NEW LICENSEE HANDBOOK

Transcription

1 NEW LICENSEE HANDBOOK

2 OPTOMETRY IN NEBRASKA There are approximately 400 optometrists currently licensed by the State of Nebraska, with approximately 340 in active practice within the state. Approximately 275 are members of the Nebraska Optometric Association. In a typical year, there are 8-12 new optometric licenses issued by the State. Nebraska Statutes governing the practice of optometry You can reference Nebraska s Optometric Practice Act at: StatutesRelatedToOptPracticeAct.pdf Rules & Regulations for Optometry Rules & regulations governing the profession are developed and enforced by the Nebraska Board of Optometry. You can reference current rules & regulations at: C.E. requirements for licensure and re-licensure Nebraska requires 44 hours of approved C.E. during each 2-year licensure cycle. Licensing cycles begin August 1 in even-numbered years. The C.E. requirement is waived for new licensees who were first credentialed within the 26 month period immediately preceding their renewal date. LICENSE APPLICATION STEPS RECOMMENDED STEPS FROM A RECENT LICENSEE RELATED TO THE LICENSURE APPLICATION; Take Jurisprudence exam before you are finished with school. It is an online exam that you can use notes for. I would read over laws once so you are familiar with overall content (both to pass the test and for your career), then take test with all documents open for reference. You need a form of identification : U.S. Passport (unexpired or expired); Birth certificate issued by a state, county, municipal authority or outlying possession of the United States bearing an official seal; American Indian Card (I-872); Certificate of Naturalization (N-550 or N-570); Certificate of Citizenship (N-560 or N-561); Certificate of Report of Birth (DS-1350); Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America (FS-240); Certification of Birth Abroad (FS-545 or DS-1350); United States Citizen Identification Card (I-197 or I-179); Northern Mariana Card (I-873); Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-551, otherwise known as a Green Card ); Unexpired foreign passport with an unexpired Temporary I-551 stamp bearing the same name as the passport; Document showing an Alien Registration Number ( A# ) with visa status; or Form I-94 (arrival-departure Record) with visa status. Print off application and get required signatures from school officials BEFORE you graduate and leave campus. Also, request official transcripts BEFORE you graduate so you have the correct form to the administration office early and you will get your transcript sent when first available.

3 I would call the NBEO before, after, and almost every week to try and get your official scores released electronically as quickly as possible. Go to the Nebraska State Patrol office and get your finger prints electronically and submit your request for a background check BEFORE you graduate. If unable to go to NSP in Lincoln, determine way for fingerprinting and background check request to be performed in your area. VERY IMPORTANT!! The DHS office will receive a notice that you have requested a background check when you go to NSP or local office to request one. THE BACKGROUND CHECK WILL NOT START UNTIL YOU TURN IN YOUR COMPLETE APPLICATION TO DHS AND THEY SEND THE NOTICE BACK TO NSP OR LOCAL OFFICE TO BEGIN THE BACKGROUND CHECK. This means that you should strive to have all documents, NBEO scores, jurisprudence exam, application, and anything else listed at this site: so you can turn them in as early as possible so the DHS will allow the NSP to start the background check (which can take days). The background check can be expedited if you find someone at NSP who is really nice but don t count on that. DHS can be difficult to work with and they don t expedite your application for any reason so be aware of this. Determine if you would like to apply for a DEA license and do so at this site: pecos/login.do#headinglv1 Plan on spending about $750 for this license. Determine what insurances your office takes and begin applying to be a provider for those insurances. I would mainly do web searches for the specific insurance provider applications and follow up consistently to expedite the process. I would start this BEFORE graduation if possible. It may be difficult to fill out all forms because you might have to wait until you have your NE optometry license # but you can sometimes fill that in later. Here would be the first steps: Apply for NPI number at this site: Fill in information for CAQH. This database is used by many insurance companies to become a provider. If you will be a Medicare or Medicaid provider, go to PECOS to start this application: cms.hhs.gov/pecos/login.do#headinglv1 Then you need to search all other health insurances that you will be taking at your office online and fill out necessary forms. Then make follow up calls to ensure you don t have anything else to fill out. I would get a notebook or something that helps keep all this information in one spot because it can get very confusing when applying for all of these insurances and your license at once. Try to look at it every couple days to see if there is anything that you could maybe follow up on. OBTAINING A LICENSE IN NEBRASKA To obtain a license to practice optometry in Nebraska you should request the following: State optometric laws and regulations Continuing education requirements Process for submitting continuing education hours Application for a license number

4 This information may be obtained from: State of Nebraska Board of Optometry, 301 Centennial Mall South, P.O. Box 95007, Lincoln, NE ( The contact person for the Board of Optometry is Vonda Apking ( ). REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE IN NEBRASKA Pass part I, II, III, TMOD of NBEO (National Board of Examiners in Optometry) Graduate from an accredited school of optometry (May) Pass Nebraska jurisprudence exam that relates to the statutes that govern optometry Free, online, open book examination Minimum score of 60% to pass Obtain license (August) Apply for diagnostic certification Resources: Certification to use pharmaceutical agents for therapeutic purposes PREPARATION FOR PRACTICING IN THE STATE OF NEBRASKA OBTAIN A FEDERAL DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY (DEA) NUMBER - As a practical matter, you should probably obtain a federal Drug Enforcement Agency number despite the expense. Certification to prescribe controlled substances such as Schedule III, Schedule III-N, Schedule IV, and Schedule V drugs. If you are therapeutically certified, you are licensed to prescribe controlled substances in the State of Nebraska; Facilitates third party program applications; Facilitates successful prescribing via local pharmacies - many pharmacies balk at filling any type of prescription unless a DEA number is provided. To learn more about DEA registration and to obtain your DEA registration form, go to or call St. Louis at If you want your DEA registration to cover the full range of drugs, you will need to check the blocks labeled Schedule III, Schedule III-N, Schedule IV, and Schedule V. If you have further questions, contact support staff for the Nebraska Board of Optometry ( ). The state of Nebraska does not require a separate state DEA number. OBTAIN NATIONAL PROVIDER IDENTIFIER (NPI) NUMBER NPI number is a unique 10-digit identification number issued to health care providers in the United States by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Covered health care providers must use the NPIs in the administrative and financial transactions adopted under HIPPA

5 Before you can enroll in any health related plan, you will need to obtain an NPI. You apply for the NPI at the NPPES web site, located at Make sure all the information you enter is identical on all of your applications and enrollments, e.g., NPI, Medicare B enrollment & Medicare Supplier enrollment (via the National Supplier Clearinghouse), Medicaid enrollment, Tax ID application, etc. CREDENTIALING Research and determine which third party plans would provide the most benefit based on your patient demographics and their employers It is strongly recommended that the credentialing process begin immediately after obtaining state licensure as some panels may take 4-6 months to become successfully credentialed. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION/TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER You will need a federal tax identification number (EIN) to open or maintain an optometric practice. This tax ID number will also serve as your employer identification number if you own your practice and employ other people. Further information about the EIN can be found at &-Self-Employed/Employer-ID-Numbers-EINs. Make sure all of the information you enter is identical on all of your applications and enrollments, e.g., NPI, Medicare B enrollment & Medicare Supplier enrollment (via the National Supplier Clearinhouse), Medicaid enrollment, Tax ID application, etc. For help through their Business and Specialty Tax Line, contact the Internal Revenue Service at MEDICARE The Medicare program is a federal health insurance program for people age 65 or older and certain disabled people. It is governed by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Social Security Administration offices across the country take applications for Medicare coverage and provide general information about the program. The Social Security Administration is also responsible for any changes or termination of a patient s Medicare enrollment. There are four parts to the Medicare program. Hospital Insurance (Part A) helps pay for inpatient hospital care, some inpatient care in a skilled nursing facility, home health care and hospice care. Medical Insurance (Part B) helps pay for medically-necessary services by physicians, outpatient hospital services, home health care, and a number of other medical services and supplies that are not covered by Part A. Part C is Medicare Advantage, which is privitization of Part B. Part D is pharmaceutical coverage. Optometrists may participate in Part B and Part C, and are considered physicians within their scope of practice. The federal government contracts with various entities to serve as Medicare Carriers and administer the Medicare Part B program. Each region in the U.S. has its own Local Medicare Carrier. Starting in March, Nebraska s Local Carrier for professional services is Wisconsin Physician Services, j5macpartb/. For eyeglasses and contact lenses, which are only covered after cataract surgery, the Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Carrier for Nebraska is Noridian Administrative Services, HOW TO ENROLL IN MEDICARE PART B (Note: more complete enrollment and other 3rd party information can be found in the NOA YouTube videos at Before becoming a provider for any third party, you will need to obtain a National Provider Identifier, or NPI fron NPPES, Make sure all of the information you enter is identical on all of your applications and enrollments, e.g., NPI, Medicare B enrollment & Medicare Suupplier enrollment (via the National Supplier Clearinghouse), Medicaid enrollment, Tax ID application, etc.

6 Then, to become a Medicare B provider for services, you will need to enroll with CMS (the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services). Enrollment information can be found at MedicareProviderSupEnroll/. Once enrolled in Medicare B, you will be able to participate as a provider with some Medicare C (Medicare Advantage) patients that are fee for service. If you want to be on a particular Medicare Advantage program (e.g., PPO, HMO), you will need to enroll in the insurer s PPO or HMO Medicare C panel. Make sure all of the information you enter is identical on all of your applications and enrollments, e.g., NPI, Medicare B enrollment & Medicare Supplier enrollment (via the National Suppiler Clearinghouse), Medicaid enrollment, Tax ID application, etc. Retired Railroad employees are covered by Railroad Medicare. You can apply to be a provider for Railroad Medicare at To provide post-operative eyeglasses under Medicare, you will need to enroll with the National Supplier Clearinghouse (NSC), which is administered by Palmetto GBA. Once enrolled with the NSC, you will be a Medicare supplier, and can file claims with our Durable Medical Equipment MAC, Noridian Administrative Services (see above). Make sure all of the information you enter is identical on all of your applications and enrollments, e.g., NPI, Medicare B enrollment & Medicare Supplier enrollment (via the National Supplier Clearinghouse), Medicaid enrollment, Tax ID application, etc. MEDICAID Medicaid is a state medical assistance program. Funding is provided by the State and Federal governments. The Medicaid program in Nebraska is administered by the State, but is contracted out to Managed Care Organizations for most non-medicare patients in the Lincoln and Omaha area. To enroll in the traditional Nebraska Medicaid program (for patients that have both Medicare and Medicaid), go to medicaid/pages/med_providerenrollment.aspx. To learn how to enroll in the Medicaid Managed Care Organizations, go to our NOA YouTube presentation found at &feature=youtu.be. NEBRASKA MOTORIST LICENSE VISION REQUIREMENTS The current rules and regulations pertaining to the vision and medical requirements for class A and B licenses, learner s and school permits and school bus driver s permit can be found at. REGISTERING AS LOW VISION/VISION THERAPY PROVIDER FOR DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Your local and surrounding school districts would be eager to list you as a special education service provider for their special education children. Once you become an individual provider of special education services, you may negotiate with school districts mutually agreed rates for low vision or instruction-vision therapy assessments. The school districts will pay you, and then they will be reimbursed through the state with provisionally approved rates. In order to register as an individual service provider of special education services through the NDE, please request a Rate Application and an Educational Service Provider Description form from: Nebraska Department of Education Special Education Office 301 Centennial Mall South PO Box Lincoln, NE Phone: The contact person is Jill Weatherly. She can be phoned, or her address is: Jill.Weatherly@Nebraska. gov.

7 When completing these forms, please use language they are familiar with, namely low vision assessment and rehabilitation, as well as instructio-vision therapy. A useful description of the information, which describes the services that you will be providing, should go something fairly close to the following: ABOUT THE NEBRASKA OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION Evaluation of Visual Impairment: Partially sighted or assessment of child s functional vision including peripheral vision, fixation, ability to shift gaze and to track when reading, and ability to converge eyes during reading; followed by, when necessary, low vision rehabilitation and/or vision therapy to treat the above listed various conditions. ABOUT THE NEBRASKA OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION The Nebraska Optometric Association is the only organization representing the interests of optometrists in Nebraska. The association s mission focuses on advocacy to lawmakers, regulators, third party insurance payors, and consumers enhancing the professional knowledge and skills of members and their staffs, and maximizing the business success of members practices. In affiliation with the American Optometric Association, NOA provides you with the legislative and regulatory clout to protect and advance your practice, access to timely information and resources to help your practice succeed, public relations and marketing support to increase awareness of your profession, top quality education opportunities at substantial discounts for you and your staff, and a variety of other benefits and services. More information is available on the association s website at: nebraska.aoa.org. You can contact the association office at: 1633 Normandy Court, Suite A Lincoln, NE (402) noa@assocoffice.net I didn t know it at the time, but the decision to join NOA as a student has shaped my professional career in ways that I could not have imagined. Membership in the NOA has opened my eyes to the importance of advocacy. I have come to realize that being active in the political arena is a necessity for each practicing optometrist in order to maintain and enhance our scope, and ensure access to patients. The education at NOA conventions is top notch and I really enjoy the camaraderie and family atmosphere. The third party newsletter and online index have been an invaluable resource for me and my staff. I am able to stay abreast of third party issues that are topical to my practice and the wealth of information has played a critical role in maintaining compliance in the ever changing world of health inurance. I am looking forward to what we can continue to achieve and am honored and proud to be part of this great association. Jeremy Baumfalk, O.D. Licensed 2004 The NOA and AOA was something that was honestly intimidating as I was coming out of school. I grew up in a family that was heavily involved in their profession s organization and saw the responsibility that was there for those that were leading it. I thought that maybe I should not get involved or participate because I was a new graduate who had nothing to offer. I also had some how convinced myself that if I was a member that meant that I had to get involved in leadership right away. The decision to just participate has been amazing. No matter what career path a person chooses, I have come to realize that a strong, cooperative professional organization allows you to have something bigger to fall back on. It gives you infrastructure and resources to help make you successful. It gives you a bigger group to help stand up for you against outside business interests that threaten your career. I think the aha moment was actually when I was at a golf outing sponsored by an ophthalmology group. I was just chatting with a retinal specialist and he made the comment about how cool it was that it seems like optometry truly works together even though we are technically in competition with each other. This is true but I

8 can honestly say that I do not see the other optometrists as competition. I see them as comrades, that if we all work together and as hard has possible it will raise all of us up to greater level of practice. The NOA allows for this. Our competition is all of the business models that are trying to taint our profession. Having organized optometry keeps us all on the right track and monitors those things that it is impossible for us to be able to keep abreast of on our own. I have never regretted being involved in the NOA and quite honestly am not sure how I would be able to practice from the business/organizational standpoint without it. My accountant classifies my NOA dues as an expense but I classify my time and money as an investment to progress optometry and to ensure that this profession is sustainable in the future. Andrew Bateman, O.D. Licensed in 2007 When I finished optometry school and joined the NOA/AOA I did so primarily because I felt obligated and with the discounted rate, I figured, why not? It wasn t until a few years in that I realized how important the association is to the profession. I realized that not only do we as members of the association make strides forward to advance our profession, but also work hard to protect the aspects of the profession we already do on a daily basis. As a new member I was worried that I wouldn t fit in at the conventions, but I did and you will, too. All of the members of the association are so welcoming and a great group of people to get to know. The new member reception is a great opportunity to meet other doctors that you will see at these meetings every year and form friendships that will last for many, many years. Tiffany Walters, O.D. Licensed 2009 THE ASSOCIATION S CRITICAL ADVOCACY ROLES Optometry is a legislated profession. Whether or not you like politics, decisions made by lawmakers on the state and federal levels have a direct and long-lasting effect on optometrists and their patients. And in addition to the laws, rules and regulations also have a significant impact on what you can do, how you do it, and how you get paid. There are several critical roles the association plays in advocating for optometrists and their patients. PROTECTING YOUR PRACTICE AND YOUR ACCESS TO PATIENTS There are more threats to your ability to practice full-scope optometry than you may realize. Despite what state laws allow optometrists to do today, organized medicine has an agenda across the country to roll back or narrow the scope of optometric practice whenever possible, or place certain aspects of your practice under the auspices or regulatory oversight of MDs. The association is your only line of defense against these attacks. Other professions are trying to encroach on optometry by seeking authority to do what you were trained to do in optometry school. And new, unregulated technologies like refracting kiosks and online eye exam services threaten patient welfare as well as optometrists livelihood. Assuring patient care by properly trained professionals is an ongoing priority for the association. FACILITATING YOUR INCLUSION IN HEALTH CARE DELIVERY Health care delivery networks like Accountable Care Organizations and hospital-based health systems have no requirements to allow optometrists to participate in their delivery systems, and better laws are needed to prevent discrimination by these entities against optometrists. Without statutory and regulatory protections for your profession, your patients may not have access to you. The association is your only advocate on behalf of the profession s right to be included in health care delivery systems. ENABLING YOUR PRACTICE TO EVOLVE AND GROW As medical knowledge expands, technology advances, new pharmaceuticals enter the market, and professional training evolves, it is critical that state laws be periodically updated to allow enhanced practice and patient care

9 by limited license health professions. For optometrists, the only way to augment and enhance scope of practice, when such changes are always vigorously opposed by organized medicine, is through the political strength of NOA and AOA. Over the past two decades, NOA has passed legislation allowing treatment of glaucoma and use of a broad range of oral medications as well as requirements for school children to get vision evaluations before kindergarten. HAVING INFLUENCE WITH LAWMAKERS AND REGULATORS Political strength comes from personal political involvement by many ODs. Numbers definitely matter, and so does the expertise and vigilance of professional lobbyists working on your behalf. Member dues help support a team of lobbyists whose full-time presence at the State Capitol and relationships with lawmakers are critical to political success. The association s credibility and impact is enhanced by its Political Action Committee. Optometry s PAC is the only way the profession collectively can provide financial support to political candidates. NOA s active engagement with regulatory agencies also gives you a voice with bureaucrats who develop and enforce the rules and regulations that affect your practice and your patients. WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT OPTOMETRY S PAC The NOA Political Action Committee, by law, is a separate financial entity from the association. It is funded by voluntary donations from members of the association not from membership dues. Its only legal purpose is to make contributions on behalf of the profession to candidates for elective office, and a PAC is the only way the association can do that. It is illegal to use member dues for political contributions. Conversely, the law does not allow PAC funds to be used to pay for lobbying expenses or any other association advocacy activities. Only the association can pay those expenses. That s why it s important for members to support BOTH the association through membership dues as well as the PAC through voluntary contributions. WAYS YOU CAN HELP ADVOCACY THROUGH PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT Attend the NOA Legislative Conference each year to stay up to date on issues, personally interact with lawmakers, and get tips on how to communicate your profession s interests effectively Be familiar with optometry s legislative issues AOA publications AOA website ( NOA publications NOA website ( NOA Legislative Conference AOA Congressional Conference Communicate with your elected representatives. Don t just make contact when you need to ask for something. Offer yourself as a resource. Make sure your elected representatives know about your practice and what s important to you and your patients. Respond to Action Alerts when called upon to do so by AOA or NOA Offer your help with election and re-election campaigns Make a personal political contribution to candidates you support Contribute to NOA PAC and AOA PAC. You may be able to personally support a few candidates. Your profession s Political Action Committee is the only way to support a range of lawmakers who know your profession s interests.

10 To be part of the NOA s Advocacy Team and sign up as a key contact person, call the NOA office ( ) or us at noa@assocoffice.net. HELPING YOU GET PAID FOR YOUR SERVICES NOA is your advocate with insurance carriers, Medicaid, and Medicare when optometrists are treated inequitably or incorrectly with regard to reimbursement amounts or requirements. NOA provides extensive information and training for doctors and their staff members on changes to reimbursement rates and rules and on proper coding for procedures, including a monthly newsletter, and extensive and indexed third party website, training videos, and live seminars. We offer the most extensive third party reimbursement support for members of any state association in the country. WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT NOA S THIRD PARTY REIMBUREMENT SERVICES NOA offers third party insurance assistance with free consultation and advice through NOA Third Party Consultant, Dr. Ed Schneider. Dr. Schneider provides guidance regarding all types of insurance reimbursement policies and procedures, advises on the correct coding of Medicare B, Medicare durable medical equipment (DME), and private insurer claims, plus advises on the correct use of modifiers and the correct filing of postop care claims. He provides training for ODs and their insurance staff members regarding the aforementioned, and is available to audit Medicare claims. He can also provide resources to offices upgrading to electronic health records (EHR), and assistance with PQRS (the Physician Quality Reporting System) and with the switch to ICD- 10-CM. Dr. Schneider prepares the monthly NOA 3rd Party Newsletter, which contains ten to twelve pages of current information on 3rd party topics. In addition, Dr. Schneider maintains the NOA 3rd Party web page, which is made up of previous Newsletter articles plus active hyperlinks to Medicare, Medicaid, and Nebraska statutes, HIPAA, CMS, BCBS, and many other 3rd party sites important to the Nebraska OD. Dr. Schneider (who uses the alias Dr. Quack to keep his ego in check), has also prepared nine 15-minute videos on 3rd party insurance issues especially useful to new licensees and new insurance personnel. The videos address the various types of 3rd parties you may encouter, how to evaluate a 3rd party plan for your office, 3rd party enrollment procedures including contact information, and inclues extensive information on the coding of insurance claims. These videos are available on the NOA 3rd Party web site at NOA/index_Page353.htm. Dr. Schneider is at the NOA office Mondays between 10 am and 2 pm, but can always be reached via: SchneiderEd@msn.com ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP & HOW TO JOIN Active membership in the NOA automatically includes membership in the American Optometric Association. Active membership costs $2, annually, including $1, in state (NOA) dues and $892 in national (AOA) dues. NOA has committed itself to a public awareness campaign to promote optometrists as the primary eye care provider in Nebraska. Part of your dues investment will be directed to funding a multi-faceted effort to increase public awareness of what optometrists do to care for the vision of adults and children. In addition, members are encouraged to support the Nebraska Foundation for Children s Vision (NFCV), whose mission is to ensure that all Nebraska children are visually prepared to learn. NFCV will work with NOA on many aspects of this public health effort. New licensees (graduates) may receive membership at no charge for the balance of the calendar year in which their license is issued. Thereafter, there is a graduated dues scale:

11 1st full calendar year after licensure 10% of NOA/AOA dues $ nd full calendar year after licensure 20% of NOA/AOA dues $ rd full calendar year after licensure 50% of NOA/AOA dues $ th full calendar year after licensure 75% of NOA/AOA dues $ Each year thereafter Full NOA/AOA dues $2, Dues are based on a calendar year and are billed in November or December for the following year. Memberships must be renewed by March 31. New members joining at various times during the year will pay prorated dues based upon calendar quarters. Students may receive free membership during their time in optometry school, but must contact the NOA office to complete a membership application and be added to the databases. To join the Association, contact the NOA office for a membership application or visit the NOA website at MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS & SERVICES WHAT YOU GET FOR YOUR MONEY AOA MEMBERSHIP RESOURCES & BENEFITS Benefits and services available through AOA include: Business resources, including insurance and financing help Marketing materials to help grow your practice Patient education materials Practice management resources Contract review service Career Center Publications Several of the benefits and resources are targeted especially for doctors just beginning practice. A comprehensive catalog of AOA member benefits is available through the NOA office, or by contacting the AOA at NOA MEMBERSHIP RESOURCES & BENEFITS Benefits & services available through NOA include: Third party reimbursement information and assistance (described earlier) 50% discount on C.E., with hours per year offered in the state Free enrollment in See to Learn, the association s public service program providing vision assessments for 3-year-olds Listing on Think About Your Eyes website

12 The NOA Marketing Fund supports broad consumer awareness efforts across the state and helps draw attention of consumers and media to vision care, optometric services, and member practices. Members have access to marketing and public relations materials that tie into statewide campaigns and messaging. NOA marketing includes radio, television, newspaper, and social media. The association works in collaboration with the Nebraska Foundation for Children s Vision (NFCV), an educational and charitable entity whose mission is specifically focused on promoting pediatric vision care. NFCV s goal is to ensure that every child entering school in Nebraska is visually ready to learn. NOA and NFCV have worked extensively to heighten awareness among educators, administrators, school nurses, and early childhood professionals about the importance of professional vision care for children and NOA members are identified as resources. NOA MEETINGS & NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES The association annually sponsors meetings & events that provide opportunities to learn, socialize, and share. Annual statewide events include: Fall Convention The association s largest gathering, typically attracting over 100 doctors, 200 paraoptometrics, and 30-plus exhibitors. Held in Kearney in September, it features hours of C.E. for doctors, multi-track education for paras, social activities, and the association s annual business meeting. Spring Conference Includes hours of C.E. for doctors over a weekend in March or April. The location rotates between Lincoln and Omaha. Legislative Conference Held in Lincoln, usually in February, during the State Legislative session. The event focuses on legislative and regulatory issues critical to the profession and includes an opportunity to develop or renew relationships with state lawmakers. Third Party Seminars Annual training sessions are held in conjunction with the Fall Convention for doctors and paras with other events conducted as needed. NOA also has 6 regional entities called Societies that offer periodic meetings and events for education and networking. There are no dues and members are automatically part of a Society based on geographic regions. Society events include C.E. lectures, case studies, updates on association news or legislative issues, and social activities including golf tournaments. NOA SOCIETY PRESIDENTS Northeast Chris Rupp, O.D. Authier Miller Pape, Norfolk Phone: Chris@ampeyecare.com Southeast Dan Novak, O.D. President Pearl Vision Phone: danielnovakod@gmail.com Eastern Muriel Wyatt Jepsen, O.D. Co-President ACE Optometry, PC, Norfolk Phone: jepsen.muriel@gmail.com Krystle Kennedy, O.D. Co-President Stanton Optical Phone: doctorkrystle@hotmail.com Panhandle Jason Webb, O.D. Webb Eyecare, Scottsbluff Phone: drwebb@webbeyecare.com West Central Dirk Gray, O.D. Lifetime Eyecare, McCook Phone: dirkgray@msn.com East Central Open-TBD

13 INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME INVOLVED NOA has numerous committees and task forces each year and more than 40% of the association s member doctors serve on these. Committees and task forces are appointed each year by the NOA President, but membership on these committees is flexible. The association surveys members annually to ask for volunteers, but doctors are encouraged to express interest in serving at any time by calling the President or the NOA office. In addition, the association is managed by a 13-member Board of Directors, elected annually by the membership at the Fall Convention, and has members appointed each year to lead the six Societies. For doctors who enjoy being politically active, opportunities always exist to serve as contacts and resource persons for Nebraska s 49 state senators. Members also serve the profession by representing NOA on various state government boards and commissions. Contact the NOA office about these opportunities.

14 Welcome to Nebraska Optometry We are here to help. nebraska.aoa.org Normandy Court, Ste. A Lincoln, NE NOA STAFF David McBride, Executive Director Dr. Ed Schneider, Third Party Consultant Emily Wilcox, Associate Director Jamie Oborny, Membership Services Coordinator Lavon McBride, Bookkeeper QUICK LINKS NOA Website: nebraska.aoa.org AOA Website: aoa.org NOA Update newsletter: nebraska.aoa.org/x11902.xml Third Party newsletter: nebraska.aoa.org/prebuilt/noa/index_page323. htm