President's Message
Dr. Ryan Powell, MOA President
With summertime comes the annual American Optometric Association convention. This year's meeting was held in Orlando, and the Missouri Optometric Association was well represented in the AOA House of Delegates with four past-MOA Presidents and others serving as our representatives. It was nice to see that we have such a good group of engaged optometrists who are willing to spend their time ensuring the value of that degree you have hanging on your wall. I was privileged to serve on the nominating committee for the AOA board of trustees. We should be proud of the representation we get from such a committed group of leaders.
Over the last year there has been much discussion about the implications and reasoning for Board Certification. Some optometrists do not think it is necessary to have a system in place for an optometrist to become Board Certified. At the AOA House of Delegates this year it was refreshing to see that the states, whether for or against Board Certification, were ready to look to the future and continue to provide the leadership and direction our great profession needs. There are those outside our membership who have not been willing to work together for the good of our profession. It is important to understand that our AOA leadership spends incredible time and energy devoted to learning what the implications of legislation and policy are for optometry. I am confident that they are interested in providing us with advice and recommendations that they believe provide us the greatest opportunity for success. I encourage you to help educate those of us that are not aware of how the process affects us every day.
Missouri optometrists achieved a great win this year in Jefferson City. Under the bill that was signed into law this week, optometrists and ophthalmologists will be paid the same amount for the same procedure under the Missouri Medicaid program.
The Children's Vision Bill has already proven that early detection of vision and eye health concerns is important to learning. This legislation, which is just now starting to be understood across the state, will sunset after next year. We need to be able to quantify the value we know this bill provides. It is important that you and your office are reporting the results of your examinations.
The public service program InfantSEE celebrated its five year anniversary this year. Much like our Children's Vision Bill, InfantSEE has dramatically impacted lives across Missouri. I encourage you to participate in this program. If you are currently an InfantSEE provider, please be sure that you are returning your InfantSEE "yellow" forms to the AOA office in St. Louis. This information is important to demonstrate to legislators the value of the public health service you provide. We also would like to hear from you if you have any great InfantSEE stories. Please email me directly at drpowell@insighteyecarespecialties.com.
The passage of Health Care reform by the federal government makes for some uncertainty in the future of our profession. In 2014 the state exchange health care plans will be required to provide a children's vision benefit. What will that benefit be? Will children be required to have an eye exam or a vision screening? Your participation in organized optometry and your reporting of results from InfantSEE and the Children's Vision Bill will be invaluable in the discussions that will take place with legislators.
I want to thank each of you for being engaged in our profession. Enjoy your summer and keep doing the great work that you do.