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Join the largest organization serving paraoptometrics.

Do you work with an AOA-member doctor? You can get access to valuable paraoptometric programs and services at no additional cost, plus discounts on educational materials and event registration fees. Learn more about why you should join today.

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Regulatory and Coding

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

HIPAA requires covered entities and their business associates to protect the privacy and security of protected health information (PHI). It also provides patients with rights to their PHI. HIPAA's Privacy Rule restricts the use and disclosure of individual's PHI. The Security Rule requires administrative, technical and physical safeguards to ensure the confidentiality, integrity and availability of electronic PHI.

Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act (FCLCA)

With a growing number of websites and small retailers continuing to illegally offer decorative, non-corrective contact lenses for sale without prescription, doctors of optometry should be diligent in reporting all adverse events associated with such lenses.

Medicare & Insurance

The AOA provides information and resources to assist members in staying abreast of the numerous Medicare rules and regulations. The AOA also advocates directly with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding issues of concern to the optometric profession.

Medical Records and Coding

Coding and reimbursement is designed to educate doctors and staff on medical recordkeeping and documentation, compliance and coding. The guidance received by the coding experts will support doctors and staff in providing the best possible patient care while ensuring accurate reimbursements are received.

Education and Certification

Finding and Reporting CE

Educational opportunities serve as resources for those optometric staff new to the field, or for those experienced staff, interested in keeping up with changes in optometry.

Paraoptometric Continuing Education

Educational opportunities serve as resources for those optometric staff new to the field, or for those experienced staff, interested in keeping up with changes in optometry.

EyeLearn

AOA’s member-exclusive centralized education portal, EyeLearn, offers an expanding online catalog of educational modules, webinars and resources to help advance clinical proficiencies, the practice of contemporary optometry, and practice management for doctors of optometry, future doctors of optometry, and paraoptometric staff. In an effort to support professional development for the field of optometry, select courses may be available to all individuals in the profession.

Upcoming Events

2024-10-09
IOA Fall Seminar

Bloomington, IN

2024-10-10
2024 Idaho Annual Congress

Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

Event Calendar
Featured Event

Optometry's Meeting®

Minneapolis, Minnesota

The annual meeting of both the AOA and AOSA, Optometry’s Meeting unites the profession’s leaders to advance optometry and engage the associations’ official business while also delivering an impactful conference experience that promotes continued practice success and job-readiness skills for every stage of attendees’ career.

Over the course of four days, doctors of optometry, paraoptometrics / practice staff and optometry students can tap into an expansive, progressive CE and professional development program, suitable for the entire optometric practice; engage in impactful networking and leadership opportunities alongside colleagues and the profession's leaders from across the country; access the latest ophthalmic goods and services, business solutions and industry connections in the expansive Eye Care Square exhibit hall; enjoy a slate of local entertainment and reception opportunities; and see, firsthand, what it takes to become involved and effect lasting change in our profession by making the AOA a stronger, more effective advocate for the quality care that optometry provides patients.

Optometry's Meeting 2025 hosts the 5th World Congress of Optometry, in partnership with the World Council of Optometry, in Minneapolis, where our globally minded event will focus on advancing universal access to high-quality eye health and vision care, as well as an industry-leading conversation on technological advancements across the eye health care industry.

Sign up to receive an email notification alert for when early registration opens in January.

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