Archive for September, 2010

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More Coverage Optometry Cares Coverage for InfantSEE(r) Week, Plus AOA on EHow.com

September 27, 2010

InfantSEE Mobile Clinic (references InfantSEE), WCIV-TV (ABC-Charleston, SC) –September 24, 2010–ABC News 4 at 7 and 11 p.m.

 One in ten children is at risk from undiagnosed eye and vision problems but tomorrow your baby’s eyes can be checked for free. Parents can bring children six months to a year for a no- cost eye and vision assessment. InfantSEE’s Mobile Clinic will be open tomorrow from nine to five at the Seacoast Church on Long Point Road. For more information – log onto our website at ABC News 4 and scroll down to Newslinks.

In the Totally-Random-But-Cool Category–EHow.com–September 27, 2010

Visual perception problems can hinder learning. 

Visual perception problems are also known as visual processing disorders, according to theNational Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD). Visual perception problems involve issues with how visual information is analyzed and interpreted by the brain. The American Optometric Association classifies visual processing disorders as spatial problems, analysis disorders or problems involving integration.  Full story here.

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‘Ask the Codeheads’: Choosing codes for reporting medical and non-medical eye examinations

September 23, 2010

Edited by Chuck Brownlow, O.D., AOA CodingToday and Medical Records consultant

Q: I’ve been getting mixed signals…Some insurers reimburse for refraction and others require that refraction is lumped in with the office visit. I bill all my private pay patients the visit plus refraction, but now I’m confused. Help?!

A: In my opinion, refraction should be billed every time it is performed. It is a separate service, has had its own code since 1993 and has not been included in the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT© American Medical Association) definition of any office visit codes since 1992. 1992 is a long time ago.

In my experience, most insurers, including Medicare, respect CPT definitions and permit ODs and OMDs to bill for the visit and the refraction separately. Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in Ask the Codeheads | 2 Comments »

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Medicare fee schedule now available online

September 23, 2010

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Physician Fee Schedule Lookup Tool is designed to provide information on the payment rate for services by physicians and nonphysician practitioners under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS).

The Fee Schedule Lookup includes more than 10,000 physician services, the associated relative value units, a fee schedule status indicator, and various payment policy indicators needed for payment adjustment.

With the Fee Schedule Lookup, the user can find not only the national unadjusted payment rate for each service, determined by multiplying the total relative value units assigned to the service by the appropriate conversion factor, but also the geographically adjusted payment rates for each payment locality. Read the rest of this entry ?

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SCCO gets approval on master’s in vision science degree

September 23, 2010

Full approval has been received by the Southern California College of Optometry (SCCO) for its Master of Science in Vision Science (MSVS) degree by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.  

SCCO received notification of this important decision on Sept. 3.

“Today marks a red-letter day in the 106-year history of SCCO as we join the ranks of other optometric institutions that have chosen to offer graduate education as a means to advance the knowledge-base of vision science and prepare individuals for careers in research and teaching,” said SCCO President Kevin L. Alexander, O.D., Ph.D. “Our graduate program in vision science elevates our role in optometric education by providing advanced education to graduate optometrists and scientists. Read the rest of this entry ?

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Call for posters

September 23, 2010

The Heart of America Contact Lens Society (HOACLS) and Primary Care Congress announced the inaugural Clinical and Scientific Poster Session at the 50th Anniversary Convention in 2011.

Students, residents, and fellows are encouraged to submit poster abstracts to the education committee of the HOACLS.

The posters will be on display during the meeting with scheduled times for the authors to be available.

Abstracts based on unique clinical cases and all aspects of optometric research are currently being accepted. All case reports and research must be complete and unpublished before Jan. 1, 2011.

All poster abstracts must be submitted via e-mail to education1@hoacls.org by Nov. 1, 2010.

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A family affair: Devotion to optometry spans three generations

September 23, 2010

The Hopping family includes, from left, optometry student Reed; Desiree Hopping, O.D.; AOA Vice President Ron Hopping, O.D., MPH; Grant; Pat; and past AOA president Richard Hopping, O.D.

For AOA Vice President Ronald Hopping, O.D., MPH, you could say that optometry is in his blood. His father, Richard L. Hopping, O.D., served as the AOA’s president in 1970 and received the OD of the Year Award in 1988. His wife, Desiree Hopping, O.D., specializes in pediatrics and is his business partner in their practice, Hopping Eye Associates, based in Houston, Texas. They both are therapeutic optometrists and optometric glaucoma specialists. And now, one of their two sons, Reed, attends the University of Houston College of Optometry. 

Q: With such an influential past, growing up with a father who practiced optometry, did he ever talk to you about becoming an optometrist?

A: My dad was smart enough to never say, “You ought to think about becoming an optometrist.” Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in From the AOA | Leave a Comment »

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Okla. OD gives time to back-to-school event

September 23, 2010

Brett Howell, O.D., of Howell Family EyeCare performs retinoscopy during a county-wide annual back-to-school event in Pryor, Okla. Dr. Howell and his staff take this opportunity to provide eye health and vision screenings for the students of Mayes County before they return to the classroom and to educate parents of the importance of yearly comprehensive eye care for their children.

Oklahoma practitioner Brett Howell, O.D., and his staff at Howell Family EyeCare have volunteered their time at a county-wide annual back-to-school event in Pryor, Okla., for the last two years.

Dr. Howell and his staff take the opportunity to provide eye health and vision screenings for the students of Mayes County before they return to the classroom and educate parents on the importance of yearly comprehensive eye care for their children.

Dr. Howell became involved in the event through a patient who helps coordinate the back-to-school event and asked him to join the team.

“As one of the few health care providers there, I screened about 120 kids,” said Dr. Howell. “I performed retinoscopy, visual acuity and binocularity assessments.”

Dr. Howell also distributed AOA materials on eye health and vision problems to the children’s parents.

There are no age restrictions at the event, and Dr. Howell said he saw children as young as 3 or 4 and up to 14 years old. Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in Spotlight on AOA Members | 1 Comment »

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August 2010 Highlights: Optometry Awareness and Public Affairs Campaign

September 22, 2010

August 2010 was another busy month for the Optometry Awareness & Public Affairs Campaign team, particularly from a consumer media standpoint. The most up-to-date 2010 tally of media results includes:
• Nearly 4,500 media hits
• 1.2 billion media impressions
• A publicity value of $2.7 million

Some of the highlights from media coverage in August include:

The success of the AOA’s Ready for School campaign. The campaign launched 7/29 with a satellite media tour featuring the AOA’s national spokesperson Dr. Pamela Lowe. Dr. Lowe conducted 35 interviews in markets including Des Moines, Detroit, Jacksonville, Rochester,NY, San Antonio, New York, New Orleans, Indianapolis, Atlanta and Colorado Springs. Other print, online radio and broadcast stories featuring the AOA’s “Ready for School” message reached all 50 states in markets including: Chicago, Birmingham, Columbus, Buffalo, Milwaukee, Phoenix, Albany, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Kansas City, Omaha, Boise, Sioux City, Las Vegas, Oklahoma City, Minneapolis, Louisville, Huntsville, West Palm Beach, Memphis and Lansing, Michigan. In total, the campaign efforts garnered nearly 300 media hits, 75 million impressions and a publicity value of more than $300,000. Read the rest of this entry ?

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A selection of ‘Optometry Cares’ coverage for InfantSEE(r) Week in SC

September 22, 2010

South Carolina Optometrists Partner with State Legislators and Local Mayors in Improving Infant Eye and Vision Care–SeattlePI.com (WA)

CHARLESTON, S.C., Sept 20, 2010/ — Due to the overwhelming number of children with eye and vision problems across the United States, South Carolina optometrists are devoting appointments to no-cost, comprehensive eye and vision assessments for infants between six to 12 months of age through InfantSEE(R).

InfantSEE(R), a public health program developed by Optometry Cares – The AOA Foundation and Vistakon(R), Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., was designed to provide professional eye care for infants nationwide at no-cost, regardless of family income or number of eligible children.  Full story here. Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in Optometry's Charity | Leave a Comment »

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Member Advantage Profile: EyeCarePro.net

September 22, 2010

AOA adds EyeCarePro.net to Member Advantage program
 
The AOA’s most recent addition to its Member Advantage Program is EyeCarePro.net. Eyecarepro.net is the optometric industry’s leading provider of Web marketing solutions for individual practitioners.

EyeCarePro.net’s services range from Web site design and maintenance services to proactive marketing through Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Social Media Optimization (SMO) and Pay-Per-Click Campaign Management.

“EyeCarePro.net’s Web services are in line with the AOA’s vision for helping optometric practices embrace the Web,” said Ron Hopping, O.D., MPH, AOA vice president. Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in Member Advantage profile | Leave a Comment »

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