Month: November 2015

2015 Ohio Optometric Foundation giving message

Posted in Benevolency, Children'sLeave a comment

As we near the end of 2015, the Ohio Optometric Foundation is proud to share with you the successes and services provided to Ohioans in need during the past year.

Because of your generosity, the Ohio Optometric Foundation has:

* Provided opportunities and resources for children and underprivileged individuals to receive eye care. Since the launch of iSee, the Foundation’s in-school eye exam program, more than 1,000 Ohio school children received eye care and eyeglasses-giving these students a better chance to succeed in school.

* Educated the citizens of Ohio to make informed decisions regarding eye health and the importance of a lifetime of comprehensive vision care.

* Provided scholarships for Ohio students committed to service in the optometric profession. This year, five exceptional optometry students each received scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $4,000 to use toward their education. Since its establishment, the Ohio Optometric Foundation is proud to have awarded over $200,000 in student scholarships.
The Ohio Optometric Foundation is the nonprofit charity of your profession, so it makes sense to keep your charitable donations close to home. Please consider making a generous donation today. Your contribution really does make a difference. Donations to the Ohio Optometric Foundation are tax deductible and provide a way to ensure a lasting legacy that emphasizes the importance of vision and eye care.

Send your contribution to:

Ohio Optometric Foundation
PO Box 6036
Worthington, OH 43085
Or make a donation through the OOA website

You can also give to the OOF by simply linking your amazon.com and kroger card to the foundation at no cost. Download this Amazon and Kroger ways to donate PDF for instructions!

With warmest wishes for a wonderful holiday season and a very happy New Year!

Tracey G. Needham, O.D.
President
Ohio Optometric Foundation

November Legislative Update

Posted in Clinical Practice, News, Practice ManagementLeave a comment
Written by: Executive Director Keith Kerns, Esq.

HB 213

This month, the Ohio House Commerce and Labor Committee began deliberations on House Bill 213, a measure that would require that all professional licenses be renewed on a biennial basis.  HB 213 was introduced by State Representative Tom Brinkman (R-Cincinnati) last spring.

The bill would impact several regulated professions, including: auctioneers, pawn brokers, real estate agents and appraisers, sanitarians, hearing aide dealers, private investigators, nursing home administrators, contractors, dieticians, pharmacists and opticians and optometrists.  Physicians, dentists and other health professionals currently renew on a biennial basis and are not included in the bill.

The OOA has serious concerns with the legislation and has requested to have optometry removed from HB 213.  This week, I submitted testimony to the House Commerce and Labor Committee on behalf of the OOA on this issue.  To view the testimony, click here.  Be sure to visit www.ooa.org to view the latest updates this and other important legislative issues.

Sales Tax Repeal Bill Pending In Ohio Senate

Recently, State Senators Dave Burke (R-Marysville) and Randy Gardner (R-Bowling Green) introduced Senate Bill 216 into the Ohio legislature.  SB 216 would exempt the first $500 of the sale of a prescriptive optical aide or component from the state sales tax. The Ohio Optometric Association strongly supports the legislation.  The bill has been assigned to the Ohio Senate Ways and Means Committee for deliberations.

Ohio currently requires retailers of prescriptive eyewear to collect and remit sales tax on prescriptive eyewear and other optical aids which creates an unnecessary barrier for patients and places Ohio-based retailers at a competitive disadvantage. 42 states exempt these products from sales tax.

To learn more about SB 216 and to get involved, Read More about SB 216 

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Scheduled Narcotics

Posted in Clinical Practice, News, Practice ManagementLeave a comment
Written by: Dr. Elizabeth Muckley

As you should be aware of by now, the FDA rescheduled hydrocodone from a Schedule III controlled substance to Schedule II controlled substance.  Our law was amended to address this issue and became law on March 23, 2015 (see below), so you didn’t lose any prescribing rights that you previously had before the change. YOU MUST NOW UPDATE YOUR DEA CERTIFICATE.

If you go to DEA’s website, www.DEAdiversion.usdoj.gov and review the mid-level practitioner chart (see below) you will find that DEA has already identified O.D.s in Ohio as having schedule II, III and IV authority.

Since the law has now been amended and you have authority to handle schedule II narcotic controlled substances (if you have a valid DEA certificate), then you can use the following web link to add schedule II to your DEA registration.  You should also add Schedule IV because Tramadol was rescheduled also by the FDA.

You will need information obtained from your DEA certificate in order to log on.

https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/webforms/jsp/regapps/common/updateLogin.jsp

If you need assistance with the log on, please call 1-800-882-9539.

If you don’t complete the update, your scripts may get denied by the pharmacy. 

Everything else regarding your prescribing authority remains the same as before the change.

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The Rudiments of Leadership

Posted in Benevolency, Children's, Clinical Practice, News, UncategorizedLeave a comment

By Dr. Gregory Hopkins

Hopkins Blog PictureWe have, as optometrists, so many opportunities to display leadership! Take a look at the “word cloud” pictured above. Perhaps you would like for those characteristics to describe your habitual demeanor in the exam room with patients, during staff meetings, teaching students/residents, managing your household, raising your children (if applicable), etc.? Leadership is certainly an important topic—a google search will net >151,000,000 books on the subject (and counting). Leadership is the process of dealing with change, and our world is changing at an ever-accelerating pace. Certainly, we all do our best to manage this change, but there is a difference between leadership and management. We need both processes to succeed, and all of us have a distinct set of strengths and values to bring to the table. Let the unique reasons “WHY” you practice optometry drive “HOW” you set the culture of your practice. In the end, “WHAT” you do in your office reflects on your beliefs regarding the style of eye care you provide. Work outwards from the vision you have for your practice and you’ll be sure to attract loyal patients and staff—best of luck!

Opportunities abound to develop our leadership skills! Find mentors in your community, attend local zone meetings, volunteer to give RealEyes Presentations, serve your zone or seek positions on OOA committees or the board. There’s always great CE to be found on the topic of leadership at EastWest Eye Conference. The OOA Board runs a Leadership Academy for New Optometrists, with 40 new member-doctors poised to spend the coming year performing committee work and attending OOA events. If you graduated in optometry 2008 or later and would like to be part of the Leadership Academy, contact the OOA.