From the President

New Goals: The TOA sets eyes on new legislative achievements in 2011.

With a enormous gratitude I would like to inform you that Dr. Marc Piccolo has resigned as chair of TOAs Legal and Legislative Committee due to family commitments.  We all thank him for his hard work, dedication, and sacrifice over the years. If you use oral medications or treat patients who have glaucoma, always remember that Dr. Piccolo was a vital part of the team that made it happen.

With excitement and some trepidation  Dr. Stan Woo, Dr. Kevin Katz and I have begun preparation for the next legislative session in 2011.  We have two main goals:  re-energize grassroots and in doing so, lay the groundwork to pass a bill that allows us to better care for the citizens of Texas.

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Society Spotlight: A west Texas society finds new life under new leadership.

The South Plains Optometric Society of West Texas experienced a promising resurgence this past week as they held their first meeting under new leadership. If their enthusiastic president is any indication, this Lubbock-area society is on its way to a bright future.

High on the agenda at the Tuesday night meeting was children's vision. "I would like to get every child in the South Plains a comprehensive eye exam by an eye doctor" said SPOS President Terrisa Drake, OD. Starting with Lubbock Children's Health Clinic, doctors in South Plains organized to donate free eye exams and eyeglasses for children. Plans are also in the work for a volunteer eye doctor rotation in the children's clinic.

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National Health Care Reform: Progress report from the AOA

National Health Care Reform: Progress report from the AOA

As you know, this past week has seen a flurry of activity on health reform.  The AOA has been asking optometrists to get involved, send e-mails and make phone calls. As a result of your efforts, we have seen important progress.

Read the complete report here

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DMEPOS Surety Bond Update

DMEPOS Surety Bond Update

If your practice fills prescriptions of outside ODs, you are required to obtain a surety bond, says the AOA

The AOA has released new information on the DMEPOS Surety Bonds. Namely, "optometrists will need to obtain a surety bond and possibly get accredited if they choose to 'simply' supply glasses without performing 'any sort of examination or test' when a Medicare beneficiary comes into the practice with a prescription for glasses that was issued by another physician."

Read the complete update here for further details

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Billing & Coding

Billing and Coding

Through efforts of TOA, ODs have been added to the providers who may bill for VEP electrodiagnostic testing (95930).

To obtain details regarding coverage, navigate to the TrailBlazer's Local Coverage Determination website. Type in the key "4F-71AB," check the J4 checkbox, and complete the search.

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Practice Management

Case Study on Pseudotumor cerebi (PTC)

This week's Practice Management section has been provided by the BridgeBuilders Eye Clinic of Dallas Fourth Year Students from the University of Houston College of Optometry

A 31-year-old obese black female presented to clinic with a complaint of frequent, severe headaches and blurred vision. The headaches started approximately one year prior, and have worsened over the past few months. The episodes have recently become so painful it awakens the patient from sleep, and she reports nausea with vomiting when her headaches are the most severe. She denies use of medications, with the exception of over the counter analgesics. She does not feel the blurred vision is associated with the headaches because it is constant, regardless of systemic symptoms. All other aspects of her medical history are non-contributory.

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Upcoming Events

To learn more about upcoming events, please contact the TOA office at 512-707-2020.

NOVEMBER:

 

TOA's 3rd Annual
EyeCon
November 21-22, 2009
Radisson Love Field Hotel, Dallas, TX
Get all your required continuing education!
Registration is OPEN!
Find the Registration Brochure here

Special Alert! At EyeCon, Dr. Joe DeLoach, OD, FAAO will present the...
"Professional Responsibility Course"
The course will be presented live and will fulfill the 1 hour professional responsibility course required by the Texas Optometry Board.
Due to live presentation NO TEST is required.

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Find Your Legislator

If you do not know who your legislators are, here is an easy way to find out: Click here and then type in your address.

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Thank you for reading our monthly e-news. Please send us your suggestions and comments or thoughts about stories we might include. We are working hard to insure that your dues dollars bring you the maximum benefits of membership. This is a work in progress. Email Bj Avery at the TOA office at texop@aol.com.

Sincerely,

Stacie Layne Virden, O.D.
President, The Texas Optometric Association Inc.

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Email: texop@aol.com
Phone: (512) 707-2020
Fax: (512) 326-8504