Outgoing AOA president: Membership holding steady, legislative gains continue

PHILADELPHIA – Mitchell Munson, OD, concluded his term as American Optometric Association president by reviewing the successes of the past year in an address to the AOA House of Delegates here at Optometry’s Meeting.

The AOA continues working within the Inter-Organizational Communications and Cooperation Committee along with the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry, the Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry and the National Board of Examiners in Optometry to better serve the optometric community.

“No single organization in optometry should be making decisions in a vacuum that affect the profession at large,” Munson said.

While it is well known that these four organizations have had disagreements in the past, agreeing to disagree is “more palatable when you understand where each is coming from,” he said.

The groups met in January and plan to meet again in September.

Munson also noted the acquisition of AOA Excel’s OcuHub by TearLab.

“The AOA had taken the development of that concept as far as it could,” he said.

TearLab will continue with developing the product, and AOA members are offered a discount on its services.

“Communication is an essential part of any organization,” Munson continued. “The biggest challenge is delivering the right message in the right format at the right time. We’ve had a new website, distribution channels, a new look. Is the world still confused about who we are?"

Munson noted AOA’s support of the Vision Council’s Think About Your Eyes (TAYE) program.

He said TAYE’s public awareness efforts have resulted in an increase in eye exams across the U.S. of 7% to 9%

“However, the cost was nearly $10 million and unsustainable by industry alone,” Munson said. “Doctors were asked to pay a minimal amount to be listed on a doctor locator and it was successful, but the problem still remains how to fund this program.”

The AOA has decided to support the program; the organization’s logo will be included in all advertising, and AOA members will have preferential pricing to be listed on the doctor locator.

“Please support this; it’s the right thing to do,” Munson said.

In conclusion, he said, “Our membership is holding steady, we continue to have success on Capitol Hill and in state houses around the country. Thanks to those who sent clear messages to vision plans.

“We have seen expanded scope, and access will be more important than ever with the future demand for eye care services promised to increase, as shown by the workforce story,” Munson said. – by Nancy Hemphill, ELS

Disclosures: Munson has no relevant financial disclosures