Listservs Overview

Join the AAOE online discussion forum. Learn, share opinions and network with your peers! Access to the AAOE listservs are a free benefit to all current members.

Subscribe or manage your subscription

• E-Talk: Subscribe or manage list options
• E-Code: Subscribe or manage list options
• E-Retina: Subscribe or manage E-Retina

How does a listserv work?

Members register and provide an email address to receive and respond to messages sent by list members. List members have the option to receive a daily digest version of messages sent to the list or receive individual emails immediately as they are posted.

What is the difference between the three listservs?

E-Talk is an unmoderated e-mail discussion group that provides ophthalmic administrators, office managers and managing physicians with a forum to openly exchange ideas and discuss the business issues facing modern ophthalmic practices. Use this free member benefit to get answers to your questions about coding, human resources, financial management and other practice management issues.

E-Retina is an unmoderated e-mail discussion group that provides ophthalmic administrators, office managers and managing physicians with a forum to openly exchange ideas and discuss issues facing retina practices.

E-Code is an unmoderated e-mail discussion group that provides billers, coders, ophthalmic administrators, office managers and managing physicians with a forum to openly exchange ideas and discuss issues related to billing and coding.

How to participate

The American Academy of Ophthalmology provides online information and services on the Internet as a benefit to its members and the public and to further its educational mission. 

1. THE ACADEMY, ANY WEBSITE CONTRIBUTORS AND THEIR AFFILIATES DO NOT MAKE ANY WARRANTIES, AS TO THE ACCURACY, ADEQUACY OR COMPLETENESS OF ANY MATERIAL PRESENTED HERE, WHICH IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" BASIS. THE ACADEMY AND ITS WEBSITE CONTRIBUTORS ARE NOT LIABLE TO ANYONE FOR ANY: a) ERRORS, INACCURACIES, OMISSIONS OBTAINED HERE; b) DAMAGES OR INJURY TO PERSON OR PROPERTY FROM ANY USE OF IDEAS CONTAINED HERE; AND/OR c) ANY DAMAGES INCURRED IF MATERIAL INFECTS OR CONTAMINATES A USER'S SYSTEM.
2. The information published on the aao.org website is not intended to replace consultation with an ophthalmologist. The Academy cannot answer specific medical questions or refer you to a particular ophthalmologist.
3. Unless specifically stated otherwise, the opinions expressed and statements made by various authors on this website reflect the author's observations and do not imply endorsement by the Academy.
4. The Academy does not exert editorial control over and has not participated in the development of other Internet websites. The Academy does not support, endorse or hold any responsibility for hyperlink pointers, their website content, any of their expressed views, any services they offer or hyperlinks they mention. The Academy does not endorse any of the products or companies mentioned in the aao.org website. 

Participants in E-Talk, E-Retina and  E-Code ("AAOE listservs") are encouraged to use this forum for the free and uncensored exchange of ideas, information, critiques, and commentary. AAOE listservs are intended to discuss business issues related to ophthalmology. Members should refrain from sharing forwarded emails, contests, funds solicitations and other posts that do not pertain to the business aspects of ophthalmology practice. The nature of these forums is such that several words of caution (guidelines) are necessary to protect your interests and those of your fellow AAOE listserv members:

1. Certain discussions by physicians and others who are not part of the same group practice raise the risk of antitrust investigation and liability. This risk exists whether those discussions take place in a face-to-face meeting, by written correspondence, or through electronic communication. Compliance with the rules for AAOE listservs and forums require that participants do not discuss fees, acceptable reimbursement levels, current salaries or compensation for any office personal, including but not limited to ophthalmologists, optometrists, technicians, and administrators, or plans for collective economic actions (e.g., joint negotiations with or boycotts of third party payors or managed care plans, or decisions not to deal with particular types of providers).
   
   In fact, the risk is even greater for AAOE listserv discussions, since by definition a written record is made of the communication. Because this is an AAOE listserv forum, such discussions could not only put you at risk for antitrust liability it could implicate AAOE and the Academy as well. Accordingly, you are asked to refrain from any AAOE listserv discussions about (a) what is an appropriate amount to charge for a particular procedure, (b) whether particular reimbursement amounts are sufficient or insufficient, collective actions that might be taken if reimbursement are deemed to be insufficient, and (c) whether ophthalmologists should do business with other types of providers for economic reasons (e.g., optometrists who charge excessive co-management fees). One exception to this caution is that discussions about Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement policies are generally permissible as long as they do not lead to anticompetitive actions (e.g., a collective agreement not to treat Medicare or Medicaid patients).
2. Although AAOE attempts to maintain the security of its listservs by limiting participation to AAOE members and selected consultants and staff, participants should not assume that AAOE listserv discussions are confidential or privileged. To the contrary, comments made on AAOE listservs could be forwarded to nonparticipants either by electronic or hard copy transmission. Moreover, electronic communications are often discoverable in court proceedings. This means that a plaintiff in a malpractice lawsuit might seek to discover AAOE listserv communications involving a particular defendant physician or a subject of relevance to the lawsuit. Such discovery efforts may well be successful. Therefore, participants should use discretion in their communications, particularly with respect to statements about their treatment of or contacts with specific patient or patients, or about the level of one's technical skills, that might later be used against you (or Academy member physicians) if litigation were every to ensue. Never mention a patient by name or give enough information that the patient's identity is revealed.
3. Participants should recognize that AAOE listserv discussions are tantamount to participating in a public meeting. Disparaging comments about the skills or techniques of other AAOE members or physicians are no more appropriate in one context than the other. This caution is intended both to encourage professional decorum of AAOE listservs and to reduce potential liability risks for participants and the Academy/AAOE.

Consultants who are eligible to participate in the AAOE listservs must agree to these additional terms:

1. Your participation in AAOE listervs (E-Talk, E-Retina, E-Code) is non-transferable. Only the primary person listed in the consultant directory may participate.
2. Your header and footer for each listserv comment must state: “consultant comment”.
3. You may not solicit your services in e-mail replies or postings.
4. You may not invite readers to contact your firm for further information.
5. If a reader voluntarily contacts your firm, you may engage in a professional relationship only after you convey – and they agree – that your services are separate and apart from AAOE’s general listserv activities.