Practice Management
Talking politics in the office? 3 things to keep in mind
Even if you’re choosing to disengage, today’s politics have a way of finding you. What are the ground rules for approaching political debates in the practice?

New rules ahead for patient access to electronic health records
Under new rules for the 21st Century Cures Act, doctors of optometry will need to prepare for changes going into effect April 5. Doctors should check in with their health IT vendor in order to make sure they meet the new requirements.

7 things to know to protect your future
Protecting your future and your family’s financial security is crucial. Group insurance plans administered by AOAExcel®’s endorsed business partner, A.G.I.A. Inc., offer that security to AOA members.

IRS ruling on PPP loans could raise practices’ taxes, AOA pushing for fix in new COVID-19 bill
The IRS’ decision regarding the tax treatment of PPP loans could turn what was intended to be a tax-free loan into taxable income for 2020.

Excel Your Career

Considering paraoptometric certification? AOA offers CE-eligible webinar
Take the first step toward paraoptometric certification with this AOA-led skills review webinar, worth two CPC continuing education credits on Thursday, Dec. 10. Register your staff today.

Jan. 1 coding changes—are you ready?
Evaluation and management (E/M) services are incredibly important in patient care, and it’s critical that optometry practices are aware of changes ahead. Meanwhile, the AOA and other leading physician organizations are pushing legislation that would halt Medicare payment cuts resulting from the changes.

8 lessons the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us
From rethinking office flow to virtual care services to cash reserves—the ongoing pandemic has already taught doctors of optometry lessons to last a lifetime.

Are your coding habits up to snuff? AOA HPI provides benchmark data
Time to review your practice’s billing and coding: Access national benchmark data for optometry practices and join an upcoming webinar to learn more about E/M code changes in 2021.

Selling your practice to a private equity firm? Things to think about, ethically and otherwise
Private equity transactions are a trend in health care, including optometry. The AOA Ethics and Values Committee discusses what it might mean from your bottom line to the profession.

Make your practice shine in 2020 through paraoptometric certification
Doctors of optometry may enroll their paraoptometric staff as associate members at no additional membership dues for the AOA-member doctor. Once enrolled as associate members, doctors' staff members automatically have access to the Paraoptometric Resource Center's career development resources.