New Year's Resolutions: - Michigan Optometric Association ...

November/December, 2011 • Volume 91, Number 6 • www.themoa.org
New Year’s Resolutions:
Official Publication of the Michigan Optometric Association
- Support optometry through
MOAP AC, AOAP AC and GO!
- Attend the MOA Winter
Seminar and Annual Meeting.
- Inf luence a colleague to join
the MOA.

The Michigan Optometrist
2
November/December, 2011
www.themoa.org

THANK YOU!
The MOA board of trustees and staff thank you
for your membership and support throughout the
year. We wish you and your family a warm and
happy holiday season!
Contents
November/December 2011 Vol. 91 No. 6
4 - President’s Corner
5 - MOA News
6 - MCO Fundraiser for AOAPAC
8 - MOA 2012 Winter Seminar
12 - Is Lead Paint or Asbestos Lurking
in Your Office?
14 - Historical Lookback
15 - Version 5010 Update
16 - MOA Voices
17 - Book Recommendation
19 - MOA November Press Release
20 - Ask the Coding Experts
22 - GCSI Article
26 - Classified Ads
27 - Advocacy Point Submission Form
28 - Advocacy Point Board
30 - Local Society Notebook
31 - MOA Event Calendar
The Michigan Optometrist (Issn 1071-1627)
is the official publication of the Michigan
Optometric Association and is published
bimonthly at 530 W. Ionia St., Suite A, Lansing,
MI 48933, telephone (517) 482-0616,
fax (517) 482-1611, e-mail Bryan@themoa.
org, website www.themoa.org.
Designed in-house by the Michigan Optometric
Association. Direct all editorial
correspondence to the editor, Bryan Dahl.
Advertising and all business correspondence
should be addressed to Carrie Barton. Deadline
for all material is the 5th of the month
preceding the month of issue.
Editorial Board: Drs. Matthew J. Maki and
Mark Swan; MOA Executive Director Cindy
Schnetzler; MOA Communication Coordinator
Bryan Dahl.
Postmaster: Send address changes to the
Michigan Optometric Association, 530 W.
Ionia St., Suite A, Lansing, MI 48933.
Opinions expressed in the various signed
articles in this journal are those of each
individual author and not neccessarily those
of the editorial staff or the MOA board
of directors. Advertising material accepted
by the publicaiton is intended to conform
with ethical optometric standards; however,
advertising acceptance does not imply
endorsement by the MOA.
MICHIGAN OPTOMETRIC
ASSOCIATION - 530 W. Ionia St., Suite A,
Lansing, MI 48933,
Phone: (517) 482-0616 Fax: (517) 482-1611
Website: www.themoa.org
E-mail: bryan@themoa.org
3

The Michigan Optometrist
OFFICERS AND TRUSTEES
MICHIGAN OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION
President: Matthew J. Maki, O.D., F.A.A.O.
President-Elect: David S. Cook, O.D.
Vice-President: J. Gregory Ford, O.D.
Secretary/Treasurer: Paul A. Hodge, O.D., F.A.A.O.
Immediate Past-President: Lillian T. Kalaczinski, O.D.
Trustee: Elizabeth M. Becker, O.D.
Trustee: Matthew A. Johnson, O.D.
Trustee: Jennifer A. Lintz, O.D.
Trustee: Mary E. Miller, O.D.
OFFICERS AND TRUSTEES
MICHIGAN FOUNDATION FOR VISION AWARENESS
President: Michael S. Becker
Immediate Past President: Mark P Williams, O.D.
President Elect: Dr. Matthew Klein
Secretary: Nancy Peterson-Klein, O.D.
Treasurer: Kristine Williams
Grants: Robert Nesom, O.D.
Newsletter Trustee: Cheryl Nametz
Scholarship Trustee: Julia A. Holmes, O.D.
Public Information: Robert A. Holmes, Jr.
Membership Trustee: Mark Manders
Trustee: Dan Wrubel, O.D.
ASSOCIATION DISTRICT PRESIDENTS
District No. 1: Michael J. Pack, O.D.
District No. 2: Amy E. Dinardo, O.D.
District No. 3: Julie L. McMullen, O.D. and
Lynnette Blostica, O.D.
District No. 4: Fredric D. Kapteyn, O.D.
District No. 5: John W. Marohn O.D.
District No. 6: Shelly D. Baker, O.D.
District No. 7: Jana M. Fisher, O.D.
District No. 8: Edward G. Stewart, O.D.
MICHIGAN OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION STAFF
Executive Director: Cindy A. Schnetzler
Legal Counsel: Shoshie Levine; Miller, Canfield, Paddock & Stone
Legislative Counsel: Steven E. Young, Erik C. Hingst
Governmental Consultant Services, Inc.
Office Staff: Carrie A. Barton, Bryan M. Dahl, Amy C. Possavino
MICHIGAN BOARD OF OPTOMETRY
Chair: D. William Lakin, O.D.
Vice Chair: David C. McClintic, O.D.
Members: Peter M. Agnone, O.D.; Gregory L. Patera, O.D.;
Stephen P. Thompson, O.D.
Public Members: William D. Dansby; Kays T. Zair.
4
President’s
Corner
A Message from MOA
President
Dr. Matthew J. Maki
November/December, 2011
www.themoa.org
President’s Corner
As I write this column on Thanksgiving weekend and
think of the things I am personally thankful for, I am
also reminded of the things I appreciate professionally.
Even considering the numerous challenges we face as
optometrists, there are many positive aspects that we
can sometimes too easily forget.
I am thankful for the nature of our profession.
Optometry is consistently named as one of the most
desirable occupations, based on compensation and
workplace environment. The opportunity to help
patients obtain the best vision possible in a pleasant and
relatively low-stress (I did say relatively) setting is something
most of us enjoy. Also, our patients appreciate the
services we provide to enhance their vision and lives.
We are currently able to practice at a level unprecedented
in our profession and are being reimbursed
accordingly. Considering population demographics,
demand for eye care, and improving instrumentation
technology, there is great optimism for this to continue.
Optometry has also positioned itself as the primary
provider of eye care. This will become increasingly important
as forces in healthcare place more emphasis on
primary care procedures. We have reached these points
in large part thanks to the many volunteers in our
national and state organizations. The AOA and MOA,
including staff and volunteer doctors, work hard to
advocate for optometry legislatively, on reimbursement
issues, and public relations. We should be very grateful
for the efforts these people give on our behalf.
I try not to take for granted the things I am thankful
for personally, knowing that circumstances can change
and what is here today may be gone tomorrow. This is
also true in our profession. We cannot assume the way
we practice now will always continue. The best ways for
each of us to ensure this continued level of practice is
membership in the AOA/MOA, financially supporting
AOAPAC, MOAPAC, and Grassroots Optometry
(GO!), as well as volunteering for an AOA or MOA
committee.
My thanks to all of you and enjoy a safe and happy
holiday season!

MOA News
In Memorium
Dr. Douglas Baltrip
Dr. Douglas W. Baltrip, MOA
member since 2008 and founder/
owner of Eye Care One in
Monroe, Mich., passed away the
morning of Nov. 17 from injuries
sustained in an automobile accident.
He was 43 years old. Our
thoughts are with his family during this time of
grief, and we thank Dr. Baltrip for his irreplaceable
years of service to his profession and patients.
Dr. James Hilligan
Dr. James J. Hilligan, a member
of the MOA for 41 years, passed
away suddenly on Nov. 12 at
the age of 68. A 1969 graduate
of Ohio State University, Dr.
Hilligan practiced for 42 years
in Vassar and Saginaw. We are
grateful for his many years of
service to optometry, and he will
be missed.
Dr. Stephen L. Kolarevic
Dr. Stephen L. Kolarevic, a Life
Member of the MOA (44 years),
passed on the morning of Nov.
18 at Mercy Hospital in Cadillac.
He was 76. Dr. Kolarevic
no doubt touched the lives of
countless colleagues and patients
during his many years of service, and we are saddened
by his loss but thankful for all he gave us.
Are You Receiving Emails
From the MOA?
One of the MOA’s primary methods of communicating
with members is email, in the form of the
LookAround e-newsletter and individual alerts with
information relevant to O.D.s. The MOA typically
sends two emails each month.
WELCOME
NEW MOA MEMBERS
Dr. John Abdella
Flint, MI
District 4
Dr. Shea Carney
Livonia, MI
District 1
Dr. Christina Curtis
Kingsford, MI
District 6
Dr. Mary Espy
Burton, MI
District 4
Dr. Neha Gulati
Detroit, MI
District 1
Dr. Tiffany Humes
Ann Arbor, MI
District 7
Dr. Andres Lambaria
Lapeer, MI
District 4
Dr. Jamie McKenzie
Brighton, MI
District 7
Dr. Robert Nagy
Ann Arbor, MI
District 7
Dr. Jennifer Simon
Kentwood, MI
District 2
If you are not receiving MOA emails, first check your spam filter; if the emails are not there,
contact MOA Communications Coordinator Bryan Dahl at bryan@themoa.org to ensure the MOA
has your correct email address on file.
The MOA works to keep members updated on news, events and other areas through email.
Make sure you receive and read the MOA’s electronic communcations - please keep us updated
with your preferred email address.
5

The Michigan Optometrist
MCO Students Show Support for
AOAPAC Through Fundraiser
Michigan College of Optometry (MCO) students held a well-attended Wine and
Cheese Tasting Fundraiser for AOAPAC on Friday, Oct. 21 at the Blue Cow in Big
Rapids.
Kudos to Student AOAPAC Liaison Nicholas Czinder (MCO class of 2013)
and his colleagues for their initiative in organizing the event - this includes AOA-
PAC Liaison-Elect Nina Collins Glauch (MCO ‘14), AOSA Trustee Joshua
Smith-Hanen (MCO ‘13) and MOSA President Katie Schleef (MCO ‘13).
A big thank you to the MOA members who attended and supported the event,
including Drs. John J. Pole and Frederick M. Nista, WMOA President Dr. Amy
E. Dinardo, MOA Trustee Dr. Mary E. Miller, and MOA Past Presidents Drs.
Mark Swan, Roger R. Seelye Joseph D. Czinder and Robert L. Carter.
“Most students that enter into optometry school today
are not aware enough of the importance of politics in
our field. I wanted to put together a fun event where
I could have students and OD’s meet and discuss the
importance of being politically active. Along with
getting more students politically active I also wanted to
raise money for the MOAPAC and the AOAPAC.
For the first annual event we had a wonderful turnout
with 60 people in attendance from students, O.D.s
and faculty from the area and a trustee from the
MOA. I look forward to the event next year.”
-Nicholas Czinder
(From left) Class of 2015 students Jamie Bala, Allison Ezell, Christine Mekhayel, Chelsie
Rupp, and Emily Emerson.
6
(From left) Dr. Nista, Dr. Pole, Joshua Smith-H
Nicholas Czinder,
“Nick and Nina independently
organized the fundraiser in conjunction
with the staff at the five star
Blue Cow restaurant in downtown
Big Rapids. They did an excellent
job in spearheading this great event.
Five different wines were sampled,
each accompanied by delicious,
wine-specific hors d’oeuvres. It was
a very enjoyable evening benefiting a
great cause.”
-Dr. Robert L. Carter

Charmi Shiyarwala (‘13), Dr. Carla Gilbertson, and Katie Schleef.
annen, Dr. Seelye, Dr. Carter, Dr. Czinder,
and Nina Collins
Above photo: Lynelle Edwards, Anne St. Louis (‘13), and S
onja Iverson-Hill (‘13). Right photo: Brian Sklapsky (‘13) and
Paul Kimbro (‘13).
“I was very pleasantly surprised by the large turnout
of students, faculty members and local O.D.s for the
AOAPAC fundraiser. It is gratifying to see that
so many students already realize the importance of
political involvement in both maintaining and advancing
their future profession. MCO student leaders
Nick Czinder and Nina Collins Glauch need to be
recognized for their outstanding work and foresight
in organizing such a successful event. Optometry appears
to be in good hands with the caliber of students
that were represented there that evening.”
-Dr. Roger R. Seelye
Kim Reich (‘14), Allison Middleton (‘14), and Alana Herron (‘13).
7

The 2012 MOA
Winter Seminar
February 1 - 2, Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center, East Lansing
The MOA is pleased to invite you to the 2012 MOA Winter Seminar, taking place Wednesday and
Thursay, Feb. 1 - 2 at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center in East Lansing, Mich.
Registration forms must be faxed or postmarked by Jan. 18, 2012 to meet the early registration deadline.
The deadline to make reservations at the Kellogg Hotel is Jan. 8. Submit your registration
and arrange your accomodations as soon as possible! Download the registration form from the “Save
the Date” area on the MOA homepage, www.themoa.org.
We are excited to offer two tracks for the first time at our Winter Seminar on Thursday. In track one,
Dr. Leonard Messner will give two classes on neuro-optometry; one explains new developments,
while the other is an overview specifically designed as a board review class. His remaining lecture will
cover utilization and interpretation of OCT. Track two is a continuation of the AOA EHR course,
the first part of which was very well-received at the MOA Fall seminar in 2010. Anyone planning
their implementation of EHR will find these classes indispensable. Seats are limited for the EHR
lectures, giving you another reason to register early.
We look forward to seeing you at this always-enjoyable winter educational!
CE Courses on Wednesday, Feb. 1
COPE # 31875-AS - Anterior Segment Challenges - Marc Bloomenstein, O.D. (AS—Treatment & Management
of Ocular Disease: Anterior Segment)
COPE # 31149-GO - House OD: Case Reports and Video Grand Rounds - Marc Bloomenstein, O.D.
(GO—General Optometry)
COPE # 23554-AS - Corneal Dystrophy/Degeneration: What Every Optometrist Should Know - Marc
Bloomenstein, O.D. (AS—Treatment & Management of Ocular Disease: Anterior Segment)
COPE # 27880-AS - The ABC’s of Ocular Surface Disease - Marc Bloomenstein, O.D. (AS—Treatment
& Management of Ocular Disease: Anterior Segment)
Total CE hours = 6
TRACK ONE
CE Courses on Thursday, February 2, 2012
COPE # 31649-NO - The Eye in Neurologic Disease - Leonard Messner, O.D. (NO—Neuro-Optometry)
**This course is suitable for board review.
8

COPE # 31894-PD - Optical Coherence Tomography in Macular Disease - Leonard Messner, O.D.
(PD—Principles of Diagnosis)
COPE # 32049-NO - New Developments in Neuro-Ophthalmology: Neuro-Ophthalmic Characteristics
of Traumatic Brain Injury and Multiple Sclerosis - Leonard Messner, O.D. (NO—Neuro-Optometry)
Total CE hours = 6
TRACK TWO
COPE # Pending - EHR Part 2: EHR Software Selection and Implementation - Phil Gross, O.D. and
Jay Henry, O.D.
COPE # Pending - Meaningful Use and EHR Incentive Programs Update - Phil Gross, O.D. and Jay
Henry, O.D.
COPE # Pending - Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) and e-Prescribing Made Easy -
Phil Gross, O.D. and Jay Henry, O.D.
Total CE hours = 6
Winter Seminar Speakers
Dr. Marc R. Bloomenstein is the Director of Optometric Services at the Schwartz Laser
Eye Center in Scottsdale, Arizona and President of MRB Eye Consultants. He is on the
editorial board of Primary Care of Optometry News, Review of Optometry, Optometry
Times, Advanced Ocular Care and a frequent contributor to various optometric journals.
Dr. Bloomenstein currently serves as a board member of the Ocular Surface Society of
Optometry (OSSO) and on the OCRT as well as serving as a member of the AOA Continuing
Education committee. Dr. Bloomenstein has served as the President of the Arizona
Optometric Association. He has delivered over 300 invited lectures worldwide and serves
as a consultant to numerous industry-leading pharmaceutical, biomedical and information
technology companies.
Dr. Leonard V. Messner is the Vice President for Patient Care Services of the Illinois
College of Optometry and serves as the Executive Director of the Illinois Eye Institute
and the Illinois Eye Institute Foundation. He is a professor at the Illinois College of
Optometry, a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, and currently serves as the
chair of the Diplomate Section for Neuro-Ophthalmic Disorders of the American Academy
of Optometry. He is the author and co-author of numerous professional articles and
textbook chapters on retina-vitreous and neuro-ophthalmic disorders, and a frequent guest
lecturer in the United States and abroad.
Dr. Phil Gross is currently a partner in Vision Quest Eye Care Center, a group private
practice in Dover, Delaware. He first started in the computer consulting industry in 1982.
He speaks and publishes nationally on topics related to technology in eye care and Electronic
Health Records. As Chair of the AOA Practice Advancement Committee and Chair
of the AOA Health Information Technology subcommittee, he has also published many
articles on technology, e-prescribing, electronic records, Federal incentive programs and
Federal legislation relating to eye care.
Dr. Jay Henry is a clinical assistant professor and primary care extern preceptor for The
Ohio State University College of Optometry. He currently practices at Hermann and
Henry Eyecare, a group private practice in Pickerington, OH. Dr. Henry speaks nationally
and has published numerous articles on topics related to electronic health records, paperless
practices, e-prescribing, and ocular disease. Dr. Henry was the first optometrist in the
nation to use optometric specific software for e-prescribing.
9

WMOA / GO! Annual Legislative Breakfast
The West Michigan Optometric Association (WMOA) and Grassroots Optometry (GO!) hosted
their Annual Legislative Breakfast on Oct. 31, 2011, drawing 13 West Michigan legislators and 25
O.D.s. A special thank you to event Co-Chairs Drs. Mark C. Davis and James R. Spears, and
GO! Coordinator Tara Paksi. The breakfast, which has been held for more than 20 years, provides
an opportunity for O.D.s to educate lawmakers about optometry. Thank you, WMOA O.D.s!
Sen. Goeff Hansen (R-Hart) on left and
Dr. Douglas L. Totten.
(From left) Dr. Davis, Rep. Roy Schmidt (D-Grand Rapids),
Dr. Daniel Arsulowicz, and Rep. Brandon Dillon (D-Grand Rapids).
Dr. Paul France (left) and
Rep. Thomas Hooker (R-Byron Center).
Sen. Mark Jansen (R-Grand Rapids) in middle and
Dr. Lee R. Goodfellow on right.
MOA Vice President Dr. J. Gregory Ford (left) and
Sen. Arlan Meekhof (R-West Olive).
Rep. Marcia Hovey-
Wright (D-Muskegon)
on left and
Drs.
Douglas L. Totten and
Mary Fisher.

The Michigan Optometrist Legal Article
Is Lead Paint or Asbestos Lurking in
Your Office?
by Attorneys Kelly Martorano, Eric Jamison 1 and Shoshie Levine
Law Firm of Miller, Canfield
In this article, we provide information
and tips regarding lead paint and
asbestos, two environmental concerns
for your office that are subject
to regulation and could be discovered
during an office renovation or repair
project.
A Healthy Environment for Employees
and Patients
Asbestos and lead paint were both
commonly used in building materials
through much of the twentieth
century. In 1976, Congress enacted
the Toxic Substances Control Act
(TSCA), 15 USC 2601 et seq. TSCA
(which is pronounced Tosca, like the
opera by Giovanni Puccini), granted
the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) authority to regulate
chemicals and hazardous substances
like lead and asbestos.
Due to concerns about the neurological and
developmental effects of exposure to lead in
children, in 1978 the federal Consumer Product
Safety Commission banned paint with a lead
content exceeding 0.06% in consumer products.
Congress strengthened the lead paint ban
in 1992 by amending TSCA to allow EPA to
regulate activities involving lead paint. Currently,
EPA regulations generally focus on lead paint
in residential buildings, schools, and child care
facilities. Not only is lead paint prohibited from
being used in those structures today, but contractors/workers
for renovations, repairs, and painting
where lead paint may exist are required to
12
be trained in a program accredited by EPA, and
must take other steps, like following lead-safe
practices to isolate and contain the lead paint and
provide information regarding lead paint to the
occupants of the structure.
In 2010, EPA announced its intent to regulate
the renovation, repair, and painting of other
types of public and commercial buildings. What
constitutes “commercial” and “public” buildings
is left to be defined by EPA, but the agency
is likely to define those terms broadly and to
include the type of buildings that optometrists
own or lease for their practices among them. In
fact, EPA has indicated that its approach to lead
paint in public and commercial buildings will
1 Mr. Jamison is a recent graduate of Wayne State University Law School and is not yet licensed to practice.
2 See 16 CFR 1303.
3 See 15 USC 2681 et seq.
4 See 16 CFR 1303.
5 See 40 CFR 745.80 et seq.
6 See 75 Federal Register 87 (May 6, 2010).

Legal Article
be similar to the way it has treated lead paint
in residential buildings, schools, and child care
facilities. While it is unlikely that lead paint has
been used recently in your building, it is possible
that it may exist in older layers of paint on
office walls, window sills, door jambs, and other
places. As a consequence, ODs should expect
in the future that if they are renovating an older
office building or one known to have lead paint
they are likely to have to implement many of
the same practices used in residential and other
child-occupied buildings when disturbing lead
paint.
Even if not known to exist in an office
building, a contractor may also find unknown
asbestos in hidden areas of office space repairs
or renovations. Asbestos is a set of naturally
occurring minerals that
were commonly used in
building materials such as
insulation, floor tiles, and
roofing coatings because
of their fire retardant and
strengthening properties.
While there are health
concerns associated with
asbestos, they are most related
to workers involved
in mining, manufacturing, and demolition activities
involving asbestos and not those who work
in an office environment.
In 1989, EPA relied on its authority in TSCA
to ban the manufacture and importation of
asbestos in many products. However, the ban
did not require asbestos-containing materials to
be removed from existing structures, like commercial
office spaces. Therefore, it is not unusual
to find older flooring that remained in place
because it was so durable, boilers or pipes, or
other areas of offices with some asbestos-containing
materials. According to EPA, materials
that contain asbestos that are in good condition
can be left in place if it will remain undisturbed.
However, if the renovations or repairs that are
As healthcare practitioners and
business owners, optometrists are
already concerned about the
wellbeing of their patients and
employees. Looking into this safety
issue may help meet that goal when
planning repairs or renovations for
your office.
planned for an office will disturb asbestos or
if the asbestos is in poor condition, i.e. easily
pulverized to dust by hand pressure or “friable,”
then EPA and occupational health and safety
regulations require it to be handled by trained
personnel who can identify, isolate and contain
the asbestos, and use proper techniques for
disposal.
Tips
As healthcare practitioners and business owners,
optometrists are already concerned about
the wellbeing of their patients and employees
and following these tips may help meet that goal
when planning repairs or renovations for your
office:
• If the building is older or there may be lead
paint or asbestos in the
building, hire a trained
professional to identify
any materials requiring
worker protection or
special precautions.
• Ask your contractor
whether there are plans
in place to deal with lead
paint and asbestos properly
if it is discovered in
the middle of the project and whether workers
are provided the required personal protection
equipment.
• Do not ask your office staff to handle materials
that could contain lead paint or asbestos and
do not allow them to enter areas that are being
isolated for lead paint or asbestos removal.
• If you think that lead paint or asbestos is being
mishandled or that there was improper exposure
to those materials, consult an attorney regarding
your obligations and options.
For more information regarding lead paint and
asbestos, EPA has websites dedicate to both
topics that can be located by searching for “EPA
asbestos” or “EPA lead paint.”
7 Id.
8 See Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry, Tox FAQs for Asbestos (visited Nov. 4, 2011).
9 See 40 CFR 763.160 et seq.
10 See EPA Asbestos Website (visited Nov. 4, 2011).
11 See 40 CFR 763.120 et seq.; 29 CFR 1926.1101 et seq.
13

The Michigan Optometrist Historical Lookback
The MOA Celebrates 115 Years
Correction: In the September/October edition of the Historical Lookback, The Michigan
Optometrist erroneously listed State Sen. Joe Schwarz as an ardent supporter of optometry, when he
was in fact a staunch opponent of optometric legislative initiatives, including the TPA bill mentioned in
the article.
This is the sixth and final installment in The Michigan Optometrist’s look back at the accomplishments
that made optometry in Michigan what it is today and the work of volunteer optometrists. This information
is taken from historical materials archived by the MOA, including the journal compiled by
Dr. Owen R. Dueweke, a member of the MOA since 1956.
New Millennium: 2000-2011
2002: Effective Dec. 1, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan begins reimbursing therapeutic
pharmaceutical agent (TPA) certified Michigan optometrists for medical and surgical procedures
within their scope of practice. The decision came as a result of negotiations between BCBSM and the
MOA, including Drs. Michael G. Wallace, Peter M. Agnone, Dennis A. Olmstead, Elizabeth M.
Becker, then-MOA Executive Vice President William Dansby, and then-Legal Counsel the late Kevin
A. Moody. Optometrists in Michigan score a second major victory in 2002 as Governor John M Engler
signs the optometric therapeutic care legislation (HB 5552) into law on Dec 13. Any topicallyapplied
diagnostic pharmaceutical agent (DPA) may now be used by DPA and/or TPA certified Michigan
optometrists, and TPA-certified optometrists may prescribe oral pharmaceuticals as well as topical
treatment drugs. Previous requirements for consultation with an ophthalmologist prior to initiation of
treatment of glaucoma were removed.
2007: William D. Dansby retires after 40 years
as executive vice president of the MOA. On May 4, Dansby
is bestowed the first Honorary Doctorate of Optometry
from the Michigan College of Optometry (MCO) for
the role he played in advancing pro-optometric legislation,
his service on the MCO advisory committee, and his work
with MCO administration, faculty and students. Then-
MCO Dean Dr. Kevin L. Alexander called Dansby an
“essential part of optometry in Michigan for the past 40
years.” Following Dansby’s retirement, Cindy A. Schnetzler
takes the reigns as MOA executive director, working to
maintain the tradition and history Dansby implemented.
2009-2011:
Dr. Alexander (left) with William D. Dansby
Groundbreaking for the new MCO building takes place in
Spring, 2009 at Ferris State University (FSU), and the building opens in early 2011. The facility is the culmination
of two decades of lobbying efforts, along with cooperation by the university, the MOA, GCSI,
and key legislative partners to create a capital outlay from the state for construction. The funds were allocated
from the state building authority through House Bill 4310 (signed into Public Act 64 ), along with a
large share from FSU. The building was dedicated on June 8, during which then-AOA President Dr. Joe
E. Ellis, FSU President David L. Eisler, MCO Dean Dr. Michael T. Cron, then-MOA President Dr.
Lillian T. Kalaczinski, and former MCO Dean Dr. Kevin L. Alexander made remarks. The opening
of the new MCO building is a fitting final entry in our Historical Lookback, as it represents a strong
foundation for the future of optometry in Michigan.

MDCH and BCBSM Urge Providers to
Test HIPAA Version 5010 Transactions
The Michigan Department of Community
Health (MDCH) and Blue Cross Blue Shield of
Michigan (BCBSM) are actively testing HIPAA
version 5010 transactions with trading partners.
Testing is essential to ensure that all transactions
meet these federally required standards
by Jan. 1, 2012. This article outlines the testing
initiatives for each of these organizations and
provides information to assist in testing efforts.
If you have not begun testing, it is not too late
to start now. Testing should be completed well
before the January implementation date.
MDCH
MDCH is testing version 5010 transactions with
Medicaid Fee for Service (FFS) providers and
Managed Care Health Plans. Trading partners
should first conduct Stage 1 transaction testing
through the MDCH web-based, self-service testing
tool, Ramp Manager. Once this is completed,
trading partners are invited to send test transactions
to the MDCH B2B test system for processing
and reporting, Stage 2 testing.
To date, just over 50 percent of MDCH trading
partners have logged into the Ramp Manager
web site and begun the process of B2B testing.
Testing starts with downloading testing instructions
and Companion Guides. About 21 percent
of MDCH billing agents have started Stage 1
testing of 837 transactions through Ramp Manager
and 15 percent have completed Stage 1 837
testing. Only about 7 percent have begun Stage 2
testing by uploading test 837 transactions to the
DEG, with only 1 percent having successfully
completed B2B Testing with MDCH. MDCH
will not use a phased in approach for accepting
version 5010 transactions. All transactions
received after January 1, 2012, must be in the
version 5010 transaction format. All outbound
transactions created by MDCH after January
1, 2012, will be in the version 5010 transaction
format. Trading partners should be testing with
MDCH now.
B2B Testing Instructions, Companion Guides,
and other helpful information are published at
www.Michigan.gov/5010ICD10. For any questions
Remember to visit the CMS website
for ICD-10: www.cms.gov/ICD10, for the
latest news and resources to help you
meet the Jan. 1, 2012
implementation deadline!
or additional B2B testing information, email
MDCH-B2B-Testing@Michigan.gov.
BCBSM
Since January 2010, BCBSM has participated
in forums, presentations and hosted webinars
with providers, vendors and clearinghouses to
give updates on implementation progress. Test
dates have been actively scheduled with software
vendors and clearinghouses to ensure they are
on track to meet the January 1, 2012 version
5010 compliance deadline. To date, 68 percent
of BCBSM trading partners have started Phase 1
testing with 37 percent successfully passing and
proceeding to the second phase of B2B testing.
BCBSM ranked their top vendors and software
developers based on claim volume for a
two-phased testing process. A trading partner
must pass both testing phases before they can
be promoted to production. Testing phases are
Phase I, HIPAA Validator testing to check compliance
and Phase II, Subsystem testing beginning
in September 2011 for 837P and 835. Once
a trading partner is approved they are deployed
to production. Once deployed, all future transactions
may be sent in the version 5010 format.
BCBSM deployment to production will be
done by transaction. BCBSM will operate in
a dual environment accepting both version
4010A1 and version 5010 transactions from
September – December 31, 2011.
Visit the BCBSM website,
www.bcbsm.com/provider/hipaa_npi/index.shtml for
a timeline, frequently asked questions and other
resources.
For any questions or additional BCBSM B2B
Testing information, email
ebigbusiness5010support@bcbsm.com.
15

The Michigan Optometrist
Will We Recognize the MOA
10 Years from Now?
by Dr. David S. Cook, MOA President-Elect
The Michigan Optometric Association
membership may be a shadow of our current
level in ten years. 245 current MOA
members are age 56 or older and will hit
retirement age within the next 10 years.
That is 27 percent of our membership that
may no longer be with our association as
full members by 2021! A loss of membership
of that magnitude would surely effect
how the MOA does business and how
effective our association can be for our
profession. It is imperative that the MOA
grow its membership before we lose this
large portion of our membership base.
Let’s look at the numbers more closely. There
are 1,495 licensed optometrists in Michigan. 900
of those are members in our association which
equates to a 60 percent membership rate. There
are 913 doctors licensed in Michigan that are between
the ages of 30 and 55. Only 53 percent or
486 of these doctors are MOA members statewide.
If we focus on the largest concentration of
licensed optometrists in our state which is Wayne,
Macomb, and Oakland counties, we find that
just 31 percent or 143 of the 461 doctors in this
region are MOA members. Of the 296 licensed
doctors age 30-55 in this region, 109 are members
for 37 percent membership rate. This region has
great potential for MOA membership growth.
The MOA and its members need to increase
our efforts to reach out to non-member doctors
and help them to see the value in what our association
does for them. MOA Secretary/Treasurer
Dr. Paul A. Hodge likens MOA membership to
an insurance policy for our profession. He tells
non-members that they would never practice optometry
without malpractice insurance and they
should look at MOA membership the same way.
16
November/December, 2011
www.themoa.org
MOA Voices
Our state and national
associations can work tirelessly to
bolster our ranks, but ultimately it is
the relationships that we have with
one another that will bring
non-member doctors into
organized optometry.
The MOA membership committee will be
rolling out a program aimed to help employed
doctors become members with the help of their
employer, which should improve membership
rates across the state, but especially in the greater
Detroit area. The MOA also focuses heavily on
new graduates while they are still in school to engrain
the understanding that our profession needs
them as MOA members. The MOA and AOA
have many other programs aimed at membership
development.
Each of us know a colleague that is not a member
of the MOA. Our state and national associations
can work tirelessly to bolster our ranks, but
ultimately it is the relationships that we have with
one another that will bring those non-member
doctors into organized optometry. Please reach
out to that doctor that you know who is not an
MOA member and let them know that our profession
needs their involvement. The consequences
for not increasing our membership rates could be
dire and here in the blink of an eye.

MOA News
“The Power of Positivity” a Good Read
for O.D.s
by Dr. John R. Dunn, MOA Member, Farmington Hills
I would like to recommend a new e-book written
by a fellow optometrist, Dr. Fred Von
Gunten, titled The Power of Positivity.
Dr. Von Gunten is 69 and suffers from bipolar
disorder. He retired from active practice
more than 12 years ago. He specialized in developmental
and behavioral vision for more
than 33 years. He has been happily married to
his wife Linda for 47 years, who has supported
him during his bipolar episodes, and he feels
that he owes his life to her. With so many years
of experience living with bipolar disorder, his
knowledge and experience helped him to write
this book.
After living with Bipolar I for 50 years, Dr.
Von Gunten’s mission is to help others in
achieving emotional stability without episodes.
For the first 25 years he dealt with several episodes,
and since then, he has transformed his
life by changing his thoughts and committing
to a consistent supply of the mood stabilitizer,
Lithium. He is very proud that he has maintained
years of “episode-free emotional stability.” Perhaps,
some would classify this as “functional bipolar,”
but he might classify it as “functionally
cured.” He was one of the first to receive Lithium
when the FDA approved it in 1971. It has kept
him stable for the last 27 years, along with knowing
the “power of positivity.”
Learning to develop the power of positivity in
his life, Dr. Von Gunten encountered many challenges
while dealing with his bipolar disorder. His
e-book explores these challenges and how he ultimately
achieved episode-free stability. In Power of
Positivity, he presents the numerous sources that
were an inspiration to him and led him to a positive
state of mind. After dealing with biopolar disorder
for so long, he has written this book to help
others achieve long-term stability.
November/December, 2011
www.themoa.org
Anyone who would like to know how they can
apply the “power of positivity” to their life may
want to take a look.
Download Power of Positivity from:
www.smashwords.com
www.amazon.com
Compatibile with your
• Kindle
• iPhone
• iPad
• PC
• Many other e-reading devices.
17

The Michigan Optometrist MOA News
Optometrists Provide Eye Care for
Low-Income Health Clinic
Reprinted from Catherine’s Headlines, the
newsletter of Grand Rapids-based Catherine’s
Health Center, which provides medical
services to people in need. Dr. Mark C.
Davis is an MOA past president.
Over the past nine months in the new
clinic, Catherine’s Health Center has
been bustling with new volunteers,
expanding services and working hard
to create new programs, partnerships
and opportunities for patients.
Since January 2011, Catherine’s has
welcomed more than 100 new volunteers
and logged more than 5,500 hours
of volunteer service.
Among the new programs, the clinic initiatied
in August a new eye care program under the
leadership of optometrist Dr. Mark C. Davis.
Because essential eye services often are difficult
for uninsured patients to access, the implemenation
of in-house eye care allows Catherine’s to
offer patients such critical services as routine
diabetic eye exams and screening for glaucoma,
macular degeneration and other chronic diseases
affecting eye health.
Dr. Davis has worked as a Grand Rapids optometrist
for the past 30 years. Over the past
18
Dr. Mark Davis with patient Cynthia in the Catherine’s Health Center eye
exam room.
November/December, 2011
www.themoa.org
several months, he has worked extensively to
help secure supplies, medicines, equipment and
new volunteers at the health center. Advocating
on Catherine’s behalf to local organizations and
networking with local optometrists, he has played
an instrumental role in forming partnerships
with both the West Michigan Optometric
Association (WMOA) for volunteer recruitment
and the Michigan Foundation for Vision
Awareness (MFVA), which generously donated
the state-of-the-art eye examination equipment.
Catherine’s will be expanding patient eye care
hours over the coming months as the program
continues to grow.

MOA November Press Release
Majority of Americans Lack
Awareness of Diabetic
Eye Disease
The MOA utilized National Diabetes Awareness
Month to urge Americans living with diabetes to
schedule yearly comprehensive eye exams to help
detect diabetic eye disease.
Since diabetes is the leading cause of new cases
of blindness in adults 20-74 years of age, early
detection is critical. Each year, 12,000 – 24,000
people lose their sight because diabetic eye disease
rarely has early warning signs. Detection begins
with having a dilated eye examination every
year to check for signs of diabetic eye disease and
following a course of action recommended by an
optometrist.
Results from the AOA’s 2011 American Eye-
Q® consumer survey revealed that 55 percent of
people are unaware that diabetic eye disease often
has no visual signs or symptoms. Additionally, 44
percent of Americans don’t know that a person
with diabetes should have a comprehensive eye
exam once a year.
“When optometrists dilate a patient’s eyes during
an eye exam, they have a clear view of the
retina and can look for indications of diabetic eye
disease, such as leaking blood vessels, swelling
and deposits within the retina,” said Dr. Matthew
Johnson an MOA trustee and practicing optometrist
at the Battle Creek VA Medical Center. “Optometrists
often serve as the first line of detection
for diabetes, since the eye is the only place in
the body that blood vessels can be seen in their
natural condition without having to surgically cut
through skin.”
Without yearly comprehensive eye exams, conditions
such as diabetic retinopathy can go unnoticed
by patients until the disease has further pro-
November/December, 2011
www.themoa.org
gressed towards blindness. Diabetic retinopathy is
also linked to increased risk of kidney, heart and
nerve disease, making its earlier detection even
more important.
“A patient with diabetes can help prevent or
slow the development of diabetic retinopathy by
taking prescribed medication as directed, sticking
to a healthy diet, exercising regularly, controlling
high blood pressure and abnormal blood cholesterol
levels, and avoiding alcohol and smoking,”
Dr. Johnson said. “Once the disease develops,
the potential for significant vision loss can be
dramatically reduced by more aggressive blood
sugar, pressure and cholesterol control and timely
referral for laser treatment, when appropriate. In
addition, newer medications for retinopathy have
recently been shown to be very effective for preserving,
and sometimes improving vision. The key
is to detect the problem early so that the chances
of maintaining good eyesight are maximized.”
Several factors influence whether someone with
diabetes develops diabetic retinopathy. These
include poor blood sugar, blood pressure, and
blood lipid control, the length of time with diabetes,
race and family history. However, the majority
of people diagnosed with diabetes will have
some degree of retinopathy within twenty years
of diagnosis.
“By the year 2020, the number of people suffering
from diabetic eye disease is expected to
nearly double,” Dr. Johnson said. “To that end,
the fact that eye diseases like diabetic retinopathy
often progress silently, without symptoms, must
become common knowledge.”
Image: graur codrin / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
ABOUT MOA PUBLIC RELATIONS:
The MOA issues a press release to Michigan media each month. The releases are based on national
campaigns conducted by the AOA and their public relations firm, Hill & Knowlton, which are customized
for Michigan and feature in-state MOA members as spokespeople. Visit the Media Center at www.
themoa.org and watch MOA email communications for copies of the releases.
If you are interested in becoming a media-trained spokesperson for the MOA, please contact MOA
Communications Coordinator Bryan Dahl at bryan@themoa.org for more information.
19

The Michigan Optometrist
New Year’s Resolutions for
Health Care Providers
by Drs. Ryan P. Ames and Charles B. Brownlow
It’s time for health care providers to make some
New Year’s resolutions and, unlike most other
people most other years, it’s time for you to actually
follow through on those resolutions. I’ll bet all
or most of you have made the following pledges
to yourselves in previous years. Make 2012 the
first year where you not only keep your resolutions,
you actually complete them before the year
begins! Fat chance? No chance unless you try.
Here are our suggested resolutions; PMI’s Four-
Step Plan for each of you. Thanks for asking...
1. First, it’s time to take a look at your current
fee schedule and decide
whether your current fees
match your feelings of the
values of your services. It
will be difficult, if not impossible,
to negotiate with
an insurance company for
better fees if you are not
confident that your fees
are appropriate to their
value to your patients. Believe me, based on PMI’s
fee surveys, ODs’ averages are way below the averages
for surveys of OMDs’ fees.
2. Second, it’s time to review your internal protocols
for providing care, including the way you
collect data, how you decide which tests to do for
each patient, how you keep records of each visit
and each procedure, and how you record the diagnoses
and management options you choose for
each case. Obviously, if you haven’t already created
such guidelines for doctors and staff in your
practice, now is the time to do it.
3. Third, it’s time to realize that many doctors
are being audited and you probably will be, too.
An audit consists of a review of a doctor’s compliance
with the national rules relative to medical
record keeping and the rules of the payer doing
20
November/December, 2011
www.themoa.org
Ask the Coding Experts
the audit. Each of you should be reviewing the
definitions for the twenty or so CPT codes you
use most frequently, as well as the Documentation
Guidelines for the Evaluation and Management
Services, 1997. You might even want to do
an internal audit of your charts and choices of
codes. PMI can provide you with the tools you
need (free, brownlowod@aol.com) or PMI can do
the audit for you (Not free, but certainly affordable,
www.pmi-eyes.com). Good medical records begin
with good patient care and enhance that care.
Consider adopting these caveats for every patient
encounter:
• Carefully interview the patient to learn why she/
he is in the office (chief
None of these activities is
painful, but every one of them
depends upon you to take the
first steps to ensure that 2012
represents the light at the end of
the tunnel.
complaint/reason for
visit). Many audits
come out badly because
no reason for visit is
recorded or what’s recorded
doesn’t match
the complexity of the
record
• Customize questions
in the case history and elements of the physical
examination to match the needs of the patient,
adjusting each as you gain more information
throughout the history and examination
• Provide the care the patient needs that day, no
more, no less
• Keep a detailed, accurate record of all that is
done during the visit, being careful to do only the
tests that are necessary for that patient, that day,
and to record only data that was actually done that
day…Don’t automatically populate fields of the
medical record from data gathered at an earlier
visit
• Record only the diagnosis codes that are germane
to the visit; not a list of all diagnoses the
patient has ever had
• Choose office visit and procedure codes according
to the rules and definitions in Current Procedural
Terminology (CPT) and the Documenta-

Ask the Coding Experts
tion Guidelines.
4. Fourth, it’s time to pull out the your
provider agreements for all the insurers
that you are contracted with. Review them
with all the doctors and key staff in your
practice to see which you want to renew,
which ones you want to cancel, and which
may be worth the effort to negotiate improvements.
Don’t wait for a neighboring
O.D. to tell you about the results of her/
his negotiations. Take action on your own
and see how good it feels to tell a crappy
insurance plan that you won’t accept their
meager payments any more, and/or how
good it feels when they actually offer favorable
changes to keep you as a provider.
None of these activities is painful. They
don’t require that you lose weight, give up
your favorite foods or beverages, or take
night classes at the local tech college. However,
every one of them depends upon the
person in the mirror; you; to take the first
steps to ensure that 2012 truly does represent
the light at the end of the tunnel and
not the headlight of a fast-approaching
diesel locomotive! Who knows, the light
may even represent the dawn of a new day
for your practice; peaceful and tranquil;
free from any unpleasant challenges or
threats…Nah! They’ll be there, but you’ll
be able to handle them better, assuming
you’ve completed steps 1-4 above! Bring
on the New Year!
Dr. Brownlow is a Wisconsin-licensed optometrist
with 20 years experience in private eye care practices,
working with both optometrists and ophthalmologists.
He has presented over 400 lectures on
medical record keeping and other practice management
issues in 50 states and has served as a consultant
for several major health care manufacturers,
consulting groups, and insurers. He is the founder
of PMI, LLC.
Dr. Ames is the managing owner of Northshore
Eye Care, a three doctor, two location practice
in Oshkosh & Omro, Wisconsin. He is the
Medical Records Consultant for PMI, LLC.
November/December, 2011
www.themoa.org
21

The Michigan Optometrist GCSI Article
A Look at Key Events from
the Past Year
by Erik Hingst and Steve Young
Governmental Consultant Services, Inc.
The 2011 portion of the current legislative session
is winding down. The nine session days scheduled
for December will have been completed when
this article appears. But it is worth noting some
key events that took place during 2011.
RECALLS
After a flurry of activity early in the year involving
education reform, local government reform
and tax reform, some were happy, others were
not. Most notably the public sector unions (read:
Michigan Education Association) were very upset
with the significant reforms pushed through
in the education and local government area. This
resulted in a bevy of re-
call efforts across the state
aimed primarily at Republicans
in the House and
Senate who supported
Gov. Rick Snyder’s agenda
in these areas.
Over 50 recall efforts
were started in Republican House and Senate districts
across the state. This is an unprecedented
number of recalls. Republicans, not to be outdone,
started some recall efforts of their own in a
handfull of Democratic districts across the state
as well. Bottom line: mass confusion as legislators
waited to see if signature gathering efforts in their
respective districts would be successful.
Ultimately, the only recall effort that was actually
on the ballot involved Rep. Paul Scott (R-51,
Grand Blanc), the Chair of the House Education
committee, through which many of the education
reform measures passed. He was obviously
a prime target for the MEA. His recall was scheduled
for the Nov. 8 ballot. A vigorous campaign
ensued, some say over a million dollars was spent,
and the recall was billed as a referendum on the
Governors (and hence the Republican House and
Senate) reform agenda. Others dismissed the recall
as public sector unions trying to protect their
turf.
On Nov. 8, the deeply divided voters of the 51st
House district recalled Rep. Scott by a vote of
12,284 to 12,087. In other words, out of close to
25,000 votes cast, he was recalled by a mere 197
votes.
At this point an uneasy truce has settled over
the Capitol. It is still unclear what the successful
recall means or the impact it will have. But
a couple observations are in order. First, the recall
did not change the balance of power in the
House. Republicans remain very much in control
by a margin of 66-42 (two vacancies now exist).
Second, Republicans seem more committed than
ever to pushing a tough reform agenda that includes
significant struc-
More than 50 recall efforts were
started in Republican House and
Senate districts across the state this
year; an unprecedented number.
Stay tuned.
tural changes to state
government.
Was this a tempest
in a teapot? Time will
tell as we move forward
into the 2012 part of
this two year session.
HEALTH EXCHANGES
As expected, the Senate passed their version of
the Health Care exchange (SB 693) required by
the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
(PPACA), the federal health care legislation. SB
693 is called the MiHealth Marketplace Act. Chairman
of the Senate Health Policy Committee, Jim
Marleau (R-12, Lake Orion) has admonished us
many times to forever ban health exchange from
our lexicon!
In any event, SB 693 provides for the establishment
of the MiHealth Marketplace, a nonexclusive
clearinghouse for health benefit plans. Specifically,
the bill would do the following:
• Require the Marketplace to foster a competitive
market for health insurance in Michigan,
and serve as a market facilitator to promote
the purchase and sale of qualified health
plans and to disseminate information regard-

GCSI Article
ing those plans to consumers.
• Create the MiHealth Marketplace Board to
organize and govern the Marketplace, and
require a majority of the Board members
to represent the interests of health care
consumers.
• Require the Board to establish the Marketplace
as a nonprofit corporation.
• Require the Board to appoint an executive
director to manage the Marketplace.
• Require the Marketplace to make “qualified
health plans” available for purchase
and enrollment by qualified individuals
and employers by January 1, 2014.
• Require the Marketplace to establish a
small business health options program
(SHOP) through which qualified employers
could provide coverage for their employees
and federally recognized Indian
tribes could provide coverage for their
tribal members.
• Prescribe financial integrity requirements
for the Marketplace.
• Require the Marketplace to contract with
the Office of Financial and Insurance
Regulation (OFIR) to certify health benefit
plans as qualified health plans that could
be offered through the Marketplace.
• Specify that the Act would not authorize
the Marketplace to spend State funds.
• Authorize the Marketplace to charge assessments
or user fees to participating
health carriers to support its operations.
• Require the Marketplace to submit to the
OFIR Commissioner and the Legislature a
proposed rate increase and its justification
for the proposal, and allow the Commissioner
to reject it as unnecessary within 60
days.
Continued on page 26...
Steve Young is a
GCSI director with
extensive experience
in the lobbying and
political realms.
Erik Hingst is
a GCSI lobbyist
and expert on
tax policy.
Local action.
Statewide Impact.
GO! is a network of volunteer optometrists
that strengthens our profession’s relationship
with Michigan legislators through interaction
and financial support at the community level.
Volunteer for GO! and you will support prooptometric
legislators and candidates in your
district when called upon by your GO! Team
Leader.
The MOA is counting on you!
Please have the Team Leader from my
district contact me about how I can help.
I will make a pledge of $________ to
support pro-optometric legislators and
candidates for 2012.
Name: ___________________________________
Signature: ________________________________
Home Address: ____________________________
_________________________________________
Home Phone: _____________________________
Email: ___________________________________
Business Address: _________________________
_________________________________________
Business Phone: ___________________________
Your Senator’s Name (if known):
_________________________________________
Your Representative’s Name (if known):
_________________________________________
Thank you for your commitment!
PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN TO THE GO!
OFFICE: FAX 517-371-1170.
23

The Michigan Optometrist
24
November/December, 2011
www.themoa.org
MOA News
Utilize AOA’s EyeLearn Site to Find
Board Certification Review Courses
MOA members looking for classes that will help them prepare
for the American Board of Optometry’s certification exam may
find opportunities through the AOA’s online portal EyeLearn.
AOA launched EyeLearn earlier this year to serve as an easy-touse
tool for O.D.s to find CE and other courses.
Visit the EyeLearn site at www.aoa.org/x18361.xml, or click the banner on the MOA homepage,
www.themoa.org. On the EyeLearn site under “Quick Links” is a link to a listing of Board Certification
Review Courses.
MCO Dean Dr. Michael Cron Announces
Retirement
Dr. Michael T. Cron, dean of the Michigan College of Optometry
(MCO), has announced his retirement effective Aug. 23, 2012.
In a university-wide email issued Nov. 14 from Fritz J. Erickson, provost
and vice president for academic affairs at Ferris State University,
Erickson thanked Dr. Cron for his “passion for working with students
and his leadership, [which] will surely be missed at Ferris.”
During his 34 years with MCO, beginning as an adjunct clinical
professor to his service as dean, Dr. Cron had the opportunity to work
with every class that has graduated from the college, and was responsible
for overseeing and helping coordinate the construction of and
move into MCO’s new $26.7 million state-of-the-art facility.
The MOA thanks Dr. Cron for his many years of service to optometry
in Michigan, and to ensuring that new generations of optometrists
are well-prepared for their profession.
Diabetes Awareness Event Held
at State Capitol
A diabetes awareness event was held Nov. 9 at the Capitol Building in Lansing, organized by the
National Kidney Foundation. MOA member Dr. Krystal K. Kempf was present at the MOA booth
to share information about diabetic eye disease and the importance of regular visits to an eye care
professional for people living with diabetes. The event was held in tandem with National Diabetes
Awareness Month.
The event featured a program during which legislators, veterans, health professionals and families
share information about learning to live with diabetes, risk factors, and other items.
The MOA issued a press release on the topic of diabetic eye disease on Nov. 1 (see page 19).
AOA Increasing Dues for 2012
In a memo from the AOA dated Sept. 30, the AOA board of trustees approved a dues increase of
$35 effective Jan. 1. The special dues assessment of $85 will remain in effect for the 2012 membership
year. There will be no increase for MOA dues in 2012.

MOA News
Division Corner:
Administrative Division
Each issue, The Michigan Optometrist provides an update
from a different MOA Division. For this edition, we check
in with the Administrative Division. New committee members
are always needed! Contact MOA Trustee
Dr. Jennifer A. Lintz (lintzjen@yahoo.com) if you are
interested in participating.
Awards Committee: The Awards Committee
bumped the deadline for MOA Award nominations
up to Nov. 1 this year, and received several nominations
across the award categories. The Committee is
working to determine the recipients, and the awards will be presented during the MOA Winter Seminar,
Feb. 1-2 at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing. Registration forms for this event are available on
the MOA website, www.themoa.org.
Practice Standards & Professional Ethics Committee: This committee met on Nov. 29, and
voted unanimously to adopt the AOA’s recently revised Standards of Professional Conduct. The
committee is now drafting a Resolution on which the MOA House of Delegates will vote during its
annual Business Meeting, which if passed will adopt the AOA conduct standards for the MOA. The
MOA Annual Meeting and Spring Seminar will take place May 9 - 10 at the MOA Annual Meeting
and Spring Seminar in Grand Rapids.
Professional Development Committee: This committee will work over the course of the year to
promote and maintain relationships with other health care professionals, and to foster communication
and cooperation between groups.
November/December, 2011
www.themoa.org
25
N
Th
M
pa
of
an

The Michigan Optometrist
Classifieds
BUYING OR SELLING A PRACTICE?
- Allow an attorney experienced in the sale and
acquisition of optometric practices to assist you.
Tax, estate planning, collection work and other
legal services also available. Services offered
statewide. Currently seeking new listings for
practices for sale. Contact Norman L. Sandles,
Attorney/Broker at (248) 540-2741.
FOR SALE: Medical hydraulic table, holds
three instruments. $3000. Please call Lori at
(734) 429-4885 or email information@cvcicare.
com.
INCREASE REVENUE FROM WITHIN
YOUR OFFICE WITHOUT COSTLY AD-
VERTISING:
*The Program is entitled “Back to Basics –
How to Increase Revenue”;
*The Program works well for OD’s, MD’s &
Opticians;
*It is a 6-hour to 10-hour Program that takes
place in your office & includes the doctor & the
entire staff; and
*The cost is very reasonable.
Please call Donald M. Borsand, O.D., Professional
Consultant for a free one hour telephone
discussion (your issues-your potential needs) at
(248) 423-0731 or cell at (248) 379-3232.
PRACTICE FOR SALE: Well established
optometric practice in southwest MI. Over 100
November/December, 2011
www.themoa.org
Classifieds
years of service to the community. Loyal patient
base, fully equipped; turn-key operation. Excellent
opportunity for someone looking to start a
practice or expand an existing practice. Owners
anxious to sell. Interested parties may contact
Dr. Gregory Dotson for more information.
Send email inquiries to gdotsonod@sbcglobal.
net.
FOR SALE: Thriving private practice in
“Thumb”, Sandusky, Michigan. Decades solid
and increasingly growing patient base. Perfect
downtown location includes building. Contact:
(810) 404-7891.
OPTOMETRIST: Western Michigan University.
The Unified Clinics at Western Michigan
University is seeking an optometrist to practice
in its Vision Clinic. This is a term position that
is benefits eligible and the hours would be established
by the optometrist. Qualifications: The
candidate must possess an optometric degree
from an accredited program and must either be
certified in low vision optometry or be in the
process of having low vision certification within
90 days of hire. Primary responsibilities will be
general optometric exams. WMU offers competitive
pay and a good working environment.
Please send resume to: Coordinator, WMU
Vision Clinic, 1000 Oakland Drive, Kalamazoo,
MI 49008, or email resume to Charles.adams@
wmich.edu. WMU is an EO/AA employer.
Classified ads are a service for O.D.s or companies seeking help at a practice, looking to sell a practice or equipment, or offering
other optomety-related services. MOA members receive a discount on the cost of submitting classified ads. Those interested in
submitting a classified ad must complete the agreement form which may be downloaded from the MOA website (www.themoa.org).
Contact MOA Member Services Coordinator Carrie Barton of the MOA with questions at 517-482-0616, or carrie@themoa.org.
Continued from page 23...
The Michigan House is taking a different approach. It has put the brakes on passing anything related
to PPACA until the US Supreme Court rules this coming summer on the constitutionality of the whole
act. It looks like it will be a waiting game in the House for the time being.
ELECTIONS-
Just when you thought it was safe to go outside, we face elections in 2012. The state House will be up
as will members of congress and of course the president. These elections will have a definite impact
on implementation of PPACA as well. 
26

2011 MOA Legislative Advocacy
There are several ways for O.D.s to support MOA and AOA legislative advocacy efforts and get personally
involved in these activities. MOA member participation is crucial for the protection of optometry in Michigan
and nationwide, as well for the patients who visit optometrists for high-quality eye care.
Michigan Optometric Association Political Action Committee (MOA-
PAC): Contributions to MOAPAC support pro-optometric legislators in the
Michigan. Building relationships with these legislators helps give optometry a
voice in issues that affect optometry, such as changes to health care laws.
Contact: Dr. Lillian T. Kalaczinski, 616-776-2103 or lilliank@cherryhealth.com.
Grassroots Optometry (GO!): This program enables O.D.s to more effectively interact with
and contribute to pro-optometric legislators at a community level. GO! is a catalyst for building
the face-to-face bonds with legislators that are essential to protecting and advancing optometry
and its scope of practice. Contact: Tara Paksi at GO! 517-371-1590 or paksi.t@gcsionline.com.
American Optometric Association Political Action Committee (AOAPAC): AOA’s fund that supports
pro-optometric legislators at the federal level. AOAPAC has helped the AOA
build strong Congressional relationships, resulting in many successfull lobbying
efforts that protect and promote optometry, and eductate legislators about
the fight for patient access. Contact: State AOAPAC Committee Chair Dr. Mark
Cook, 810-227-2004 or mcook@cookandhayden.com.
Keyperson Program: The goal of this AOA/MOA program is to assign an optometrist Keyperson to every
member of Congress. This O.D. works as a frontline representative of optometry and its issues to federal lawmakers.
AOA/MOA Keyperson Coordinator Dr. Gregory Dotson at 269-963-9202 or gdotsonod@sbcglobal.net.
MOA ADVOCACY POINT SUBMISSION FORM
Please check all applicable boxes and return to the MOA office. Fax: 517-482-1611.
Name: ________________________________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________________
1 point for every dollar contributed to: MOAPAC AOAPAC Amount: $______Date:______
1 point for every dollar contributed to a pro-optometric legislator (state or federal level).
Sen./Rep./Gov./Lt.Gov Name: ______________________________________________
Amount: $____________ Date:__________________
300 points for personally sponsoring a fundraiser (i.e. coffee hour, tour of your practice) for a
pro-optometric legislator with local O.D.s.
Name of legislator:_______________________________Date:________________________
250 points for volunteering to work on the campaign (i.e. phone bank, yard signs, door-to-door) of a
pro-optometric legislator.
Name of legislator:______________________________ Date:________________________
200 points for serving as a GO! Regional Director, Team Leader or AOA/MOA Keyperson.
Name of legislator(s) worked with:________________________________________________
100 points for attending a fundraiser or meeting with a pro-optometric legislator (state or federal level).
Legislator name:________________________________ Date:_________________________
100 points for completing and submitting your 2011 GO! pledge form (visit www.themoa.org for more
information).
Date:_______________________
November/December, 2011
www.themoa.org
27

The Michigan Optometrist Advocacy Points
Thank you!
A tremendous thank you to MOA members who contributed to
MOAPAC and AOAPAC this year, and to those who responded to the call
of their GO! Team Leader to meet with and contribute to legislators in
their district.
The MOA thanks all members who responded to statewide calls of
support for key legislative friends of optometry. Your contributions are invaluable.
It is through your efforts that optometry makes strides in Michigan, and protects the ground it has
gained. We look forward to another year of strong advocacy for optometry and our patients!
Advocacy Point Board
Advocacy points are earned through contributions to the Michigan Optometric Association Political
Action Committee (MOAPAC) and American Optometric Association Political Action Committee
(AOAPAC), contributions to pro-optometric legislators, and involvement in Grassroots Optometry
(GO!). Details regarding advocacy points are found on the point submission form (page 27). This
point board will be updated each issue, with points restarting at zero in the first issue of each year.
Platinum (1,000 Points
and Above)
Dr. Peter Agnone*
Dr. Mark Cook
Dr. Frederick Darin**
Dr. J. Gregory Ford**#
Dr. Lee Goodfellow*
Dr. Paul Hodge*
Dr. Barbara Horn*#
Dr. Matthew Maki*
Saginaw Valley Optometric Society
Dr. Heidi Schefferly*
Dr. Dirk Schrotenboer*
Dr. Roger Seelye #
Dr. Michael Wallace*
Dr. Daniel Wrubel
Gold (500 - 999 Points)
Dr. Richard Ball
Dr. David Burnett*
Dr. Richard Choryan
Dr. Thomas Cunningham
Dr. Mark Davis
Dr. David Durkee*
Dr. Gregory Ferman**#
Dr. Bill Fortney
Dr. Paul France
Dr. Robert Hass
Dr. Jeff Hayden
Dr. Douglas Heinze
Dr. John Hemming
Dr. Robert Huizenga
Dr. Matthew Johnson*
Dr. T.K. Johnson
Dr. Lillian Kalaczinski*
Dr. Jeffrey Kenyon
Dr. Timothy Kirk
Dr. Ann LaCroix-Fredal*
Dr. D. William Lakin
Dr. Robert Layman*
Dr. Lee Lemon
Dr. Jennifer Lintz*
Dr. Carol Marston-Foucher*
Dr. Julie Marvin-Manders
Dr. Gregory Patera*
Dr. Andrew Roubos
Dr. Frederick Scarpace
Dr. John Schmitz*
Dr. Brenda Smoke
Dr. Rebecca Snippe
Dr. James Spears
Dr. Edward Stein #
Dr. Christopher Theodoroff*
Dr. Douglas Totten
Dr. Michael Weisgerber
Dr. Wayne Wilde
Silver (250 - 499 Points)
Dr. Daniel Arsulowicz
Dr. Alice Bacak*
Dr. Elizabeth Becker*
Dr. Michael Biddle
Dr. Steven Bierlein
Dr. Scott Bloom
Dr. Michael Brewer*
Dr. William Buckingham
Dr. James Burton
Dr. Robert Carter
Dr. David Cook*
Dr. Michael Cron
Dr. Russel Curtis
Dr. Robert Deck*
Dr. Ellen Dohr
Dr. Thomas Doyle*
Dr. David Duryea
Dr. Scott Ecenbarger
Dr. Ken Feinauer
Dr. Mary Fisher*
Dr. Gene Fonger
Dr. Gary Fowle
Dr. Susan Gormezano
Dr. Lorne Gottesman

Advocacy Points
Dr. Max Gottesman
Dr. Martin Guinta
Dr. Danna Haba
Dr. Brad Habermehl
Dr. Charlene Hamilton
Dr. David Harkema
Dr. Jim Hilligan
Dr. Robert Hohendorf*
Dr. Philip Irion*
Dr. Dennis Johnson
Dr. Ann Kautz-Markley
Dr. Patrick Kiella
Dr. Steven Kocks*
Dr. Christopher Kramer
Dr. Paul Kropf
Dr. Daniel Markley
Dr. John Marohn*
Dr. Ronald Meyer
Dr. Aaron Miller
Dr. Steve Morris*
Dr. A. Dennis Olmstead
Dr. David Oosting*
Dr. Harriet Pelton
Dr. Edward Peters
Dr. Edward Scarbrough
Dr. Douglas Schneider*
Dr. Gordon Schultze
Dr. Teresa Seim*
Dr. James Serino
Dr. Allen Smith
Dr. James Smith
Dr. Lloyd Snider
Dr. Gary Sokol
Dr. Richard St. Louis
Dr. Ferris Standiford*
Dr. Peter Tacia
Dr. Michelle Valella
Dr. Robert Walt
Dr. Mark Williams
Dr. Terri Wolf
Bronze (1 - 249 Points)
Dr. Richard Abbott
Dr. Terry Adkins
Dr. Carol Allen
Dr. Krista Anderson
Dr. Richard Annis
Dr. Rodney Bellows
Dr. Theodore Billy
Dr. Kyle Booher
Dr. Jeannine Brake-Norder
Dr. Marsha Brandon
Dr. Danny Brikho
Dr. Aimee Bronson
Dr. Aileen Brouwer-Schinderle
Dr. Scott Buckingham
Dr. Robert Buckingham
Dr. Joseph Budge
Dr. David Bush
Dr. Cliff Carter
Dr. Kiersten Coon
Dr. Richard Conflitti
Dr. Amy Crissman Head
Mr. Bryan Dahl
Mr. William Dansby
Dr. William Dean*
Dr. Leslie Delemeester
Dr. Mitchell Dobrzelewski
Dr. Brian Dolphin
Dr. Gregory Dotson*
Dr. Paul Douglas
Dr. Terry Draeger
Dr. Kyle Fairless
Dr. James Flynn
Dr. Kevin Flynn
Dr. Robert Foote
Dr. Marie Fox
Dr. Paul Gammage
Dr. James Hardie
Dr. William Hass
Dr. Matt Haubert
Mr. Erik Hingst
Dr. Sarah Hinkley
Dr. Amanda Hodge
Dr. James Holdgreve
Dr. Sarah Knapp
Dr. Robert Kocembo
Dr. Gerald Kolk
Dr. August Krymis
Dr. Joseph Lawless
Dr. Johnny Leung
Dr. Jeffrey Lozen
Dr. Kenneth Marton
Dr. Deanna Mayo
Dr. Suzanne Maystead
Dr. Julie McMullen
Dr. George McNiven
Dr. Scott Miller
Dr. Thomas Moleski
Dr. Gary Moss
Dr. Dale Muth
Dr. Randall Myers
Dr. Stephen Near
Dr. Richard Neuenfeldt
Ms. Tara Paksi
Dr. James Pascavis
Dr. Susan Perdue
Dr. David Peters
Dr. Audry Poquette
Dr. Beau Poquette
Dr. Katherine Potter
Dr. Henry Racki

Dr. Robert Reed, Jr.
Continued Next Page...
Dr. Jeffrey Ritsema
Dr. Patricia Roslund
Dr. Richard Rule
Ms. Cindy Schnetzler
Dr. Jeffrey Schrauben
Dr. James Seals
Dr. Gary Spencer
Dr. Dan Stein
Dr. Francis Stone
Dr. Mark Swan
GO! / AOA Keyperson Points:
Dr. Robert Aubry
Dr. Thomas Bock
Dr. John Compton
Dr. Samual Estes
Dr. Albert Fath
Dr. Paul Gayeff
Dr. Michael Jonassen
District 1
Metro Detroit Optometric Society
President: Dr. Michael Pack (mjpack@comcast.net)
District 2
West Michigan Optometric Association
President: Dr. Amy Dinardo (thewmoa@gmail.com)
District 3
South-West Michigan Optometric Society
Co-Presidents: Dr. Julie L. McMullen
(eyedoc29@hotmail.com), Dr. Lynne Blostica
(lynne_blostica@yahoo.com)
District 4
Saginaw Valley Optometric Society
President: Dr. Fredric D. Kapteyn
(deankapteyn@yahoo.com)
30
Dr. Jeffrey Varanelli
Dr. Daniel Vargovick
Dr. Theodore Walton
Dr. Samuel Wapner
Dr. Michael Weishaus
Dr. Harper Wildern
Dr. Ross Williams
Dr. Elizabeth Yates
Mr. Steve Young
*GO! Team Leader
**GO! Regional Director
#AOA Keyperson
November/December, 2011
www.themoa.org
Local Society Notebook
Dr. David Levenson
Dr. William Lindahl
Dr. Janet Lomasney
Dr. Michael McGrath
Dr. Susan Mithoff-Quade
Dr. Gary Moss
Dr. Jeffrey Rautio
Dr. Kirk Schott
Dr. Allison Schulte
Dr. Carol Starling
Local Society
Notebook
District 5
The Southwest Michigan Optometric
Association
President: Dr. John W. Marohn
(jmarohn@greateyecare.com)
District 6
Upper Penninsula Optometric Physicians Society
President: Dr. Shelly D. Baker
(eyedoc7@drshellybaker.com)
District 7
Central Michigan Optometric Society
President: Dr. Jana M. Fisher (eyedrx2@comcast.net)
District 8
Northwestern Lower Michigan Optometric
Society
President: Dr. Edward G. Stewart
(drstewart@hotmail.com)
Upcoming meeting dates: 1/6/11, 2/7/11,
4/23/11.

Calendar of Events
Michigan Optometric Association
2011-2012 Calendar of Events
Board of Directors Meetings
Jan. 11, 2012, 9 a.m.
MOA Office, Lansing, MI
March 14, 2012, 9 a.m.
MOA Office, Lansing, MI
*April 24, 2012, 12 p.m.
MOA Office, Lansing, MI
May 10, 2012
Grand Rapids (Annual Meeting
Advisory Council
(Past Presidents)
April 24, 2012, 9 a.m.
MOA Office, Lansing, MI
Conventions/Meetings
May 9-10, 2012
MOA 116th Annual Meeting and Spring Seminar
Amway Grand Plaza Hotel / DeVos Place
June 26-July 1, 2012
AOA Optometry’s Meeting
Chicago, IL
Contribute to The Michigan Optometrist!
The MOA welcomes articles, photos or small announcements for inclusion in The Michigan Optometrist from MOA members.
Topics covered may include practice management issues, optometry-related community outreach, meetings with lawmakers
about legislative issues impacting optometry, and others. Articles submitted are subject to review by the magazine’s editorial
committee. To be eligible, material must be provided electronically via e-mail by the submission deadline to MOA Communication
Coordinator Bryan Dahl at Bryan@themoa.org. Photos and other images must be high-resolution for inclusion in
The Michigan Optometrist. A resolution of 300 ppi is required for images to appear properly when professionally printed.
When submitting photos, please provide credit for the photographer as well as photo captions (including names).
Upcoming Article Submission Deadlines for 2012:
Jan./Feb. (2012) issue: Jan. 13, March/April (2012) issue: March 9
November/December, 2011
www.themoa.org
Special Events
April 1 - 3, 2012
AOA State Legislative, Third Party, Advocacy
Conference
Washington, D.C.
May 31 - June 2, 2012
Opening Eyes Vision Screening Project (held
during Special Olympics Summer Games)
Central Michigan University
Mt. Pleasant, MI
Feb. 1-2, 2012
MOA Winter Seminar
Kellogg Center
East Lansing, MI
Educationals
May 9-10, 2012
MOA 116th Annual Meeting and Spring Seminar
Amway Grand Plaza Hotel / DeVos Place
Oct. 10-11, 2012
MOA Fall Seminar
Lansing Center
Lansing, MI
31