Board certified optometrists?

[alferec]

Here's a letter from the AOA that I got in my email:
http://www.magnetmail.net/actions/e...nt_id=47372469&message_id=277006&user_id=AOA_

And here's a press release:
http://www.magnetmail.net/images/clients/AOA_/attach/ReleaseACertificationFINAL.pdf

I'm curious - is this referring to board certification for optometrists? Just like how MDs are board certified to do a specialty (e.g. Family Physicians, Surgeons, etc.)?

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[Ben Chudner]

Board certification was brought up over 5 years ago without the acceptance of the AOA membership and it failed miserably. I believe it was an effort to allow OD's to check the board certfication box on insurance panel applications. This is a slightly different approach. With Medicare moving to a pay for performance system where providers will be paid differently based on performance criteria, it is believed that this may help OD's get a higher reimbursement. We shall see how the membership reacts to this attempt.

 

[IndianaOD]

I think this will be bitterly opposed by older docs and accepted by younger docs. I'd be interested in hearing more. Though I would be more interested in being board certified in my residency trained specialty.

In a way many optometrists call themselves board certified since you have to pass the board exams.

 

[cpw]

In a way many optometrists call themselves board certified since you have to pass the board exams.

They say board certified here in Florida, because Florida offers their own panel of board exams for licensure. (completely separate from the NBEO)

 

[KHE]

They say board certified here in Florida, because Florida offers their own panel of board exams for licensure. (completely separate from the NBEO)

The problem with that is that in a broad sense "board certification" in the medical community means demonstrated competence far beyond entry level practice. Simply giving an extra practical to new licenses does not even come close in comparision to the board certification process that physicians in medical specialties go through.

If you tell a group of physicians that you are "board certified" as an optometrist they will either:

1) Have no idea what that means
2) Laugh at you if they have any clue what you went through to get that certification. (Please note that that is not a personal attack!)

The notion of "board certification" for optometrists is a horrible idea now, just as it was years ago when that issue reared its head again.

 

[cpw]

If you tell a group of physicians that you are "board certified" as an optometrist they will either:

1) Have no idea what that means
2) Laugh at you if they have any clue what you went through to get that certification. (Please note that that is not a personal attack!)

I understand that completely. I just had to run the Florida gauntlet (one killer 5 1/2 hour written exam, a state law exam, and a clinical practical). It's challenging, yes.. but definitely doable. The year I took it there was a 65% pass rate. It's definitely not a specialty certification like it would be if they made up standard national boards for Low Vision, Ocular Path, Peds/Binoc, etc.

 

[VA Hopeful Dr]

I understand that completely. I just had to run the Florida gauntlet (one killer 5 1/2 hour written exam, a state law exam, and a clinical practical). It's challenging, yes.. but definitely doable. The year I took it there was a 65% pass rate. It's definitely not a specialty certification like it would be if they made up standard national boards for Low Vision, Ocular Path, Peds/Binoc, etc.

The question here would be how much extra training does the Board Certified in Ocular Path OD have compared to your regular OD?

The difference between an internist and an oncologist is huge - will the OD version of this be comparable?

 

[Ben Chudner]

The question here would be how much extra training does the Board Certified in Ocular Path OD have compared to your regular OD?

The difference between an internist and an oncologist is huge - will the OD version of this be comparable?

I do not believe the intent is to have board certification for specialties within optometry. This wouldn't really work to well anyway as many states have laws prohibiting OD's from calling themselves specialists, ie contact lens specialist. The point of all this is to be able to prove continued competence, which means a board exam every 10 or so years. The belief is that this will help OD's meet the highest level in Medicare's pay for performance initiative. Those doctors (OD's, MD's, DPM's, DC's, etc) that do not fare well in this new plan will be paid less for the same work compared to other docs that have better outcomes. It is believed that Medicare will give bonus points to those who got their NPI's early, for example. EMR may get you bonus points in the future. It is believed that being Board Certified will also make a difference. Personally, I see this as a revenue generating idea for the AOA and NBEO, but I was skeptical of this the first time around.

 

[cpw]

I do not believe the intent is to have board certification for specialties within optometry. This wouldn't really work to well anyway as many states have laws prohibiting OD's from calling themselves specialists, ie contact lens specialist. The point of all this is to be able to prove continued competence, which means a board exam every 10 or so years. The belief is that this will help OD's meet the highest level in Medicare's pay for performance initiative. Those doctors (OD's, MD's, DPM's, DC's, etc) that do not fare well in this new plan will be paid less for the same work compared to other docs that have better outcomes. It is believed that Medicare will give bonus points to those who got their NPI's early, for example. EMR may get you bonus points in the future. It is believed that being Board Certified will also make a difference. Personally, I see this as a revenue generating idea for the AOA and NBEO, but I was skeptical of this the first time around.

Personally, I don't see why we can't fight for equal medicare reimbursement without me having to pay the NBEO or some other such entity to take yet another exam to prove my worthiness.

 

[VA Hopeful Dr]

I do not believe the intent is to have board certification for specialties within optometry. This wouldn't really work to well anyway as many states have laws prohibiting OD's from calling themselves specialists, ie contact lens specialist. The point of all this is to be able to prove continued competence, which means a board exam every 10 or so years. The belief is that this will help OD's meet the highest level in Medicare's pay for performance initiative. Those doctors (OD's, MD's, DPM's, DC's, etc) that do not fare well in this new plan will be paid less for the same work compared to other docs that have better outcomes. It is believed that Medicare will give bonus points to those who got their NPI's early, for example. EMR may get you bonus points in the future. It is believed that being Board Certified will also make a difference. Personally, I see this as a revenue generating idea for the AOA and NBEO, but I was skeptical of this the first time around.

Ah, well that makes sense. Does seem a trifle unfair however.

Personally, I don't see why we can't fight for equal medicare reimbursement without me having to pay the NBEO or some other such entity to take yet another exam to prove my worthiness.

My knee jerk response to this is that medicine does it. But past that, I think its a decent idea to have an exam every so often just to make sure that practicing docs haven't lost any of their clinical knowledge.

Then again, we'll see how I really feel about that the first time I'm up for recertification.

 

[cpw]

Then again, we'll see how I really feel about that the first time I'm up for recertification.

my thoughts exactly !

 

[BKK]

In the military, attaining your "Fellow" in the American Academy of Optometry is the required credential in order to receive "board-certification" pay for Optometry. It has always amazed me at how much our Optometry leaders try to re-invent the wheel with this issue.

BK