Members of the IOA visited the Capitol in Washington on April 8th and 9th to meet with Indiana’s delegation to Congress and share the views and concerns of Indiana optometrists.

Among the issues discussed were new CMS regulations that will eventually require optometrists billing Medicare for post cataract surgery glasses and contacts to undergo a costly accreditation process, the pending (July) 2008 and 2009 Medicare reimbursement cuts and the inappropriate use of DEA numbers to track prescription drug utilization by insurance companies.

Joining the IOA delegation on Capitol Hill were members of the IUOSA.  Both groups were in Washington to attend the AOA’s Congressional Advocacy Conference.

IOA attendees were:
Gary Coburn, OD - Rockville
Steve Hitzeman, OD – Bloomington
Marj Knotts, OD – Indianapolis
Elli Kollbaum, OD - Bloomington
Natalie Olinger-Stine, OD – Columbus
Jim Zieba, JD

IUOSA attendees were:
Michelle DePeau
Shea Ferree
Tanya Jones
Michael Jorgensen
Natalie Lambert
Jenny Nance
Danielle Ries
Eric Weigel

If you know a member of Congress and are interested in becoming an AOA Key Contact, please call the IOA Central Office at (317) 237-3560.