News from the AOA's Blog

ATTENTION OPTOMETRY STUDENTS: SERVE YOUR PROFESSION THIS SUMMER AS AN AOA WASHINGTON OFFICE INTERN!!

The Experience: Contribute to optometry and add valuable experience to your resume by applying for the summer student internship at the Washington Office (WO) located in Alexandria, VA!

The Qualifications: Internship is open to all first, second and third year optometry students.

The Time Commitment: 8 – 12 weeks during summer break depending upon selected student’s availability. Read the rest of this entry ?

On April 15, 2010, President Obama signed into law the “Continuing Extension Act of 2010,” which extends through May 31, 2010, the zero percent update to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule that was in effect for claims with dates of service January 1, 2010 through March 31, 2010. The law is retroactive to April 1, 2010. Click here to read the full report from the AOA Washington Office team.

Consequently, effective immediately, CMS has announced that claims with dates of service April 1 and later, which were being held by Medicare contractors, are being released for processing and payment. The Medicare agency has also asked doctors to keep in mind that the statutory payment floors still apply and, therefore, clean electronic claims cannot be paid before 14 calendar days after the date they are received by Medicare contractors (29 calendar days for clean paper claims). Read the rest of this entry ?

Congress has approved an AOA-backed bill that would retroactively reverse a massive cut in Medicare payments to optometrists and other physicians. The 21 percent cut was scheduled to take effect Apr. 1; however, the measure approved by Congress today would overturn the steep cut and freeze Medicare payments at pre-cut levels through May 31.

After overcoming an important procedural hurdle late Monday and extended debate in the following days, the U.S. Senate gave final approval to the Continuing Extension Act (HR 4851) today by a vote of 59-38. The bill, which passed the U.S. House on Mar.17, would also extend long-term unemployment benefits, COBRA health insurance subsidies for jobless workers, a national flood insurance program and the use of 2009 poverty guidelines for federal programs. Read the rest of this entry ?

Elizabeth gets her eyes assessed by Briana Larson, O.D., an AOA member in Austin, TX

“Mama Drama” blogger Tara Trower takes her 6-month-old daughter Elizabeth for an InfantSEE eye assessment. Check out the video to see how much babies can see, and how much optometrists, like AOA member Briana Larson, O.D., can evaluate! The article is here .