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VIEWPOINTSAPRIL 2017

2017 COA Day atthe CapitolPages 10 - 12

Serving Colorado Optometry since 1892

Colorado Optomet r i c Assoc ia t ion

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Expressed opinions and statements ofsupposed fact published in the various signed articles in this publication are those of each individual author and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the editorial staff or the board of trustees of the association. Advertising material accepted by the publication is intended to conform with ethical optometric standards. However, advertising acceptance does not imply endorsement by the Colorado Optometric Association.

Colorado Optometric Association

Serving Colorado Optometrists for 122 Years

730 17th Street, Suite 350Denver, Colorado 80202-3515

Tel: 303.863.9778Fax: 303.863.9775

Toll Free: 877.691.2095www.visioncare.org

E-mail: [email protected]

Officers and TrusteesPresident

Sean Claflin, O.D., F.A.A.O.

President-elect

Jon Pederson, O.D.

secretary-treasurer

Heather Gitchell, O.D.

immediate Past President

Michelle Chaney, O.D.

trustee, district iKevin Pollard, O.D., F.A.A.O.

trustee, district iiKelley Jackson Condon, O.D.

trustee, district iiiNathan Lohmeyer, O.D.

trustee, district iVMarcelo Saldivia, O.D.

trustee, district VMatt Buchanan, O.D.

trustee, district ViDiane Reddin, O.D.

trustee, district ViiTeresa Carlson, O.D.

COA Administrative StaffexecutiVe director

Sheryl Benjamin

communications & eVents manager

Tara Weghorst

goVernment relations manager

Kristy Kibler

ADVOCACY = FUTURE!

President’s MessageSean Claflin, OD, FAAO

A surge of eye doctors, COA volunteers and staff stormed the Colorado Capitol on March 9th and 10th to advocate for Colorado Optometry and you. It was a great sight to see – meaningful legislative connections being made and practical advocacy experience gained. The more we practice advocacy by educating, organizing, and mobilizing at every opportunity, especially in

events like this, the better we position ourselves in the health care system at both the state and national levels.

COA volunteers and staff join the army of AOA volunteers and staff to work, often 24/7, to make the most of Optometry’s hard-won seats at the health care table in our state capitol and in the nation’s capitol. With the constant maneuvering of health care reform underway at the national level, potential change in legislation will be significant. Please know that through meetings and communications with the Members of Congress and Presidential administrative officials, the AOA will continue to focus on the following:

1. Safeguarding full physician recognition for Doctors of Optometry and full inclusion in physician level programs.

2. Safeguarding existing laws that assure access to in-person, doctor-provided comprehensive eye health and vision care, including the health plan-based pediatric essential benefit and the ban on discrimination by ERISA and other plans against optometrists on the basis of licensure.

3. Safeguarding patients from expansion of unsafe telehealth schemes and services.

4. Putting a stop to the abusive and anti-doctor policies of health and vision plans (as reflected by the provisions of the AOA and American Dental Association-backed, bipartisan Dental and Optometric Care Access Act).

Our COA is currently focused on and will continue to be focused on all of these issues at the state level as well. We are watching how changes to national health care may impact Medicaid and other entities as well ensuring Colorado Optometry is included and participates fully.

Expect an array of additional reforms and further changes to the health care system in the weeks and months to come. With all of this activity underway and with much more ahead, it will be essential to have the profession’s largest ever advocacy show of strength on Capitol Hill this June leading up to and during Optometry’s Meeting (www.optometrysmeeting.org). Every Doctor of Optometry and optometry student is invited and is needed, as this is truly the time for Optometry’s most attended and impactful advocacy event ever.

NOW more than ever is the time to be advocates for Optometry and its future. Sign up today to attend Optometry’s Meeting and AOA+ on the AOA website and help ensure you can continue to provide the best eye health and vision care to help your patients.

(Thanks to Matt Willette, Director, Congressional Relations, AOA and Sheryl Benjamin, Executive Director, COA for contributing to this message.)

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Bravo! Kudos!

Our Young Professionals hosted a Success Series on HIPAA Compliance with our Allied Member, Rob Van Buskirk of Cordial Tech.

COA Welcomes New COA Members• Dr. Sidney Goodwin in Franktown, CO

• Dr. Janette Perkins with Rocky Mountain Eye Care in Colorado Springs

Did we miss your special event or big announcement (new associate or office, marriage, baby, award, recognition….you get the idea)!? Please let us know! We want to celebrate with you! Email us at [email protected].

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Harvard 850 E. Harvard Ave.

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Parker 11960 Lioness Way

Suite 290 Parker, CO 80134

Loveland 1615 Foxtrail Drive

Suite 100 Loveland, CO 80538

Boulder Valley 500 Discovery Pkwy.

Ste. 100 Superior, CO 80027

Nancy J. Christmas, MD Robert J. Courtney, MD

Mark S. Dacey, MD Cur�s L. Hagedorn, MD

Peter G. Hovland, MD, PhD David W. Johnson, MD

Brian C. Joondeph, MD, MPS Alan E. Kimura, MD, MPH

Mimi Liu, MD Mark E. Patron, MD

Stephen T. Pe�y, MD John D. Zilis, MD

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Thank you to everyone that attended our 2017 Spring Symposium!

It is an honor to provide professional continuing education for the entire optometric community.

We look forward to seeing you at our Fall Symposium, Sunday, November 5th, 2017!

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A big thanks to Mark Jackson, OD for bringing in Melton/Thomas for NCOS Spring Symposium! The event was well attended and provided 8 hours of CE to members!


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RyanP.Ames,OD,[email protected]

888.456.2046

TheTruthAboutModifier-25andBillingaForeignBodyRemoval

A34-year-oldWMpresentstoyourofficewithpainoftherighteyeforthepast3days.Itisred,watering,and photophobic. He was working on his car’s exhaust system a few days ago and his eye has beenirritated ever sense. You perform a slit lamp exam and find a metallic foreign body imbedded in thecorneawitharustring.Youremovetheforeignbodywitha27GneedleanduseanAlgerbrushtoremovetherustring.Abandagecontactlensisinsertedandyouschedulethepatientforafollowupintwodays.

Howdoyoucodethisencounter?

ThisisoneofthemostmisunderstoodcodingsituationsIencounter,yetmostdoctorsIspeakwiththinktheyhaveitfiguredout.Theproblemwehaveisthatmany“experts”havebeenconfusingusformanyyearsbygivingoutinformationthatisincorrect.Thefirstconceptweneedtounderstandisthatasurgicalcodeincludesanofficevisit.Thatmeansinmostsituations, it is inappropriatetobillbothanofficevisit(99000or92000)onthesamedayasyoudoasurgicalcodelikeaFBremoval(CPT65222).Theexceptionis when the office visit is a“significant, separatelyidentifiable evaluation andmanagement [E/M] service.Meaning…iftheofficevisitisunrelatedtothesurgery,thenyoucanbillbothbyadding-25totheofficevisitcode.Forexample,youcouldbillbothifapatientisintheofficefora6-monthglaucomacheckandthey happen to also have a FB that needs to be removed. The office visit would have the glaucomadiagnosis code and the FB removal would have the FB diagnosis code. But if the office visit’s diagnosiscode is for any reason related to the diagnosis used for the surgery, it would not holdup in a review.During a review an auditor would look at a diagnosis like “pain in and around the eye” and very easilydeterminethatitwascausedbythepieceofmetalthatwasremoved.Andasaresult,theywouldrecouptheofficevisitpayment.

Thenextverycommonerrorinthissituationisthatthedoctorwillalsobill65435(removalofthecornealepithelium) on the same day if they usean Alger brush. This part does get a little more confusing, butmostsourceswillstatethatifthisisdoneatthesametimeastheFBremovalitisbundledtogetherandyou should only bill 65222. If the patient develops a rust ring a few days later and you perform thedebridementatthattime,youmaybill65435atthatpoint.However,onesource(CPTAssistant)statesinonereferencethatyoushouldsimplybill65222againbecausetherustringistechnicallyaforeignbody.Thepointhereisthatyoushouldnotbillthembothonthesameday.Aforeignbodyremovaldoeshaveazero-day global period, so if a rust ring removal is performed on another day you can bill for it at thatpoint.Becausethereferencematerialhasconflictinginformation,itisuptotheprovidertochoosewhichcodetheyfeelisthemostappropriate.Iftheyareeveraudited,theywouldatleastbeabletosaytheyareawareofthecontroversyandexplainwhytheychosethecodetheydid.Iknowmanyofyouarethinking,“ButIhavebilledbothofthesethesamedaymanytimesandtheyhavealwaysbeenpaid.”Remember,justbecauseitgotpaid,doesnotmeanyoudiditright.Usingadifferentdiagnosiscodeforeachsurgicalproceduremaygetitpastthecomputersystem,butanauditormaynotbeasforgiving.

Finally,thebandagecontactlens(92071).Ifabandagecontactlensisused,youmaybillforitalongwiththe surgical code…usually. Somepayersmight considerabandageCLaspartof thewoundcare that iscoveredundertheFBremovalcode.Butthemajoritydonot.Anothergrayareahereisthatmostpayers(likeMedicare)bundlethecostoftheactuallenswiththefeepaidfor92071.Therefore,youdonotbillseparatelyforthematerials. Ifthepayerdoesreimburseforthematerials,youwouldbillforthemwith99070Suppliesandmaterials,or92326Replacementofcontact lens,ortheappropriateVcodesuchasV2523 (contact lens, hydrophilic, extended wear). The only way to know is to find a Local CoverageDeterminationortocallthespecificpayer.

Modifier25significant, separately identifiable evaluation andmanagement[E/M]servicebythesamephysicianonthesamedayoftheprocedureorotherservice

RyanP.Ames,OD,[email protected]

888.456.2046

April2017:TheReasonforVisitDrivestheBusThisisoneofthefundamentalconceptsinpatientdrivencareandinproperdocumentation.NearlyeverydayIseeapatient,onewillcomeincomplainingofonething,andIwilldiscoveracompletelydifferentconditionthatIfeelismoreimportant.Theymaynotevenhavesymptomsofthisnewcondition.TheReasonforVisit(RFV)cancertainlybedoctordirected fromapriorvisit.But theconcept is thesame,whether theRFV isdoctordirectedorpatientdriven, this is thecondition thatwillbecometheprimarydiagnosis. Remember,auditorsareoftenemployedbythird-partycompaniesandtheyderivetheirrevenuebasedonapercentageofwhattheyrecover.Therefore,theyaregoingtolookforlow-hangingfruitthathasahighpotentialforrecoupmentofpayment.TheRFVisaveryeasilyidentified element of the exam and if the primary diagnosis does not address it, they could deem the entireencounterunnecessaryandrecoupthepayment.Justyesterday,Isawalong-timepatientwithnopriormedicaldiagnosisexceptapinguecula.Healsohadnovisualcomplaints.Hecameinsaying,“Ithinkthosewhitebumpsaregettingbiggerandaresometimesred.”Onexam,thevisioninhisrighteyewasslightlyreducedto20/25-withnoimprovementafterrefraction.OCTconfirmedamildepiretinalmembranewithmildtraction.(PerhapsIshouldhaveseenitlastyear…).IwasmoreinterestedinhisERMthanhispinguecula,soIeducatedhimabouttheERMandscheduledhimfornextyearwithanOCTtomonitor.NextIcreatedmylistofdiagnosesandplansofcareandflagmyprimarydiagnosisofanERMwhichhadapoeticallywrittenplanassociatedtoit.About5minuteslater,IrealizedIhadmadeamistake.TheERMwasNOTtheprimarydxfortheday.ThepatienthadpresentedwithnocomplaintsofanERM,norwasthereapriorhistoryofitstatingthatIneededtomonitorit.Today’sprimarydiagnosiswaspingueculaandmyplanofcarestatingartificialtearuseandUVprotectionwasthetreatment.AnythingrelatedtotheERMwouldbesecondaryintheeyeoftheinsurancepayer.Inanaudit,theywouldbelookingtomakesurethatIaddressedtheRFV.Iamcertainlyfree,andexpected,tocareforotherneedsthatariseduringthevisit.ButmyprimaryresponsibilityistoaddresstheRFV.Therefore,Iwentbackintothechartandchangedmyprimarydiagnosistomatch.Now the question may be, if the RFV and primary diagnosis are pinguecula, what about the OCT? There is noproblemwithorderingaspecialtestrelatedtoanotherconditiondiscoveredduringthevisit.Yousimplyassociatethatdiagnosis tothetest totheCPTcode.Andofcourse,makesureyouhaveaniceOrderand Interpretation&Reportforit.Insurance payers are never impressed by a list of 10 diagnoses listed after each CPT code. Even if a patient hasmultiple conditions, there is no need to link every single code to the office visit. For the example above, thispatient’s new list of diagnoses was now:pinguecula,macularpucker (ERM),NScataracts,dermatochalasis, squamous blepharitis, myopia,presbyopia, & astigmatism. Only three of thesemade it to the CMS-1500 form. Pinguecula wastheonlydiagnosisthathadtobeassociatedwiththe office visit, but because I ordered an OCT and recommended a follow up with OCT next year for the ERM, Ilinkedthistotheofficevisitjustforreference.Buttheexamwouldhavebeenpaideitherway.Inshort,theRFVmusthaveaclearlinktotheprimarydx.IfanauditormustlookorwonderhowtheprimarydxandtheRFVareconnected,thiswouldlikelyleadtorecoupmentofpayment,areattheveryleast,somequestionsthatwouldneedtohaveagoodanswer. Ineithersituation,this isaveryeasilyavoidedproblemsimplybyaddressingtheRFVfirstandthenmakingsureyourprimarydiagnosismatches.

CPTCode FirstDx(Primary) SecondDx92014 Pinguecula MacularPucker92134 MacularPucker 92015

(Pt’sresponsibility)Presbyopia

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Happy April Birthday to:Deanna Alexander, ODClark Blackwood, ODBryce Brown, ODKatherine Brown, ODParker Call, ODTeresa Carlson, ODTom Clyde, ODMark Danzo, ODJames Eickelman, ODWilliam Evans, ODElizabeth Failla, ODRodney Fair, ODJose Gallegos, ODTiffany Gates, ODGeorge Hagen, ODBecky Haley, ODStanley Hanson, OD

Scott Haugen, ODJennifer Havrilla, ODJessica Hegewald, ODDavid Himel, ODJordan Hughes, ODRobert Johnson, ODKurt Kuskie, ODSarah Lewis, ODLindsay Loock, ODJenna Manning, ODJohn Mihelich, ODMark Miller, ODJaclyn Munson, ODJerry Pederson, ODBrent Phinney, ODPaula Postma, ODJoseph Raffa, OD

Colin Robison, ODMarcelo Saldivia, ODRuth Scholten-Lellbach, ODBeth Seidman, ODHeather Simonson, ODNorman Spivy, ODMark Strum, ODElizabeth Thomas, ODJohn Thomas, ODBrandon Tibbitts, ODChristine Unger, ODErin Van Dok, ODMelissa Vanray, ODStanley White, ODNoah Wiarda, ODPhilip Wren, OD

Did we miss your special day? Please call the COA office so we can correct our list.

Place of birth: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Family: Husband Jon, fur-babies Maverick and Abigail

Lived in Colorado since: June 2016

COA member since: 2017

My first job was: Limited Too when I was 15

I became an optometrist because: I love being able to impact a person’s life positively by taking care of their eye health and forming lasting relationships.

I earned my OD degree from: University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry

My favorite vacation spot is: St. Maarten

My favorite way to spend free time is: Hiking, but really anything outdoors!

Why am I a COA Member: To create professional relationships with other optometrists in my community and produce an impact in our profession.

Meet a Member

COURTNEY PUTNAM

Apr i l 2017

DAY CAPITOLat theMarch 9th and 10th, 2017


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Co lo rado Optomet r i c Assoc ia t ion


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DAY CAPITOLat the Successful…. Well organized…. Time well spent… Best yet….

...are just some of the comments from our members attending the Optometry Reception and Optometry Day at the Capitol, March 9 – 10. The reception was held at the Denver Art Museum and attended by numerous legislators. An informational program followed with updates on the bills we are supporting, COA activities on telemedicine, the importance of grassroots, and ideas for building a strong relationship with legislators.

Most exciting was the announcement that our bill to allow patients a choice of provider was introduced in the Colorado House just before our reception so we could talk about it on Friday to legislators.

On Friday COA volunteers were able to meet with their legislators and even sit in the House and Senate Chambers. Several legislators stopped by to say hello and had lunch with us.

Thanks to the 68 COA members who volunteered their time to make Optometry Day at the Capitol a huge success.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:• Call the COA office to join the Key Person

network, and

• Join the next President’s Chat with Dr. Sean Claflin on Wednesday, April 19th at 7:00pm to get an update on the status of these bills and what else is happening in the Colorado legislature.

Thanks to our attendees:Deanna AlexanderDave BaumgardnerMark BennettMichael BollenbacherMegan BordenKatherine BrownSusan BrunnettSavannah BruntMatt BuchananTeresa CarlsonMichelle ChaneyKenneth ChungSean ClaflinBenjamin CollinsThomas CruseTara DeRoseCraig EckrothChris EddySusan EissenbergAshlee ElmontHeather GitchellScott HaugenKenneth HeadingtonPaul HeersinkRandy HertnekyChristopher HeyDaniel HockSeth HuberJanice JarrettKelly Jackson-CondonLaura JubaHale KellMichael KlaichKevin KrajewskiDale LervickCarol LiptonNathan LohmeyerSteven LoomisZoey LoomisAlison LorangerEmma LundienMark MayburyBob McQuaidMonica MortensonWalter MortonMitchell MunsonJaclyn MunsonSherrie NunnJason OrtmanNathan OstermanJon PedersonEllen PetrillaGlenn PierreKevin PollardBob ProutyFrank PuckettDiane ReddinVandi RimerMarcelo SaldiviaDanny SanchezJeri SchneebeckMatthew ScottPearl ShinElliot StorEric StrautmanBrittany WrightLindsay WrightKent Yount

Bills Affecting Optometrists in 2017The following are the key bills that COA is working on to protect and benefit Optometry and our patients in Colorado this session. To find out more, go to the Legislative Links under the Advocacy tab on the COA website (www.visioncare.org)

• HB17-1094 – Telehealth in Health Plans. Directs health care plans to pay for health care services via telehealth. Passed both Chambers and signed by the Governor.

• HB17-1121 - Patient Safety Act. Requires a one-time background check and fingerprinting for health care providers (including ODs) at initial licensure or next license renewal.

• HB17-1173 - Health Care Providers and Carriers Contracts. Requires a contract between a health insurance carrier (carrier) and a health provider (provider) to include a provision that prohibits a carrier from taking an adverse action against the provider due to a provider’s disagreement with a carrier’s decision on the provision of health care services.

• HB17-1247 - Patient Choice Health Care Provider. Allows a covered person to receive health care services from a health care provider of the covered person’s choice. The provider must be willing to accept the in-network fee and applies to optometrists, chiropractors and pharmacies.

• SB17-004 - Access to Providers for Medicaid Patients. Changes a law to allow non-enrolled providers to take self-pay patients. Passed the Senate, but it is not likely to pass the House.

• SB17-065 - Transparency In Direct Pay Health Care Prices. Requires health care providers disclose the charges they impose for common health care services when payment is made directly rather than by a third party. Passed the Senate and is before the full House.

• SB17-088 - Participating Provider Network Selection Criteria. Requires insurance companies to publish the criteria they are using to add or remove providers from their panels. We testified to help it pass the Senate. House is considering it.

• SB17-133- Insurance Commissioner Investigation of Provider Complaints. Requires the Commissioner of Insurance to investigate provider complaints and notify the provider of the results of the investigation. Currently, investigation is optional.

Additionally, COA staff and volunteers are monitoring 24 other bills.





Improving Vision. Improving Life.

C. Starck Johnson, MD ~ Richard Stewart, MD ~ Carl Tubbs, MD

Teresa Carlson, OD ~ Crystal Kasper, OD ~ Ketty Lee, OD

Thomas Politzer, OD ~ Robert Prouty, OD

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702 W. Drake Rd. Bldg B Suite B Ft. Collins, CO 80526 p. 303.485.1516 f. 303.776.1110

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333 S. Allison Pkwy Suite 120 Lakewood, CO 80226 p. 303.794.1111 f. 303.347.1341

Services

Thank you for your continued trust in us!

Determining Disabilityand Statutory Blindness

~ An OverviewAny optometrist, whether or not she or he provides low vision rehabilitation services, may be called upon at times to provide a patient with certification of “legal blindness”, “statutory blindness”, “disability” or “percent disability”.

Every optometrist learned that “legal blindness” was 20/200 or worse or a 20 degree field or worse, but things have gotten much more complex since the Social Security Administration made changes in their policies from 2005 to 2013. To assist the optometrist who is trying to navigate this, the COA Low Vision Committee has developed a series of six articles. This first one, that you’re reading now, is an overview to help you determine which of the other articles might apply to your patient. Below are some of the situations you might find yourself in, and the article that would apply. Please note that some of the articles will be printed in upcoming Viewpoint editions this coming spring and summer.

• For the patient who is applying for Social Security Disability due to loss of visual acuity alone, consult the second article in our series, called Social Security Disability – Visual Acuity. Remember that we’re talking about visual acuity in the better eye with best optical correction in place.

• For the patient who is applying for Social Security Disability due to loss of visual field alone, direct your attention to our third article, Social Social Security Disability – Visual Field. Use of automated static perimeters is now allowed under Social Security regulations.

• Some patients who are applying for Social Security Disability don’t meet the criteria based on visual acuity or visual field alone, but have some loss of both. The most recent changes in the Social Security regulations allow for the combination of visual acuity and visual field loss. The fourth article in our series guides you through this process, and is called Social Security Disability – Combining Visual Acuity and Visual Field.

• Sometimes people want to be certified “legally blind” for reasons other than Social Security disability. The most common case is the person, who may be retired, who simply wants to get the extra exemption through the IRS to save money on their income tax. There are other examples as well, which will be explained in, Statutory Blindness for Needs Other than Social Security.

• Finally, you may encounter a patient who has suffered vision loss from an ocular injury, frequently while on a job site, in one or both eyes. You may be called upon to determine the percent of vision loss. This determination may be used to determine the level of financial compensation or health care benefits that will be provided for this patient by his or her employer or the employer’s insurance company. If this best describes your patient’s need, go to our last article, Determining Percent Disability for Legal Cases.

Below is a list of the articles in this series. We hope you find them helpful.

(For #2 & #3 below, go to www.colorado.aoa.org and click on CCVIP under the Programs Tab. Scroll down to the “Determining Disability” link at the bottom of the page.)

1. Determining Disability and Statutory Blindness – An Overview

2. Social Security Disability – Visual Acuity

3. Social Security Disability – Visual Field

4. Social Security Disability – Combining Visual Acuity and Visual Field (coming May, 2017)

5. Statutory Blindness for Needs Other than Social Security (coming June, 2017)

6. Determining Percent Disability for Legal Cases (coming July/August, 2017)

Presented by the COA Low Vision CommitteeMarch, 2017





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As you may know, the Colorado Optometric Association endorses Vision West as our buying group. Through Vision West, the purchasing power of the COA members is combined with other associations nationwide to increase leverage and generate greater discounts for our members. Members have access to some of the best discounts in the industry on ophthalmic goods and services. This is your opportunity to purchase frames, contact lenses, lab work, pharmaceuticals and many other business services at fully discounted prices.

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“We use Vision West as a tool to consolidate billing each month with our vendors. This provides us with discounts on product purchases and unique offers. My VWI representative, Erica, provides outstanding and timely customer service. I have tried to hire her for my office but haven’t convinced her to move from California to Colorado yet!” – Andrew Adamich, OD

“Quite honestly, I like using Vision West because of its professionalism. Any time I call, the representative is always helpful and friendly. I really like having a condensed bill rather than 20 separate vendors to pay. I’ve been very pleased with Vision West and would highly recommend them.” – Julie Larson, OD

“I like Vision West because it puts most of our bills all together in one spot so I just have to make one on-line payment at the end of the month vs. having to mail out a lot of little checks here and there. They work with most frame brands which we get a discount on for being Vision West members. Also their staff has been helpful with questions regarding billing or any questions my staff or I might have. They also call my optician regularly about promotions and are very reliable in getting invoices to us as needed. I would recommend them. I looked into another buying group about a year ago (because I got an email from them) and there was no benefit to changing.” – Louise Vail, OD

If you are not enrolled with Vision West, you may do so at www.vweye.com. If you have any questions, please feel free to call the Vision West team at 800-640-9485. We hope you will take advantage of this great opportunity and continue to help support COA!





The Great Western Council of Optometry (GWCO) is a non-profit association formed in 1991 to provide a common voice for members within organized optometry, facilitate communication, enhance professional development, provide financial support to affiliated state optometric associations and to build a national political presence for the western states. Today, GWCO is comprised of thirteen member state optometry associations including; Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. A representative from each state makes up the GWCO Board of Directors. The board members volunteer countless hours throughout the year planning the annual GWCO Congress.

Why does Colorado need to be part of a Regional

Affiliation?

Regional affiliations offer COA leadership the ability to interact and work with leaders from other, often likeminded, State Associations. These affiliations also allow State Associations to have increased exposure to national leaders and an opportunity to better understand national concerns that affect our profession both now and in the future.

In addition to the leadership development aspects GWCO affords, GWCO also sponsors one of the largest and most well attended educational conferences in the country. Over 1400 registrants are expected this year comprised of practicing

optometrists, allied ophthalmic professionals, optometric executives, state and national leaders, and students. This year’s annual conference boasts more than 75+ hours of continuing education courses featuring nationally and internationally renowned speakers. Attendees will experience the largest regional ophthalmic exhibit hall, association meetings, state leadership meetings, numerous social events, paid branding seminars and evening receptions.

GWCO is proud to say that they are the only meeting in the U.S that returns money back to its affiliate state optometric associations. Each state is guaranteed both an equal portion of revenue share as well as revenue based on member attendance by each individual state. Colorado had the 4th largest attendance of the 13 Western States in 2016 receiving approximately $9000 in non-dues revenue.

It is imperative as we progress and move forward in this profession that we have an overall broadened access to other western states. The cumulative wisdom of a larger group will only strengthen us for the future.

Respectfully,

Kent G. Yount OD Colorado Delegate to GWCO

• 75+HrsofCuttingEdgeCE!• COPE,ABO,NCLE,CPCAccreditation!• IndustryPartnersSeminars!• BOGOEarly-BirdRegistration!• 2-DayExhibitHallMarketplace!• EveningEventsandmore!

BOGO!One free AOP with each OD registration thru 8/16/17

Highlights

Great Western Council of OptometryPO Box 2, Marylhurst, OR 97036, P: 503-654-1062, F: 503-882-4851

www.gwco.org, [email protected]

Great Western Council of Optometry

registration opens 5/1/17

Stay Tunedwww.GWCO.org

Scan Me

September 28 - October 1 Portland, Oregon

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President’s Chat

The next President’s Chat will be April 19th from 7:00-7:30pm. Please save the date for this legislative update with Dr. Sean Claflin and look for a link via email to register.

Membership CornerMember Appreciation Dinners coming soon!

Please save the date for your area:

Colorado Springs District 5 Tues., May 9th

Grand Junction District 6 Thurs., May 11th

Loveland Districts 3 & 4 Wed., May 17th

Denver Districts 1,2 & 7 TBD

730 17th Street, Suite 350Denver, Colorado 80202-3515

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