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PRACTICE AND PROFESSIONAL

Practice Support

One of the most valuable benefits available only to MOA/AOA members is the Dr. Locator feature of our state and national Websites. Patients can find a Doctor of Optometry by entering their zip code on the Dr. Locator page. This will trigger a search that will list only those ODs who are members of the association and will provide contact and practice information about the doctors on the list. Members may upgrade their space on the Dr. Locator list to include more information and even a link to their own web page. This benefit gives the member an important advantage over non-members in attracting new patients, especially in view of the steadily increasing use of the Internet as a tool for sources of health care information and services.

• The MOA office has many resource materials to loan to members that support practice goals, as well as patient and public education.
• MOA committees provide members with the latest information on managed care,state legislation and the clinical and business aspects of managing your business.
• The AOA provides the Practice Resource Network which aids in finding practice opportunities, associates or buyers
• The AOA Order Department offers a wide variety of patient education materials at special member prices.
• The AOA International Library, Archives and Museum of Optometry supplies practice management materials, clinical resources and patient education programs to members.
• Using these resources will keep you abreast of the latest news and learn practice management techniques to help you build your practice and professional skills.

• MOA/AOA members are proud to display symbols of their professional association membership in their practice. These symbols are a sign of professionalism that creates respect from your patients and improves your public image. Your colleagues view them as your commitment to optometry.
• Volunteer participation on committees gains you opportunities to connect with other doctors of optometry.

• Top quality continuing education courses at several MOA seminars and the AOA Congress, as well as access to AOA’s International Library, Archives and Museum of Optometry, provide great opportunities to enhance clinical skills and knowledge.
• The Optometric Clinical Practice Guidelines and related Quick Reference Guides provide members with the best ocular science and clinical opinion on diagnosis and management of ocular conditions.
• Serving on a MOA committee or Board of Directors, or AOA Section membership in Contact Lenses, Low Vision or Sports Vision creates further opportunities for professional development of leadership and clinical skills for members.
• These tools will give you the opportunity to make a vital contribution to strengthening your association, your profession and your practice.

• The MOA has developed television and radio advertisements to educate the public on the importance of optometric eye care in Michigan.
• AOA produces national print and broadcast media programs that publicize optometry and expand public awareness of your role as a primary eye care provider.
• National AOA programs like Save Your Vision Week, Vision/PLUS, Vision USA and National Diabetes Month also provide excellent public information about primary care optometry.
• This representation allows you to share in optometry’s increased stature in society and will gain you additional patients who are informed about your professional skills.

• As a legislative profession, optometry’s scope of practice is determined by our state lawmakers. The MOA has a long record of actively representing the profession of optometry on political issues. Teams of volunteers, working with the MOA’s Executive Vice President and our professional lobbyists have won numerous victories over our opponents in the Michigan Legislature. These efforts have protected and expanded the scope of practice in our state, which directly affects you and your practice.
• Managed care and new scope of practice issues make state legislative representation by the MOA more important now than ever before. This has been proven this past December, 2002, as Blue Cross has come to a decision to reimburse optometrists and patients for medical eye care, and Public Act 599 has gone into effect, allowing optometrists to utilize all diagnostic drops, treat glaucoma without consultation with a specialist, and prescribe oral medications.
• The MOA will be there as your advocate, but your help and financial support are vital to the success of those efforts. We work together to maintain your right to practice independently and to keep the freedom to protect and expand your scope of practice.

• Political involvement by optometrists is imperative if we are to be successful in the Michigan legislature. Grassroots Optometry is a professional service purchased by the MOA for the benefit of its members in order to help individual optometrists become politically active. The GO! Organization provides a steady flow of current information to optometrists regarding political issues, fund-raising events for legislators, and strategies to develop a rapport with state senators and representatives.

• Federal laws, regulations and rulings cut across the state lines to have a direct bearing on you and your practice. The AOA is the unified voice of optometry that represents and protects your profession and optometric patients in Washington. Over 32,000 optometrists are represented by the AOA before Congress, federal regulatory agencies, and federal courts as decisions are made that affect your professional future. As health care reform issues continue to be debated across the nation, the future of health care delivery, as well as optometry’s role, remains in the hands of the federal government. We must all support the efforts of the AOA to continue to represent optometry’s interests in communications with the national third party providers and lawmakers.

MOA BENEFIT PROGRAMS
Insurance Programs at Discounted Group Rates

• Professional Liability Insurance with TPA Coverage
• Workers’ Compensation Insurance
• Term Life Insurance
• Automobile and Homeowner’s Coverage

Financial Investment Program

• Mercer Global Advisors has several programs for financial planning, investment, and retirement services to members endorsed by the MOA.

Other Money Saving Programs for MOA Members

• Professional Debt Collection Service through I.C. System, Inc.
• Master Charge Bank Card Charge Plan with a low discount rate

AOA BENEFIT PROGRAMS
Insurance and Retirement Programs

• Major Medical Plans
• Dental Insurance
• Short Term Accident and Sickness Coverage
• Office Overhead Expense Insurance
• Optometric Professional Liability Plan providing comprehensive practice protection
• Long Term Disability Income Protection
• Term Life Insurance Plans for yourself, your spouse and dependant children
• Accidental Death and Impairment Coverage
• A Hospital Indemnity Plan for medical expenses not covered by other plans
• AOA Members Retirement Program with seven investment options and assistance to help develop a plan that’s right for your practice

Money Saving Programs for AOA Members

• A Patient Bankcard Payment System enabling you to accept national credit cards in your practice with quick, cost-competitive processing
• Practice Transition Financing (backed by the SBA) to assist with expansions, acquisitions, mergers and start ups, plus assistance with appraisals and mediations
• Equipment Leasing options for the lease or lease/purchase of office equipment, furnishings or leasehold improvements
• Discounted Rates for Next-Day Air letters and packages, as well as Worldwide Express Services
• A Platinum Plus MasterCard imprinted with the AOA logo and your “Doctor of Optometry” title
• Discounted Long-Distance Telephone Service

CONTINUING EDUCATION
MOA
The Continuing Education Committee and the Contact Lens Committee of the MOA plan and conduct at least four top quality CE programs each year, which MOA members may attend at reduced registration fees. Non-MOA member optometrists and their employees pay 50% higher fees to attend these popular seminars. These seminars keep you updated on your knowledge and skills, fulfill your license renewal requirements and provide you with the experience of personal and professional growth.
· The Contact Lens and Primary Care Seminar in October ranks as one of the largest state conferences in attendance in the nation, with high quality presentations from nationally recognized speakers in ocular science. The 35 year anniversary of this seminar will be in 2003.

• The Winter Educational Seminar is held in February of each year, featuring a combination of speakers from the Michigan College of Optometry and from across the nation.
• The Spring Educational Seminar is a two day event in May, with a variable format of presentations on clinical and practice management topics.
• The Convention Educational Seminar is held in conjunction with the MOA’s Annual Convention in July or August at a Michigan Resort.

AOA

• There are many educational benefits offered by the AOA to members only. Top quality continuing education courses at the AOA Congress and access to AOA’s International Library, Archives and Museum of Optometry provide further opportunities to enhance clinical skills and knowledge.
• The Optometric Clinical Practice Guidelines and related clinical Quick Reference Guides provide members with the best ocular science and clinical opinion on diagnosis and management of ocular disease.

PUBLICATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
The Michigan Optometrist

• The MOA’s monthly publication is an award winning magazine that keeps members informed about our state association news, issues and activities.

MOA and AOA Websites

• The new MOA and AOA Websites provide a state of the art source of information about state and national eye care issues, clinical skills, public information about optometry, and vision and ocular health. There are many links to other eye care sites on the world-wide-web to provide optometrists with continuing education opportunities and other information. Patients can find an OD with Dr. Locator.

MOA Membership Guide

• This yearly publication lists all MOA members and contact information, as well as local MOA Officers and Committee chairs, Local Society chairs, MOA staff, past presidents, AFVA Affiliate Members and a variety of other useful information to keep you in touch with your colleagues.

AOA News

• This twice monthly publication provides you with news of your association, as well as developments and occurrences with the eye care and ophthalmic fields.

Journal of the American Optometric Association

• The AOA’s monthly journal, Optometry, contains post-doctoral reference materials, original research papers, case studies and articles on professional enhancement and clinical procedures. The journal reports on methods, innovations, and ophthalmic products as they relate to optometric practice.

MOA AND AOA CONVENTIONS
Here are some of the advantages of attending optometric conventions:

• Tax deductible travel, meals, lodging and other expenses at first class Michigan resorts and U.S. cities
• Time to enjoy recreational activities with family and friends
• Enjoy professional and social interaction with colleagues in a relaxed setting
• Development of lasting friendships with other optometrists and spouses
• Opportunities to share and discuss clinical practice and office management concerns with colleagues
• High quality exhibits by all types of firms serving eye care professionals on a state and national level, most offering low “show special” prices not normally available
• Continuing education lectures and workshops by nationally recognized speakers
• Participation in the process of electing representatives and voting on decisions that affect optometric association policies and procedures