MOA Wins Membership Award

The MOA recently won an award from the AOA for Best Net Membership Increase from January 2001 - December 2006 in the midsized associations category! Congratulations to all who have helped to achieve this!

MOA Celebrates Army/Navy Weekend with a Successful 2007 Convention!

Over 275 OD's from around the region gathered for education and socializing at the 2007 MOA Convention that took place December 1-2 at the Hyatt Regency Baltimore. Guest speakers wowed the crowd with intriguing lectures on the latest topics in optometry, army/navy giveaways added entertainment and the 2007 MOA Awards were presented to four professionals who were honored for their hard work and dedication. Click here to view photos from the event!

HHS Announces 12 Demonstration Sites For Electronic Health Record Incentives

CHICAGO-Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Michael O. Leavitt announced June 10 the 12 sites that will participate in a Medicare demonstration project offering incentives to physicians for using electronic health records to improve patient care. Click here to read the rest of the article.

Important NPI Updates from the AOA - January 2008

The AOA has issued important information regarding the NPI you need to know! Click here to read this information now.

AOA, VSP Campaign to Prevent Computer Vision Syndrome as School Begins

The school year has officialy begun and most parents are busily making their way through a list of “to-dos.” A visit to the optometrist should be on their list. The AOA has created a list of list of materials that will be helpful for parents in getting their children ready for school. Click here to read more!

AOA Offering Promotional Materials for School Year

In an effort to help parents recognize that good vision is one of the most crucial school supplies they can provide for their children,the AOA has created promotional materials you can personalize to fit your practice. This is an exclusive member only benefit. Click here to download the materials!

MOA Urges Halloween Consumers Not to Buy Decorative Contact Lenses Without a Prescription

The Maryland Optometric Association (MOA) is warning consumers about the risks of wearing decorative contact lenses without a prescription. These non-corrective lenses are easily accessible to consumers and are especially popular around Halloween. Click here to read the full article!

AOA Update: PQRI Eligibility - Error in EOB Remark and Adjustment Codes

The AOA is receiving reports that optometrists are receiving denials with the reporting of the new quality measure/CPT II codes with the remark on the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) forms. Click here to read the full article.

Take the AOA InfantSEE Quiz

Test your knowledge on the benefits of this program and see why you should become an InfantSEE Provider. Click here to take the quiz now!

A ‘Wynn’ for Optometry

The MOA would like to congratulate U.S. Congressman Albert Wynn (D-MD) who was recently awarded the "Health Care Leadership Award" by the AOA at the May 2 congressional hearing on health care policy issues.

Congressman Wynn was awarded for his active participation in introducing the Optometric Equity in Medicaid Act (HR 1983), an AOA-backed bill to provide full recognition to ODs as physicians who provide medical eye care through the Medicaid program. Click here to read more!

Important Information Regarding Misuse of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Registration Numbers

The misuse of DEA registration numbers by the insurance industry, and the inappropriate requirement of DEA numbers by pharmacies, continues to be a concern and a top priority for the AOA Washington Office. We need your help to determine the extent of this issue. Click here to find out more!

ODs Ballot for Board of Examiners

The Maryland Optometric Association has recommended to Governor Martin O’Malley three ODs for his appointment to the Optometric Board of Examiners. This year through balloting, Maryland optometrists recommended Drs. Joanne Brilliant of Anne Arundel County, Robert Schwartz of Baltimore County and Valerie Seligson of Montgomery County. Click here to read more!

AOA-Paraoptometric Division to Hold Optometric Assistant Program

Taking place at Prince George's Community College, classes will begin on Wednesday, May 30th and run every Wednesday until September 5th from 7-9:30 p.m. To register, and for further information please call Donna Barker at PGCC (301) 322-0796.

NPI: Get It. Share It. Use It.

Will you be ready to use your NPI? Time is running out!

There are only 120 days left to implement the National Provider Identifier (NPI) into your business practice before the compliance date. Don't wait to begin the implementation and testing process, start today! The MOA is encouraging those who haven't obtained a NPI to do so as soon as possible. Find out more about this important topic.

Optometry Goes 3 for 3 Before Congress Adjourns

All of Optometry was heard loud and clear in Washington, DC as U.S. senators, congressmen and other Federal officials considered a range of issues important to ODs and their patients prior to the final adjournment over the weekend of the 109th Congress. Here’s an update from the AOA Washington Office team:

• CONGRESS REJECTS 1-800 CONTACTS’ BILL AND ATTACKS ON OPTOMETRY
  
  
• CONGRESS OK's AOA-BACKED PLAN TO HALT MEDICARE PAYMENT CUTS FOR 2007
  
  
• AT URGING OF AOA, MEDICARE CLARIFIES DEA NUMBER POLICY
  
  

2006 MOA Convention A Huge Success!

Over 250 of Maryland's ODs attended MOA's 2006 Convention held November 11-12 at the Hyatt Regency Baltimore in downtown Baltimore. Alumni board members, new ODs and many others came together to learn, plan, and honor their fellow ODs. Find out more and view photos of the event!

Misuse of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Registration Numbers

The misuse of DEA registration numbers by the insurance industry, and the inappropriate requirement of DEA numbers by pharmacies, continues to be a concern and a top priority for the AOA Washington Office.

The misuse of DEA numbers by the insurance industry and pharmacies has surfaced in the past, prompting the AOA and other provider groups to appeal to the DEA for relief. The DEA issued a consensus statement on the improper use of registration numbers in the hope that the pharmacy and insurance industries would change their policies. There has been some improvement but, with the implementation of Medicare Part D, we are now finding that there may be a resurgence in the inappropriate requirement for DEA numbers. FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN HELP!

MOA Members Represent Maryland Delegation at the AOA Congress

Five MOA members helped represent Maryland Delegation at the 2007 AOA Congress. Pictured right (left to right): (front row) Drs. Nina Doyle, Rob Stutman and Lisa McGinn, (back row) Drs. Andrew Doyle and Tom Wong.

AOA News: Revised PQRI Educational Outreach Effective June 1, 2007

The AOA has released a bulletin from the eye care benefits center regarding the CMS revision of the "2007 PQRI Specification Guidance" regarding the Cataract Measures as of June 1, 2007. Click here to read the full article.

This Just In: Contact Lens Alert

Any cases or complaints of unlawful selling and dispensing of contact lenses should be referred to the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Division of Drug Control, 4201 Patterson Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21215. The Division of Drug Control will investigate and take necessary steps to resolve the matter including providing a notice of violation to the establishment of noncompliance.

Clinical Alert From the AOA Contact Lens & Cornea Section

The Contact Lens and Cornea Section of the AOA has compiled a host of information regarding the recent increase in cases of infection with Acanthamoeba keratitis and the voluntary recall of AMO's Complete® Moisture Plus™ Contact Lens Solution. The CLCS is releasing the AOA's recommended office protocol after discussions about the issue with the CDC, FDA and AMO. Important doctor and patient communication materials are provided in this release. Click here to read it now!

Important Information Concerning Medicare Reimbursement Procedures

The AOA Advocacy Group presented a Medicare reimbursement webinar to provide additional information on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) 2007 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI). This program establishes a financial incentive for optometrists who participate in a voluntary quality reporting program for dates of service from July 1 to December 31, 2007 Click here to read more!

MOA Helps Promote the AOA's Healthy Eyes Healthy People (HEHP) Program

Healthy Eyes Healthy People (HEHP) is a community-based education and health promotion program created by the American Optometric Association to address the ten vision objectives of the Healthy People 2010. The MOA state program is called the Senior Vision Awareness Campaign with the purpose of educating Maryland seniors and their caretakers about the importance of a dilated eye examination in detecting sight threatening eye diseases that are most prevalent among the elderly. Click here to read more about this exciting program and see how you can get involved!

Lecture Presentation Posted Online

Cut short by inclement weather, the MOA has posted Dr. Boles’ Feb. 25 presentation of “Hint: It's Not About the Eye Pressure: Thinking Differently About IOP in Glaucoma Management" online! Please click here to view his PowerPoint presentation online!

Device Product Recall

CIBA Vision Corporation is conducting a voluntary recall on select lots of spherical O2OPTIX (lotrafilcon B) soft contact lenses in the United States and other countries. Reasons for the recall include some lenses in these lots may fall below the company's standard for ion permeability, a material characteristic that correlates with lens movement on the eye.

The MOA encourages eye care practitioners, distributors and/or retailers to read more about this product recall and to take the necessary precautions and safety measures. Click here to read more on which products are being recalled and why.

Find Out More About Optometry’s History in Maryland

Did you know that in the early 20th Century most optometrists in Maryland were jewelers who practiced in their establishments?

Did you know the Maryland Association of Opticians was formed in 1898?

Did you know that Maryland ODs were not allowed to dilate pupils until 1989?

Did you know that Maryland’s Dr. Lester Caplan was the first optometrist appointed to Indian Health Services?

These and other amazing facts about the history of optometry in Maryland were recently compiled and presented by MOA’s History Committee at the 2006 MOA Convention. The full presentation is available at www.marylandeyes.com/history.htm!

The law prohibits the printing of an employees Social Security Number on an employee's paycheck, an attachment to a paycheck, direct deposit notice or notice of credit to a debit card or card account. Violations are considered a misdemeanor with a fine up to $1,000.

MOA reminds you to make sure that your accounting (payroll) department is aware of and complying with the law.