were eight members present. Dr. Thompson updated us on the current issues with the MOA. Our next meeting will be the Presidential Visit this summer.

Northwest Optometric Society (NWOS)Trustee: Jeffrey Powell, OD

No Report Available

St. Louis Optometric Society (SLOS)Trustees: Thomas Cullinane, OD & Robert Goerss, OD

The St. Louis Optometric Society continues to hold its monthly meetings at the Marriott West in Chesterfield Missouri. On January 11, 2011 Steven Goodrich, M.D. presented “Graves Disease” for one hour of CE. The evening was hosted by Vistakon.

On February 8, 2011 Al Vaske discussed “Irregular Corneal Fitting” for one hour of CE. The evening was hosted by Firestone Optics.

Gilbert Grand, M.D. presented “Treatment of Non-AMD Choroidal Neovascular Membranes” and “Maintenance of Warfarin Anti-Coagulation for Patients Undergoing Vitreoretinal Surgery” on March 8th for one hour of CE. The evening was hosted by Synergeyes.

April 12th’s meeting was sponsored by TLC. Stephen Wexler, M.D. presented one hour of CE entitled “Optometry Grand Rounds – Interesting Clinical Cases.”

On May 10, 2011 Thomas Porter, O.D. will present “Adding Low Vision to your Pracitce – Avoiding the Pain and Enjoying the Gain” for one hour of CE hosted by Bausch & Lomb. Dr. Sean Mulqueeny will also discuss ”The Treatment of Ocular Surface Inflammatory Conditions.”

The Corneal Classic was held on Saturday April 30th and was a success. The Annual Installation and Awards Banquet will be held on June 14, 2011 at the Danforth Plant Science Center. The nominated officers are:

Dr. Karen Rosen-President Dr. Paul Whitten-President Elect Dr. Erin Sullivan-Vice President Dr. Jason Riley-Secretary Dr. Kim Layfield-Treasurer Dr. Erin Niehoff-Sgt.at Arms Dr. Barbara Aalbers-Past President

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PreSiDent’S MeSSagecontinued from page 2

Being a legislated profession, the biggest way that the MOA and the individual members can shape our future is to get involved with the legislated process.

Get involved locally, regionally, and statewide by meeting your elected officials. Share your passion for this profession and your passion for providing the gift of vision with these officials. They are everyday people—farmers, bankers, auto dealers, optometrists—and they often times are not aware of the details of our profession, but they can see and feel your passion for what you do.

Make that contact and share your story. We as a profession need active participants as “KEY PERSONS” to promote the profession and allow our profession to advance.

The MOA will meet In June for our annual leadership retreat to plan the next year of the MOA. We are growing our MOPAC due to your involvement, and we are reaching out to new members to grow our representation, but we need you to be involved and engaged in the process. We want your input and direction; through your area MOA trustee you have a voice in the future direction of your profession.

Shape the future you want or risk being shaped by the future.

WELcOMENEW MEMBERS

MOA members, please take every chance to encourage optometrists and paraoptometrics who are not currently members of the MOA to join us in supporting the optometric profession.

To those of you who have reached out and brought a new member to the MOA membership roster–THANK YOU!

OD Members• LaDona Wilson (GOOS)• Bruce Kater (GOOS)• Ernest Doiron (SLOS)• Jeffrey Grimes (KCOS)• Troy Bell (SEOS)• Michael Merlenbach (SLOS)• Mark Peckham (SLOS)

Paraoptometric Members• Colleen Nott (COS)

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Southeast Optometric Society (SEOS)Trustee: Dan Obermark, OD

No Report Available

Southwest Optometric Society (SWOS)Trustee: Greg Goetzinger, OD

No Report Available

West Central Optometric Society (WCOS)Trustee: Jason Lake, OD

The West Central Optometric Society did not meet during the current reporting period. At this point, we are busy planning a presidential visit over the summer months.

SOcIETY REPORTS (continued from page )

MAKE YOUR PLANS!!

October 13, 14, 15, & 16

MOA LEADERSHIP

St. Louis Society (6) — Thomas Cullinane, ODP: 314-579-0909 | seeingme@sbcglobal.net

St. Louis Society — Robert Goerss, ODP: 636-272-1444 | drgoerss@yahoo.com

West Central Society (4) — Jason Lake, ODP: 660-747-2000 | lake.od@juno.com

Central Society (5) — Jeffrey Gamble, ODP: 573-874-2030 | jmgamble@socket.net

Greater Ozark Society (8) — Scott Burks, ODP: 417-345-2901 | smbod1@gmail.com

Kansas City Society (3) — Melanie L. Linderer, ODP: 816-781-2100 | jmlinderer@sbcglobal.net

Northeast Society (2) — Mindy M. Blackford, ODP: 660-665-6262 | mindymblackford@hotmail.com

Northwest Society (1) — Jeffrey H. Powell, ODP: 660-582-4022 | jpowell@unitedsky.net

Southeast Society (9) — Dan Obermark, ODP: 573-996-3937 | drhunt204@yahoo.com

Southwest Society (7) — Greg Goetzinger, ODP: 417-359-0600 | eyedrg@carthagevisionclinic.com

central officeExecutive DirectorLeeAnn Barrett, OD | moaed@moeyecare.org

Assistant Executive DirectorJay Hahn | jay@moeyecare.org

Finance / Membership ManagerSue Brown | sue@moeyecare.org

legal counSelMarc EllingerP: 573/634-2500 | mellinger@blitzbardgett.com

governMental relationS conSultantSJerry Burch: P: 573/636-4599 | jburch@embarqmail.comScott Marrs: P: 573/636-5873 | smarrs@embarqmail.com

officerSPresident: Duane Thompson, ODP: 660-258-7409 | datbat@cebridge.net

President-Elect: Jeffrey Weaver, ODP: 314-983-4244 | jlweaver@abopt.org

Treasurer: John Gelvin, OD, FAAOP: 816-525-3937 | jgelvin@omnikc.com

Secretary: James M. Hunt, ODP: 573-996-3937 | drhunt204@yahoo.com

Immediate Past President: Ryan H. Powell, OD P: 816-476-4017 | drpowell@insighteyecarespecialties.com

Moa oPtoMetric Society truSteeS

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ABOUT VISIONVISION is published bimonthly by the Missouri Optometric Association.

100 East High Street, Suite 301Jefferson City, Missouri 65101P: 573-635-6151

Co-editors of Publications: LeeAnn Barrett, OD and James Hunt, OD

Contact Dr. Barrett1201 West BroadwayColumbia, Missouri 65203P: 573-445-8636F: 573-446-9122lbarrettod@sbcglobal.net

Send all unsolicited articles, news, and advertising to the MOA Central Office. All opinions and statements of supposed fact in signed articles do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Missouri Optometric Association.

Deadlines are the first of January, March, May, July, September, and November.

MissouriOptometry’sPlaceAt theCapitol

Contact Dr. HuntVision-Improvement Clinic204 Washington St.Doniphan,MO 63935P: 573-996-3937F: 573-996-3937drhunt204@yahoo.com

Protect Your Practice...contribute to MOPAc today!

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