Board Certification

[ohiostateboy]

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Members don't see this ad.

https://www.americanboardofoptometry.org/default.aspx How many of you know about the upcoming Optometry Board Certification. This will increase our costs, both in time and money. However, after certified, we will have no net increase in pay. Also, we will have access to no new patients.


Please stay away from Optometry, if you are undecided. The AOA strives to create 2 classes of optometrists - refractionists and full-care medical. However, VSP and every other company eats away at our net profits.

Our one hope is the elimination of all vision care plans. Vision care plans have no need, now that optometrists can bill medically. Vision care plans are self-serving and increase the overall health care costs. If health care reform goes through as planned, pray that all stand-alone vision care plans are eliminated. Then optometrists will get paid a reasonable rate without all the vision carve-outs.

Also, with 6 new optometry schools in 6 years, soon we will be fighting for spots at America's Best. FML!

 

[socal2014]

Good post.

What are your thoughts on a system where there is no health insurance, i.e. no medical or vision insurance - patients pay out of pocket for all examinations.

 

[ohiostateboy]

Out-of-pocket will be unacceptable for most/all of the public. If Obamacare succeeds, the AOA should focus on:

1. Elimination of stand-alone vision care plans
2. Legislation that supercedes ERISA, giving all optometrists access to medical plans
3. Fight for par pay, compared to OMDs, from the medical plans (ONE CPT CODE = ONE PAY RATE, regardless of OD or OMD)



If the AOA follows these three simple steps, Optometry truly will be the future primary eye care professional. General OMDs will fade away like PCPs did a decade ago.

 

[Shnurek]

Check out AOS http://www.optometricsociety.org/

Also AOS is sueing the ABO over the new board certification program

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q...&sig=AHIEtbT1HsGwljBcIZ8Ry7UjUOz5g67N8A&pli=1

 

[socal2014]

Out-of-pocket will be unacceptable for most/all of the public. If Obamacare succeeds, the AOA should focus on:

1. Elimination of stand-alone vision care plans
2. Legislation that supercedes ERISA, giving all optometrists access to medical plans
3. Fight for par pay, compared to OMDs, from the medical plans (ONE CPT CODE = ONE PAY RATE, regardless of OD or OMD)



If the AOA follows these three simple steps, Optometry truly will be the future primary eye care professional. General OMDs will fade away like PCPs did a decade ago.

What do you mean by unacceptable? Will the no health/medical insurance be financially better for the OD?

 

[JMU07]

What do you mean by unacceptable? Will the no health/medical insurance be financially better for the OD?

He means most of the general public can't afford to pay out of pocket for medical expenses.