Benefits far beyond belonging

Excerpted from page 38 of the Winter 2025 edition of AOA Focus.

In a time when professionals are carefully weighing every investment, AOA membership proves its worth in concrete ways.

From exclusive learning opportunities and career resources to members-only discounts and advocacy that shapes the future of the entire optometry profession, the AOA delivers benefits that go far beyond a sense of belonging. For members, the value is tangible—measurable in skills gained, connections made and real-world advantages that strengthen both careers and communities.

As the professional landscape evolves, the AOA is redefining what it means to serve its members and strives to be an active partner in members’ growth, providing year-round tools, insights and experiences that translate directly into professional success. Whether it’s access to cutting-edge research, leadership development programs or opportunities for meaningful collaboration, the AOA is proving that membership is not just a mark of affiliation, but also a strategic advantage.

MASTER BILLING AND CODING

As an AOA member, you have access to a wide range of benefits, including innovative tools and resources to assist your practice with medical billing and coding. The AOA now offers its 2026 Codes for Optometry & Common ICD-10 Codes card in an all-digital format, giving you free, instant access to the latest coding resources.

Download your AOA member coding resources for up-to-date medical billing and coding information, from basic coding guidelines to details on selecting appropriate modifiers and more.

AOA Coding Today

As an AOA member, you also get complimentary access to AOA Coding Today, a comprehensive database that contains information in real time for CPT, ICD-10 plus HCPCS coding and research. This indispensable resource is specifically designed for optometry. It includes features such as region-specific code diagnosis so you and your staff can navigate coding with confidence. AOA Coding Today is your go-to solution for immediate, accurate coding guidance.

Still looking for answers?

Navigate the complexities of medical records and coding with confidence through the AOA’s exclusive Ask the Coding Experts service. Whether you’re grappling with intricate coding scenarios or seeking clarity on documentation best practices, our seasoned experts are here to help. Simply submit a form with your question, and the experts will respond. You can also view questions asked by your peers and answers from the experts on the AOA website.

Ensure your practice stays compliant, efficient and ahead of the curve in coding accuracy and optimization.

AOA-VETTED SOLUTIONS—TAILORED TO YOU

Do you spend valuable practice hours stressing over insurance, finances and retirement? Wish you could focus more on patient care and less on administrative tasks?

“AOAExcel® is a member benefit of the AOA that provides doctors of optometry with the resources they need to practice with confidence. AOAExcel’s mission is to make the lives of doctors of optometry easier and provide them with the tools they need to thrive and succeed,” says Samuel Pierce, O.D., chair of the AOAExcel board. “We provide many products and services—including malpractice insurance and payment processing—through our carefully vetted business partners. We do the research to make the business side of optometry simple so doctors can focus on doing what they enjoy most: patient care.”

Kiranjeet Sran, O.D., uses the EHR system available through AOAExcel-endorsed partner Barti, which sets itself apart with AI-powered features and a tailored transition journey designed to help practices move seamlessly into the modern era of optometry.

“Barti’s AI Scribe has completely changed the way I chart,” Dr. Sran says. “I use it to capture the chief complaint so my back isn’t turned to the patient typing, and it consistently picks up on more detail than I could ever recall later. I can also use it for anterior and posterior segment capture—it fills in the appropriate fields automatically as I speak naturally during the exam. It’s incredibly intuitive and has cut down my overall charting time while letting me stay fully engaged with my patients.”

Amber Wiggins, O.D., says she is most excited about how the AI Scribe technology has helped her understand her patients who do not speak English.

“It has become a great tool for interpreting our conversations, which is such a relief when I’m trying to stay on schedule,” she says. “I can easily hit ‘transcribe’ to capture our discussion and then summarize the key points into a chief complaint. The ‘additional notes’ feature is a game-changer, too; it allows seamless transcription that I can pause and resume without losing anything. Plus, the Assessment and Plan button helps me quickly jot down any thoughts that aren’t in my templates. It also lets me add extra notes without erasing previous thoughts. It’s all about making sure I deliver the best care for everyone!”

The EHR and practice management software is just one of many benefits available to members through AOAExcel.

Bibin Cherian, O.D., turned to AOAExcel for student loan guidance. AOAExcel partners with Laurel Road to provide AOA members with personal financial tools, including student loan consultations, high-yield savings accounts, student loan refinancing and more.

“A tangible benefit of AOA membership is the partnership with Laurel Road and the opportunity to refinance student loans at a lower interest rate. I refinanced mine in April 2022, and the process was fast and easy to complete online,” Dr. Cherian says. “As an AOA member, I received an additional 0.25% rate reduction, which translates to several thousand dollars in savings over the life of my loan. I would definitely recommend this benefit to my colleagues.”

Some of the most popular AOAExcel benefits among members are:

The AOAExcel Career Center. This premier job board is tailored specifically for doctors of optometry, offering a streamlined approach to your career search. Apply directly to job listings, set up alerts for new opportunities that match your criteria and enhance your visibility to potential employers by uploading your résumé. With AOAExcel career tools at your disposal, it’s no surprise that AOA members enjoy salaries, on average, 13% higher than their nonmember counterparts.

Malpractice insurance. Access guaranteed full-scope malpractice insurance coverage through AOAExcel’s endorsed business partner Lockton Affinity. This flexible coverage automatically expands with your state’s scope of practice and will follow you wherever you practice. As an AOA member, you qualify for a complimentary review of your current malpractice insurance policy document.

Insurance offerings. AOAExcel has partnered with AGIA to offer the most relevant insurance packages for doctors of optometry, so you won’t have to worry about financial security in the worst case. Group long-term disability coverage will pay you monthly benefits in the event of a covered serious illness or injury, and term life insurance is available at varying costs.

Business credit card. The premier business card gives practice owners unprecedented benefits within an easy-to-use online card platform. AOA members enjoy high rewards rates, cash back on AOA purchases and vendor discounts designed for doctors of optometry.

In-office membership plans. In-office memberships are reshaping how practices engage with patients by combining affordability, predictability and loyalty. With proven tools like VisionHQ simplifying implementation and administration, practices can offer patients transparent, consistent care while positioning themselves as strategic leaders in sustainable growth and improved patient care.

Retirement planning. Whether you’re an independent contractor, practice owner or somewhere in between, AOAExcel-endorsed business partner Equitable Financial can make it easier to manage your retirement plan and help your employees manage theirs. As an AOA member, you can receive a complimentary review of your current savings plan.

RETAIN PRODUCTIVE, WELL-TRAINED STAFF

Sasha Radford, O.D., requires every paraoptometric in her practice to be AOA associate members and work toward certification.

“We have a very talented, dedicated group with many skills,” says Dr. Radford, whose technicians prepare patients by taking medical histories and vitals, testing color and stereopsis, and performing autorefraction, topography, angle evaluation, pre-dilation and refraction as well as screenings. “Technicians do special testing as needed with the Oculus Keratograph® for dry eye disease and anterior segment photos, Spectral and iVue OCT, visual fields and dark adaptation,” she says. “We have a few techs who scribe for the doctors and a few who perform dry eye treatments with LipiFlow®and intense pulsed light therapy.”

The practice provides study materials and covers the cost of first-attempt certification exams and renewals. Once achieved, each level of certification yields a pay increase and an annual bonus that increases with each level of certification. And the practice is reaping the benefits, she says.

“We’ve found that certified staff have a greater understanding of the work we do and their role in optometry as a whole,” Dr. Radford says. “After they become certified, staff become more intuitive about patients’ and doctors’ needs. Certified staff also serve as role models for new staff and are able to train others with confidence and pride in what they do.”

Enrolling staff as AOA associate members is an easy, cost-free way for AOA member-doctors to grant optometric practice staff access to valuable paraoptometric programs and services, educational materials and discounts on event registration fees.

AOA associate membership grants staff access to:

• Commission on Paraoptometric Certification- and AOA-approved continuing education and professional development, training and certification preparation materials in AOA EyeLearn, including the Para Speaker Series.
• Member rates for AOA events, including Optometry’s Meeting®.
• National volunteer and networking opportunities.
• All CPC and AOA publications and newsletters.