A New Year is Under Way

The new year is well under way, which means that the legislative session is in full swing. This year, we at the MOA are keeping our eyes closely focused on Annapolis as well as Washington.

As you all know, negotiations on a final version of health care reform legislation have been ongoing since the Senate passed their version prior to the holiday recess. In addition, the President and Administration officials have been meeting with the House and Senate Democratic leaders and Chairmen of the relevant committees to resolve the remaining differences between the House and Senate bills.

One of our top priority issues to watch is the SGR (sustainable growth rate) formula that must be resolved as the Health Care Reform legislation is finalized. The House of Representatives has passed a repeal of the SGR (H.R. 3962); however, the Senate failed to overcome the 60-vote threshold that was necessary on a procedural vote to repeal the SGR late last year. While the 21.2% reduction to Medicare physician reimbursement, which was scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2010, was delayed for 60 days, the issue must be addressed by February 28, 2010, to prevent the cut from taking place. There have been assurances by the Administration and the House and Senate Democratic leadership that a long-term fix to the SGR will be addressed.
On the local level, the MOA State Legislative Committee, under the leadership of Legislative Chair Dr. Drew Doyle, is carefully watching all of the optometry and health care related issues introduced in Annapolis.

Given the major health care reforms that are looming on both the state and federal level, it couldn’t be more imperative or everyone to get involved in the legislative process. I encourage everyone to give a little of your time this year contacting your local and federal legislators by phone or email. It’s important, also, to contribute to both the MOA and AOA PAC to ensure that our voice is heard.
Please mark your calendars to join me along with Dr. Tracie King, our 1st Vice President and AOA Keyperson Chair, to visit our federal legislators on Capitol Hill on March 4th during the AOA Advocacy Conference. It is a great opportunity to meet with our Senators and Representatives and talk with them about the important issues that affect our practice and our patients on a daily basis.

Hope to see you on the hill!

MOA Welcomes New President

The MOA would like to welcome Dr. Rob Stutman, the 2010-2012 President of the MOA, who will be taking over as the new blogger for Viewpoint. Dr. Stutman was installed as President of the MOA in October 2009. He takes the blog reigns from outgoing president, Dr. Tom Wong, who the MOA would like to thank for his informative and enlightening blog posts during his tenure as MOA president. Welcome Dr. Stutman!

The Future is Now

The Future is Now Leading Care for MD Communities

I still cherish one of my first paperback books: The Future is Now. It was the story of the former infamous coach of the Washington Redskins coming to town and making the team a true contender for the first time in 3o years. Indeed that year, the Redskins would make their first Super Bowl appearance, forever capturing the hearts of their fans. You can still see the highlights on NFL Sundays with Coach Allen before a game telling his players, "Remember forty people working together as a team just can't lose!" As I think about other famous sports speeches, I often think about legendary former NFL coach Vince Lombardi telling his players they must be willing to sacrifice all of their personal wants, needs, and desires for the good of the team. The Future is Now makes reference to the balance between planning for the future and the present. I think most parents struggle with finding the right balance for their children. They want their kids to prepare for the future. However, there is the very powerful caveat which states that those who spend all of their time preparing for the future never have a present.

Optometry has been through some difficult times this year both nationally and in the state of Maryland. We have had rigorous debates on the subject of Board Certification. I knew that no matter how the vote turned out, there would be some upset people. Regardless of your position, it is now time to put any differences aside and look to the future. It will likely be a few years before the first Board Certification exams are taken? We will probably see in that time what shape health care reform takes? Now is the time for us to unite as a profession. I am asking you not to get too caught up in the distractions on the internet. If you think back to our Mission statement for the Maryland Optometric Association, you can see that in everything we do, we should keep in mind our mission. That mission means providing the best care for our patients, and doing what is best for our profession. Maryland Optometry coming together as a team and improving care for our patients should be our focus. These have been emotional times, but it is up to us to make our association work for the better. I am challenging every MOA member to become more engaged, and involved. We need more volunteers! We need new energy for our association! If we are truly interested in achieving many of the goals that we always complain about, it is time for us to unite positively. This is one of those unique times in history where we have a chance to shape our destiny. Board Certification and other projects will be what we make of it. We can make any of our projects into a force for good. This past weekend I gave a tour of my old high school Georgetown Prep in Rockville, Maryland to Drs. Joe Boorady, John Burns and their families. Joe and John both had sons playing in a lacrosse tournament at Prep. I was proud to see the signs around campus referring to what the Jesuits had instilled in me: "Men and Women for others." Optometry will have an exciting future that will be our choice to shape. Let's strengthen our Optometry team! The Future is Now!

Thomas A. Wong, O.D.

President Maryland Optometric Association

A Capital Affair

It truly was an historic AOA Convention where the MOA was the official host. After giving the introduction to the meeting I had the pleasure of meeting many OD's and students whom I had never met. It was a wonderful week from the visits to the US Capitol to the Saturday night fireworks. It is now our challenge to move the profession into the 21st century. Our profession will need to become more united than it has over the last 100+ years in order to succeed. I am posting a few pictures here, but please see the MOA Facebook page to see many of the photos and videos I was able to take. I hope everyone enjoyed this past 4th of July weekend. I will be updating the blog more often this year so please come back regularly to see what is happening.

Thanks

Thomas A. Wong, O.D.

President Maryladn Optometric Association.

Board Certification Passes

AOA Update--Board Certification Passes

We have had a long week at the 112th AOA convention. It was my pleasure to welcome everyone to Maryland at the opening ceremony. As you know it is the first time Maryland has been the host, and it is a beautiful facility in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

There were two amendments made to the Board Certification Model that passed--there were several that failed. The first amendment was to give OD’s 5 points for years in practice up to a maximum of 150 points to qualify for the examination. The old model allowed for 3 points up to a maximum of 75 points. The second change was that you can now get credit for fellowship in COVD just like you can for the Academy.

Consistent with our surveys from the Maryland Optometric Association membership, we (MOA) voted 18 votes against the adoption of the Board Certification Model, and 6 votes for the adoption of BC. Out of the 2013 delegate votes amongst the 50 states, the District of Columbia, AOSA, and AFOS there were 1126 votes cast in favor of Board Certification, and 887 votes cast against Board Certification.

We will send our further updates. Also, it has been wonderful seeing so many Maryland OD’s at the meeting.

MOA Mission & Vision

I want to thank everyone for attending our recent Town Halls.  I believe we have a good process in place for dealing with the issue of Board Certification.  I want to remind everyone to keep in mind that the Optometry Students and new graduates are the future of our profession.

Lastly, when the MOA deals with any issue, especially a difficult one like Board Certification we must be directed by our Mission:

MOA Mission Statement: The mission of the MOA is to promote the highest quality eye and vision care to the citizens and diverse communities of the state of Maryland; to support and advance the profession of optometry through advocacy, professional development and public awareness; to serve as a resource for our patients and members; and to provide public health services as an integral part of the health care system.
Adopted May 20, 2008 by MOA Board.

MOA Vision Statement: The MOA will be a model professional support organization for our members and the diverse communities that we serve. The MOA will promote and preserve the highest quality, eye and vision care, and foster future leaders in society.
Adopted May 20, 2008 by MOA Board.

I will see everyone in June for the convention at the Gaylord National.

Shooting from the Lip: The Truth about Board Certification

     For many of you who do not know, your state leaders have been spending many hours becoming educated on the issue of Board Certification that we will be discussing over the next few months--perhaps longer.  I have spent many a weekend and evening hour reading the posts on ODwire, Optometric Physician and the proliferation of discussion over the internet.  In one sense I believe that this rigorous discourse is good for the profession as we take an active part in our future.  On the other hand I am very concerned about the amount of false and misleading information that is out there.  Indeed since the time of Socrates, mankind has a desire to get caught up in hysteria and want to believe the worst in things.

     As many of my respected colleagues, I can no longer sit on the sidelines but must make a few statements.  I would contend that it is one of the failings of my own "Baby Boom Generation" to want to make a poll to determine what is correct, and to determine how the majority feel in a democratic society.  People always fail to ask the question, "Is the issue at stake one to which opinion is relevant?"  Of course we want to give everyone a proper voice on this matter, but first we must have a proper and fair debate on the issue.  I want to dilate on the point that we must first get the facts straight.  I am one of the biggest proponents of the internet, Facebook, Second Life, Tele-Town Hall and the new methods of communication.  However, these are all based on the proper use of language and debate.  Indeed the teachings of Aristotle are where we should look in the proper use of logic, analysis, and evaluation.

     Since there are too many issues for me to discuss online, I am asking you to come to one of our Maryland Optometric Association Town Halls to discuss Board Certification, as well as membership, legislation, community service, and many of the issues important to our association.  I personally take great offense at many of the postings accusing our leadership of not making honest attempts to inform our members, and give them a proper voice.  Indeed much of our time has been taken up having to answer to many of the rumors and stories proliferated over the past year.  As many of you know that was not by accident!  I understand that people are concerned with not having us take unnecessary exams, or incur other costs.  I do not think anyone wants that.  I have been to a recent update on Board Certification at Vision Expo East in New York.  I will be getting a further updates at the Spring Planning Meeting the last week of April in St. Louis.  I will meet with our Anne Arundel Society on April 28th.  We will have larger Town Halls in Rockville on May 12th, and in Baltimore on May 19th.  I look forward to seeing everyone, giving you the truth about the issues, and having some healthy, rigorous discourse on the issues.  

     So if you want to hear the truth and get the best information on Board Certification please come to one of our Town Halls.  Everyone will have a voice and you will hear the latest, most accurate information.  I would continue to read information from the AOA website as things are changing frequently.  I would also continue to read ODwire, and Optometric Physician to keep informed about arguments being discussed against Board Certification.  I am asking everyone to be absolutely cynical about anything your read or hear about the issue. There is an old saying that you can believe 10% of what you see, none of what you hear.

     As I make this post on my iPhone I think about my recent trip to New York for Vision Expo East.  Indeed the economic depression has had a great effect on the City, and you can see that in the size of the exhibit hall this year.  I was saddened to walk through the Virgin Atlantic Store on their last day to see it completely empty from close-out sales.  Apple's iPods and the digital music revolution has completely eliminated CD's, etc. in only a few short years.  For those of you who read NYC Daily News Sports Writer Mike Lupica's column: "Shooting from the Lip," let's get fed up with all of the irrelevant polls and hysteria that has been created.  If you come to our Maryland Optometric Association Town Halls I promise that you will get the most accurate information, and our members will get a true voice.  Enjoy the rest of April and I will see you soon.

Thomas A. Wong, O.D.

President Maryland Optometric Association