| Issue 63 | November 20, 2015 |
In This Edition
- Top Story
- The Optical DreamSM Powered by Vision Source®
- Breaking News
- The ICD-10 Mailbag
- Fresh Day® and Fresh 30® Success Stories
- Words from our Vendors
- Around Vision Source®
- Give Us Your Feedback
Issue 63
The Gazette
Archives
Contact Vision Source® at 888-558-2020 or [email protected]
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Top Story
Diabetes Awareness Month: Make It a Goal
November is Diabetes Awareness Month—and while that is an important and worthy public education campaign, I also want to emphasize the importance of diabetes awareness and protocols for practice among practitioners. For Vision Source®, it takes on particular importance as our doctors and administrators are working to secure more collaborative care arrangements. This is especially interesting since Vision Source® members will care for and treat nearly 2 million diabetics in 2015. Being able to show these provider and payor networks that our doctors understand and are compliant with the best strategies in management of diabetic patients is key.
As you are all aware, the two-hour CE, Diabetes Mellitus BrainStream Practice Protocol, which covers management of patients with diabetes, remains online, and we encourage every Vision Source® doctor to complete the program and pass the online test. Click here for full details. Special thank you to Optos, Regeneron and Optovue for sponsoring this program. If you want to help us make a difference in the health of America, please take the course and encourage everyone in your market to do the same. There is no better way to set our network apart with respect to explaining why Vision Source® represents the preferred solution during discussions with healthcare delivery systems in your community.
Also, as a reminder, Regeneron has created a new program called Collective Focus: Focusing on the vision of patients with diabetes. The program is designed to encourage patients to receive annual, comprehensive dilated eye exams, and to seek treatment for diabetic eye disease, if required, and support ODs providing the service. For more information, visit mycollectivefocus.com.
Other organizations, such as the American Diabetes Association and the American Optometric Association, also have created a wealth of consumer-facing materials to help you spread the word about diabetes and eye health in your communities.
Take the time as we approach this holiday season to enjoy time with your families, take care of yourselves, as well as your patients. We at Vision Source® are grateful to serve and thankful for the commitment and professionalism you bring to optometry.
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Be well, |
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The Optical DreamSM Powered by Vision Source®
Three Ways to Win
1. Get ready for the holidays with the December Giveaway from Essilor! It's as easy as 1, 2, 3…
2. Keep playing the Optical DreamSM for a special bonus from Safilo. For every pair of Safilo frames you sell as part of a multiple pair, you'll receive 2 bonus points! Watch the video here.
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3. Need a vacation? The highest Transitions® seller in each division who is actively participating in The Optical DreamSM will win a trip to Key West! Click the graphic to begin the short training. |
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Breaking News
Don't Wait! Register Now for the 2016 Exchange®
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Although registration for the 2016 Exchange® in San Antonio has been open for just over 3 weeks, we're already pacing ahead of registration for the 2015 Exchange® and its record attendance. To ensure your choice of hotel rooms, be sure to register now at VSTheExchange.com and enjoy all of this and more: |
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And don't forget all the activities surrounding The Exchange® in beautiful San Antonio. Come early. Stay late. But be there March 16-19, 2016.
Choose your CE classes, pick your Learning Labs and reserve your hotel room today.
As you can see, it's going to be an electric and innovative week of collaboration with your colleagues at The Exchange®. On behalf of The Vision Source® Member Support Center team, we are excited to see you there soon!
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Vision Source® Foundation Efforts
The Vision Source® Foundation steps in to help Vision Source® doctors and their families in times of unimaginable challenge. It has had two such events recently. Last week, Kansas administrator Mark Bettencourt, OD, passed away after a car accident. The Vision Source® Foundation has provided financial support to Mark's wife. If you would like to make a donation to the Foundation in memory of Mark, in lieu of flowers, etc., the Foundation will acknowledge your gift with a card to Mark's wife.
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The foundation—and the middle Tennessee member doctors—have also stepped out to help another Vision Source® member, Jenny Drake, OD, who went into premature labor during a flight to the U.S. The plane was diverted to Dublin, Ireland, where baby Zoe was born. The Vision Source Foundation has helped, and area doctors are filling in for her in her office, volunteering their services so that her patients can be seen and her staff can stay employed. A gofundme account has been set up to help the family cover medical and living expenses. |
If you would like to make a continuing or one-time donation to the Vision Source® Foundation, you can use this form.
The ICD-10 Mailbag
Coding for Lid Disease in ICD-10
Meibomian gland disease (MGD) and blepharitis can be difficult to code in ICD-10. MGD is difficult due to the fact that there are no specific codes for it in ICD-10. The most appropriate codes would include: H01.8 … Other specified inflammations of eyelid |
ICD-10 Quick ReferenceCoding for dry eye |
While neither specifically describes MGD, both are reasonable choices.
Notes on MGD:
• Both of the codes listed above are "other" codes. "Other" is usually a better choice than "unspecified"
• Because ICD-10 is actually more than 20 years old (having first been published in 1993), much has changed in our knowledge and treatment of MGD and dry eye.
Also frustrating are the codes for blepharitis, partly because there is no specific code and partly because there are no bilateral codes. The codes for blepharitis include:
H01.001 … right upper eyelid
H01.002 … right lower eyelid
H01.003 … right eye, unspecified eyelid
H01.004 … left upper eyelid
H01.005 … left lower eyelid
H01.006 … left eye, unspecified eyelid
H01.009 … unspecified eye, unspecified eyelid
Notes on blepharitis:
• There is really no way to code for all 4 lids without using 4 separate codes
• "Other" is usually a better choice than "unspecified," but in this case "unspecified" is the best option
Please keep sending your coding questions to Dr. Cass at [email protected], and we will address the best in the next issue of the Gazette.
Fresh Day® and Fresh 30® Success Stories
Products Can Help Position Your Practice
"Our patients trust us to provide the best products available…FRESH 30® supports that trust."
– Glenn Ellisor, OD,
Founder and Executive Chairman
Vision Source®
FRESH 30® silicone hydrogel lenses offer great comfort and UV protection for your patients while providing you with tremendous profit opportunity. And, because they're available only from Vision Source® doctors, they serve to position your practice as a leader in delivering the latest in eye care technology.
Click here to view a brief message from Dr. Ellisor about how he's using FRESH 30® lenses in his practice.
Words from our Vendors
In this section, you will find the latest offers and promotions from Vision Source® vendors. For more details, log in at visionsource.com and view the vendor book.
Truclear Back Order Issues Nearly Resolved
Essilor has made great progress on Truclear backorders. Here's the latest update.
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Transworld Systems Can Help With Your A/R
Transworld Systems offers solutions to take the headaches out of your accounts receivables process so you can take care of your patients.
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PFO Global Announces Year-end Blowout
PFO Global is introducing its newest generation of UVA, UVB and HEV protection technology lens, VITARIS™ to Vision Source® members at tremendous year-end pricing. Click here for more details.
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Hoya Holds Prices Stable
You may have received a communication recently from Hoya indicating there will be a 5 percent price increase effective Dec. 1, 2015. While Hoya will increase its prices, this increase will not affect Vision Source® members doing business with Hoya.
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Take Advantage of Section 179 Savings With Marco
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Stock up and Save on ACUVUE Products
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Get Your W2s for Free
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Spy Offers Year-end Promotion
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Getwell Releases a Free and Simple EHR for ODs
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Getwell uses state-of-the-art technology to keep you and your practice safe, compliant, and profitable. There's no training necessary, and you can make ICD-9 to ICD-10 conversion with one click. The system is meaningful use certified. Click here to log onto the interactive demo. |
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Introducing New Vendor Wells Fargo Practice Finance
Wells Fargo Practice Finance helps optometrists start, grow, and transition their practices with specialized financing, plus planning resources and professional support to help navigate the path. A leading specialty health care lender with more than 25 years of healthcare experience, it understands the business of growing successful practices and can help practitioners achieve their goals. Visit the Wells Fargo Practice Finance vendor page or click here for more information.
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Holiday Savings from MarcolinMarcolin is offering special promotions to Vision Source® members who purchase Robert Cavalli, Tom Ford Eyewear, Ermenegildo Zegna or Balenciaga frames between now and the end of the year. Details are in the vendor book. |
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Eyefinity Offers Vision Source® a Limited-time Offer
New Eyefinity customers* can get 50 percent off activation fees on the purchase of Eyefinity EHR, along with no implementation fees and one free iPad.
Existing OfficeMate® and ExamWRITER® customers* can earn 100 percent off activation and implementation fees on the purchase of Eyefinity EHR, plus one free iPad.
*This offer is valid to current members of Vision Source® from Nov. 2, 2015 - Dec. 31, 2015 on the purchase of Eyefinity EHR. Discount applies to upfront fees for two doctors and the first location per account. Click here for more details; other restrictions may apply. iPad is a trademark of Apple, Inc. registered in the U.S, and other countries. Apple is not a participant in or sponsor of this promotion.
Around Vision Source®
Practice Development
Welcome New Vision Source® Members:
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Continuing the legacy started by her father, the late Robert L. Johnson, MS, OD, FCOVD, Dr. Johnson-Brown is the executive director of Plano Child Development Center (PLANO), a not-for-profit optometric center dedicated to providing vision service to under privileged children who can benefit from vision education and the identification, evaluation and vision therapy treatment of their vision development problems.
As networks narrow in the state of Illinois for managed Medicaid plans, Dr. Johnson-Brown, immediate past president of the National Optometric Association, sought a way to stay on target with her goal of reaching $1 million in gross revenue in her private practice, Plano Optometrics. She felt Vision Source® with its emphasis on community service was a medium to help her get there. Vision Source® offered a practice management strategy to remain profitable in the current and future health care climate, while continuing to serve her lower-income communities.
"My dad started PLANO to provide vision service so that people who couldn't afford vision therapy would have an opportunity to receive it." Dr. Johnson-Brown says. "I hope the practice will continue to serve the community and be a model for new practitioners demonstrating success while serving patients of all cultures and socioeconomic levels." Visit planovision.org for additional information about PLANO or to make a donation to the center during this season of giving.
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Trusting in a Gold Standard Referral
It's nice to have the trusted referral network of Vision Source® colleagues.
"I had a patient traveling in Florida who called me because she was seeing flashes and floaters. I was new to Vision Source® at the time and very thankful that I had a network in which to search to find a trusted doctor to see her. The Vision Source® doctor took great care of the patient and she is doing fine. I found such comfort in using the Vision Source® network for patients who are moving or having eye trouble when out of town, and have used it many times since."
– Dawn Wattenhofer, OD, Vision Source® Specialists in Rapid City, Philip and Hot Springs, South Dakota
Do you have an example of how The Gold Standard book helped you raise the bar? You can share your gold standard moments with us here.
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Expanding Scope Means Expanding Services
This is the 36th installment in our Trusted Colleagues series—profiles of high-performing offices that exemplify the best practices of Vision Source® membership—networking with colleagues at local meetings and The Exchange®, engaging with elite vendors and delivering the gold standard of patient care.
In the Vision Source® spirit of collegiality, these members have also agreed to answer any questions you may have about their experience and included their email addresses.
Our Trusted Colleague for this edition is Jeff Anastasio, OD, of Covington, Louisiana, who details his practice's journey to increasing the scope of care that his patients receive. Click here to read the story.
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Avoidable HIPAA ViolationsAt $50,000 for a HIPAA fine, here are 8 common mistakes you cannot afford to make. |
Marketing
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There's Still Time to Order 4th Quarter Marketing ToolsThe fourth quarter is the time to remind current and prospective patients with Flexible Spending Accounts to use their benefits for eyewear and eye care before Dec. 31. You'll find a complete package of marketing tools to encourage patients to Use It. Don't Lose It. in the Online Marketing Tool Kit inside the Vision Source® Member Intranet. These include:
Click here to browse all that's available and to place your order. |
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Holiday Marketing Tools AvailableBe sure to visit the Marketing Toolkit regularly to source new and complimentary Vision Source® content for your social media pages. Look for new Thanksgiving and Black Friday graphics and cover photos. Click here to browse the growing graphic library. |
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Digital Marketing: Beware of iDNS ScamHave you received a renewal notice from iDNS? If so, it's a scam. It might look like an invoice, but notice the words, highlighted here: This Is Not An Invoice. All website addresses with "visionsource" in the url, i.e. visionsource-yourpracticename.com are maintained and renewed by the Member Support Center at no cost to the members. |
Vision Source® Member News
Recognitions
Jerry Wassel, OD, of Jarretsville, Maryland, talks about the diagnostic technology such as OCT and optomaps that let ODs assess eye health.
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Congratulations to Brent Phinney, OD, of Windsor, Colorado, who completed a Hawaii Ironman competition in 10:04:11. |
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Your Feedback Counts
Please take a moment to answer this two-question survey—even if you've done so before. It provides us the feedback to improve The Gazette.
©Vision Source L.P. 2015. All Rights Reserved.