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Welcome to the

Illinois Association of Ophthalmology!

Our 42nd Year    1970 • 2012

The mission of the IAO is to serve the total visual health care needs of the people through public and professional education, membership services, and legislative advocacy.
The Illinois Association of Ophthalmology is dedicated to the public's direct access to an ophthalmologist's care. 

 What's New & Resources

• New!  Illinois Eye Bank's 2012 Gala will be held at the Penninula Hotel, Chicago on Thursday, June 14 beginning at 5:30 p.m. Honoring "Woman of Vision" Mamie Walton and "Gift of Sight" Honoree Joel Sugar, MD.  For more information, visit:  www.IllinoisEyeBank.org

• Mark the date for the 2013 IAO/COS Joint Conference -- March 8, 2013
  -- Conference overview - CLICK HERE
  

• Coding Staff! IAO's Spring 2012 coding seminars are now complete.
  CLICK HERE for details.

• Illinois Resident Ambassadors -- Application deadline:  Closed!  The IAO again will sponsor several residents to attend the AAO's Advocacy Day and MidYear Forum in Washington, DC, April 25 - 28, 2012.  CLICK HERE for more details and an online application form.

• Medicare - ePrescribing (posted 2/6/2012) -- Two new articles from CMS dealing with ePrescribing Payment Adjustment have bee posted for your information.
  -- Quick-Reference Guide for Understanding the 2012 Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Payment Adjustment
  -- ePrescribing:  Assessment and Application Information
   

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  Other Resources and Information
   

• Webinar:  Are You Ready for ICD-10?  A 1-hour interactive online seminar to help you prepare for the transition to the ICD-10 coding system was held on Thursday, December 15, 2011.  We are planning additional webinars in the coming year... stay tuned for details!
  CLICK HERE for information about our recent webinar.
  
  • Attendees:  Check here for handout materials and log-in instructions.  (This page requires a password.)
    
• Join the ISMS - The Illinois State Medical Society represents the interest of all Illinois physicians, and they are a strong partner for the Illinois Association of Ophthalmology in our legislative issues.  All ophthalmologists are strongly encouraged to join!  Here is a link to the ISMS membership information. 
   
• IAO's Coding Information page for ophthalmologists, professionals and billing staff  (member log-in required)
   
• Eye Wiki -- an eye encyclopedia written by eye physicians & surgeons
   
• Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft Schemes 
   
• Practice Management Resources  
  
• Contact Lens Dispensing -- In Illinois, it is against the law to sell (dispense) contact lenses without a prescription.  Read more.
   

Current Legislative Issues

• Optometrists in Illinois sought to expand their scope of practice earlier this year.  A negotiated version of the bill has passed the General Assembly which incorporates a number or protections.  Read more. 
   
• The Illinois Medical Eye-PAC is your path to help build influence within state government.  Help to elect officeholders who appreciate the value of your medical and surgical education! 
  CLICK HERE to donate now.
   
• Read what the Illinois State Medical Society president has to say about scope of practice battles.  CLICK HERE

• Follow the latest political polls and more - Real Clear Politics 

IAO News

NEW!  May 8, 2012 -- AAO 2012 Mid Year Forum & Advocacy Day -- Illinois ophthalmologists took the Nation's Capital by storm... read about your colleagues' experiences in Washington, DC last month -- CLICK HERE

April 20, 2012 -- From the Illinois Department of Public Health:  Call for cases of fungal endophthalmitis following invasive ocular procedures.  Read More
  -- Additional Update as of 5/3/2012 from the IL Dept of Public Health 

January 2012 -- IAO President Chris Albanis, MD, was interviewed for an article that appeared in the Spring 2011 issue of "Spirit of Women" magazine about understanding vision loss.  Read the article here.

December 1, 2011 --Dimitri T. Azar, MD, chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Illinois at Chicago, has been named Dean of the UIC College of Medicine, effective December 16, 2011. This appointment follows extensive consultation with representatives of the faculty, students and college leadership which yielded enthusiastic endorsement for the appointment. Dr. Azar has served as Interim Dean since May 1 of this year. Read more...

May 24, 2011 -- Governor Pat Quinn proclaimed June 11, 2011 to be "Eye Health Awareness Day" in Illinois in recognition of the EyeCheck-Illinois screening project co-sponsored by the IAO and the American Academy of Ophthalmology.  CLICK HERE to view the proclamation (in JPEG format).

March 23, 2011 -- From the AMA Wire... Several medical specialty groups and the AMA are collaborating to end patient confusion over who's a medical doctor.  Read more...

News archives -- click here

Questions regarding the IAO?  Feel free to contact our administrative office.

Ten IAO Past-presidents got together at the 2011 Annual Meeting for a rare photo.  Pictured left to right are Doctors Gary Rubin, Pete Lagouros, Okksana Mensheha, Norbert Becker, Chris Albanis (current president), Frank Kresca (IAO's first president), Bob Graham, John Hanlon, Jim Kapustiak and Ron May.

Photo taken February 2011.  CLICK HERE for a higher resolution copy in JPEG format.