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WHAT’S HAPPENING
VOLUNTEERING FOR VETS. Daniel C. Love, MD, screens a veteran at the American Legion convention in Cincinnati.
Ohio Ophthalmological Society Volunteers for Vets
The American Legion hosted its 98th National Convention Aug. 25-Sept. 1 at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati. Approximately 9,000 American Legion members were in attendance. The Ohio Ophthalmological Society (OOS) recruited volunteers to provide eye screening and eye health information to veterans at the convention. The Academy’s federal and state governmental affairs personnel assisted OOS in lining up volunteers, coordinated the logistics of setting up the screenings, and staffed the screening booth. OOS members screened approximately 100 individuals during the convention.
W. Walker Motley, MD, OOS president and graduate of the Academy’s Leadership Development Program, said, “What a gratifying experience! The Legionnaires were so appreciative of all of the efforts of the Academy, volunteer ophthalmologists, and staff. We could not have done it without the support of OOS members. Thank you for giving your time.” Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio), a member of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, was also in attendance. He met with the Ohio ophthalmologists and Academy staff, furthering our relationship with members of this important committee.
TAKE NOTICE
Win a Trip to the Academy’s Mid-Year Forum
If you are an ophthalmology resident or fellow in training in the United States, you are eligible to win an all-expenses-paid trip to the Academy’s Mid-Year Forum 2017. To enter, contribute a new article to the Academy’s EyeWiki, then submit your article to be considered for the competition before Dec. 1.
The Mid-Year Forum will be held at the Renaissance Downtown in Washington, D.C., April 26-29. The event also includes Congressional Advocacy Day, April 26-27, and the spring meeting of the Academy Council, April 28-29.
For more information on the contest, visit eyewiki.aao.org/Residents_and_Fellows. To see a list of EyeWiki articles that have already been entered into the contest, see eyewiki.aao.org/Talk%3AResidents_and_Fellows.
MEETING MATTERS
Meetings on Demand
AAO Meetings on Demand provides highlights from AAO 2016 and Subspecialty Day. Review meeting content on your own schedule from any location on your PC, Mac, or mobile device. This product is online only (no thumb drive)—Internet access is required. AAO Meetings on Demand is not eligible for CME credit.
To order, visit aao.org/store.
AAO 2017
Join the Academy in New Orleans for AAO 2017. The meeting will take place Nov. 11-14 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. It will be preceded by Subspecialty Day, Nov. 10-11. Join the Academy in New Orleans for game-changing research, techniques, and technologies at the world’s most comprehensive ophthalmic meeting.
For more information, visit aao.org/2017.
2017 Abstract Deadlines
To present at AAO 2017, you must submit an abstract online. The abstract submitter for instruction courses and new Skills Transfer labs opens Dec. 8, 2016, and closes Jan. 10, 2017.
To submit, visit aao.org/presentercentral.
2016 Best Original Papers
Congratulations to the authors of the Best Original Papers at AAO 2016. The winning papers were selected by the panels in each of the paper sessions.
To view a list of Best Original Papers, visit aao.org/aao-archives.
To view abstracts for the papers, visit the Online Program Search/Meeting Archive page and use the drop-down menus to choose “Paper” and “Best of.”
AAO 2016 Archives
Visit the Meeting Archives to download course handout PDFs, find scientific posters, watch Videos on Demand, view syllabi from Subspecialty Day meetings, check out AAO TV, and more.
For more information, visit aao.org/aao-archives.
Claim CME for AAO 2016
Registrants whose attendance was verified at AAO 2016 and/or Subspecialty Day can claim CME credits online. As a service to members only, the Academy maintains a transcript of Academy-sponsored CME credits earned, provided that the member reports those credits to the Academy. CME transcripts that include AAO 2016 and/or Subspecialty Day credits entered in Chicago will be available to Academy members at aao.org/cme-central beginning Thursday, Nov. 10.
For more information, visit aao.org/annual-meeting/cme.
ACADEMY STORE
New! 20 Downloadable Handout Topics
Educate your patients with ophthalmology’s most comprehensive handout library available: the Academy’s Downloadable Patient Education Handout Subscription. The collection contains 110 topics in English and Spanish (20 of which are brand-new). All topics include regular content updates and are available as printable PDF files that are customizable with your practice information.
To order, visit aao.org/patienthandouts.
New! Order Your 2017 Coding Resources
As of Oct. 1, 2016, practices were required to adopt new or revised ICD-10 codes for dozens of procedures—nearly 400 codes for ophthalmology alone. These updates affect every ophthalmologist. The updates change how you must code treatment of patients with age-related macular degeneration (the number one reported diagnosis in the nation), diabetes, glaucoma, retinal vein occlusions, and other conditions. The following coding guides will help you to maximize your reimbursement:
- 2017 ICD-10-CM for Ophthalmology: The Complete Reference
- 2017 Coding Coach: Complete Ophthalmic Coding Reference
- 2017 CPT: The Complete Pocket Ophthalmic Reference
- 2017 Ophthalmic Coding: Learn to Code the Essentials and 2017 Ophthalmic Coding: Learn to Code the Subspecialties
- And more
To order, visit aao.org/codingproducts.
D.C. REPORT
Vote With Ophthalmology in Mind
Washington, D.C., works best for our patients and profession when we have friends in the House of Representatives and Senate. Over the years, these lawmakers have fought alongside the Academy to repeal the sustainable growth rate formula, backed our effort to convince the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that its methodology used to cut glaucoma and retina reimbursements was flawed, and bolstered our push to preserve access to sight-saving drugs for our patients.
Our friends in office need your vote. Many face tough opponents in their reelection bids, and some are seeking to move from the House to the Senate, but all of them need to remain in office to continue supporting our issues. This year, cast a ballot for the following lawmakers, knowing that they have strong track records and are worthy of your vote on election day:
Rep. Larry Bucshon, MD, R-Ind.
Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C.
Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va.
Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa
Rep. Joe Heck, DO, R-Nev.
Rep. Charles W. Boustany, Jr., MD, R-La.
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.
Rep. Tom Price, MD, R-Ga.
Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.
Rep. Ami Bera, MD, D-Calif.
New candidates to consider. The Academy and OphthPAC, its political action committee, are working to increase the number of physicians in Congress, as they have a unique understanding of the challenges ophthalmologists face. They lead many of our legislative efforts to adopt policy that is centered on quality patient care. OphthPAC is endorsing the following first-time candidates:
Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa.
Matthew Heinz, MD, D-Ariz.
S. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill.
Roger Marshall, MD, R-Kan.
To help more physicians be elected, invest in OphthPAC at aao.org/advocacy/ophthpac.