NYSOA Spring 2023 Prospectus

Letter from the NYSOA President

By David N. Ciccone, OD

Welcome NYSOA members. I hope this month’s letter finds you warm and well. As I sat down to compose this, it was with a sense of satisfaction, pride and little bit of sadness. The first two for all that we’ve recently accomplished the last because my term as President is winding down.

As you read this, the first Orals Pharmaceutical course has been administered and those who attended are completing the self-study component and preparing for their competency examination on March 5. The next course will be at IVC in Saratoga Springs, April 27 – 30. If you plan on taking the course and test, and have not yet registered, this is the place! Great location, evening socials, 24 hours over 4 days instead of 3 and Awards Banquet included in registration. Best of luck to all in the program and congratulations on being the first ODs who will be able to prescribe orals in our State come this fall.

To get from a bill in October of 2021 to a top notch in-person and synchronous remote program in 16 very short months is a truly amazing feat. Not only did this course and the upcoming test need to be designed. It had to be done under the constraints of getting the course, and the test, approved by the appropriate State agencies. This while also dealing with the simultaneous implementation of regulatory and reporting guidelines by these agencies. No small feat!

It would be impossible to recognize everyone involved in this process, but I would be remiss not to mention two individuals, whom without them, this achievement could not, and would not have occurred. Dr. Dawn Chivers, our previous President, and forever legislative guru, and Mr. Jim Walsh, our Legislative Counsel. The innumerable late nights (often into the early morning) that they put in to make this happen is beyond comprehension. With every brick wall that we hit, they persevered. Ultimately, we won. I give my heartfelt thanks to Dawn and Jim.

Instrumental in developing the class, test, and getting it ushered through the halls of Albany were Drs. David Heath, Rich

Madonna, Richard Soden, Mitchell Dul, Diane Adamczyk and Ms. Betsy Torres from the College, Drs. Saysha Blazier, Viola Kanevsky and Mr. Tom Cote from the NYSOA. Again, truly a remarkable feat! Kudos to all!

The Out of State Externship bill, which will allow optometric students attending accredited institutions outside of New York to participate in externships within the State, has made great headway. Our Title VIII bill, which would allow optometrists, and other allied health care professionals to be business partners with a physician, is also getting active. Read more on these in Jim Walsh’s Legislative Update.

The next time you read this article it will be from Dr. Marina Su, our current President-Elect. She has great leadership skills, many great ideas on how to continue to advance the success of our organization, and a LOT of energy to make it happen. I look forward to her upcoming tenure. Please wish her well.

It has been an honor, and a pleasure to serve the NYSOA and its membership this past year. It has certainly been a busy one. We have continued, and expanded upon, the momentum begun by our previous leadership and are set up to protect our hard earned gains to ensure that Optometry continues to be the Primary Eye Care Providers in New York State.

My best wishes for health, happiness and prosperity to all.

Sincerely,

David N. Ciccone, OD President – New York State Optometric Association

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New York State Legislative Update

By James Walsh, Partner, NYSOA Legislative Counsel

The New York State Legislature is now nearing the end of its second month of the 2023 legislative session, with most of its attention on the State budget which is being negotiated among Governor Hochul’s Administration and Senate and Assembly leaders in anticipation of reaching an agreement for the next State fiscal year which begins on April 1st. While the focus is on the budget, the Legislature is also considering and acting on dozens of the hundreds of bill that have been introduced to date.

Among such legislation is a NYSOA priority bill, S.131 (Krueger)/A.3158 (Bores), which would remove an antiquated restriction in law that provides that only students in a New York school of optometry can practice in New York State prior to full licensure by the New York State Education Department. The State Senate unanimously passed the bill on January 25th and we secured an Assembly bill sponsor with recently elected Assemblymember Alex Bores (D-Manhattan) who has voiced his strong support to push the bill this year. The NYSOA has argued that this law deprives New York-resident students the opportunity to return home to New York and, for others, the ability to explore beginning their professional careers in New York State. From the perspective of New York’s Doctors of Optometry, the current law deprives them of the ability to work with out-of-state optometry students who are prospective professionals to hire upon their graduations and eventual licensure in New York State. For patients, changing the law will enable New York to bring in more primary eye care providers at a time when there is increasing demand and need for such services.

A second NYSOA priority bill, A.715 (Peoples-Stokes), would allow physicians who wish to jointly own healthcare practices with other health service providers, including Doctors of Optometry, to do so in order to improve patient care and reduce healthcare costs. The bill has been introduced by Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes (D-Buffalo) and will imminently be introduced in the Senate (our prior Senate sponsor, Diane Savino (D-Staten Island), did not run for re-election in November 2022). This bill is strongly supported by numerous health service provider associations, including the NYSOA. Current law prohibits physicians from owning

professional practices with non-physicians. This bill would amend the law to allow physicians to enter into a voluntary, legal relationship to jointly own business corporations, professional limited liability partnerships and professional limited liability companies with certain health service providers, including optometrists, chiropractors, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, midwives, podiatrists, ophthalmic dispensers, psychologists, social workers, massage therapists, and occupational therapists. The bill would not mandate or require that a physician own a practice with any other professional, but would merely allow such physicians and other health service providers to make the mutually consensual decision to jointly own a practice - without the law limiting that decision.

The NYSOA also continues to educate legislators related to bills that may have an impact upon optometry and to seek amendments, where appropriate. We will provide ongoing legislative updates through our regular NYSOA communications regarding these and other bills.

Save the Date for the 2023 IVC!

TRAVEL INFORMATION

The Gideon Putnam (866) 890-1171

gideonputnam.com

24 Gideon Putnam Rd

Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

DRAFT AGENDA

Thursday, April 27th

• Breakfast 8am

• CE 9am-1pm

• Lunch 1pm-2pm

We are excited to invite you to the NYSOA Innovation Vision Conference, to be held at the Gideon Putnam Hotel in Saratoga Springs from April 27th to 30th. This year’s conference promises to be an exciting and enriching experience, filled with opportunities for professional growth and networking. The conference will feature the highly anticipated Orals Certification Course, designed to help you advance your professional skills and knowledge.

In addition to the Orals Certification Course, there will be an exhibit hall and a variety of social events and networking opportunities, allowing you to connect with your colleagues and build new relationships. We will also be hosting an Awards Dinner to celebrate the achievements of our members and to honor the contributions made by those in the optometric community and install our new board of directors, including our next President, Dr. Marina Su.

We hope you will join us for this exciting event and take advantage of the many opportunities it offers.

REGISTRATION INCLUDES

• All 40 hours of CE (24 live at IVC and 16 self study)

• Breakfast and Lunch on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday

• Dinner on Saturday

• Breakfast on Sunday

The Innovation Vision Conference of NY has a little something for everyone, so register today and start planning your trip to the The Gideon Putnam!

• CE 2pm-6pm

• Dinner on Your Own / Social Activities

Friday, April 28th

• Breakfast 7am

• CE 8am-12pm

• Lunch/Exhibits 12pm-2pm

• CE 2pm-6pm

• Dinner on Your Own / Social Activities

Saturday, April 29th

• Breakfast 8am

• CE 9am-1pm

• Afternoon/Lunch on Your Own/ Social Activities

• NYSOA Awards Reception/Dinner 6pm-9pm

Sunday, April 30th

• Breakfast 8am

• CE 9am-1pm

• Student and Young OD track TBD!

If you plan to attend but do not need CE, or you plan to bring a guest and would like the guest to access meals or the reception, please contact the NYSOA office: info@nysoa.org

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MEMBER BENEFITS

WHY JOIN NYSOA?

Membership with the New York State Optometric Association (NYSOA) becomes a combined membership with the American Optometric Association (AOA) and a Local Society. Members of the NYSOA are entitled to a wide variety of benefits and resources, some of which include:

ADVOCACY INSURANCE & BUYING

Legislative advocacy at the state and federal levels – giving you the ability to stay current on legislative issues and contact your representatives regarding matters affecting the profession.

Access legal assistance and other resources for working with insurers, getting answers to practice questions, and defending the rights of optometrists to practice full-scope optometry.

Comprehensive malpractice liability insurance policies at competitive rates.

Access to Healthy Eyes Advantage, the ECP’s next-generation marketplace, and AOA MORE, optometry’s Qualified Clinical Data Registry.

JOBS & NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY

Networking opportunities and access to a listserve to connect with other members and ask questions.

Continuing education courses to fulfill state licensing requirements.

Subscription to the association’s digital newsletter, Prospectus, featuring current professional topics and issues.

E-mail reminders of upcoming meetings, events and legislative alerts.

Business Partner opportunities and information on practice management.

Access to the NYSOA member website and job posts.

Complimentary practice listings on the Think About Your Eyes doctor locator.