I do need to draw your attention to a bill that is pro-optometry in the Pennsylvania Senate right now. Senators Pippy, Rafferty and Don White introduced this session’s Unfair Insurance Practice Act (SB 939). Other sponsors include Senators Fontana, Ferlo, Brewster and Farnese. This bill, although it has been amended from its original form, is still very positive for optometry and our patients. If passed, it would eliminate a benefit plan mandating the use of a specific lab for ophthalmic products and services. It would stop any assessment of a fee or copayment if a non-required lab is used. It would prevent the creation of preferred classes of providers not held to uniform conditions of participation. Finally, the amended version still contains a prohibition on requiring a provider to participate in a vision benefit plan as a condition of participation in a health care plan. SB 939 passed out of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee 14-0 and has been referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Incidentally, Representative Harry Readshaw introduced the same bill in the House of Representatives, but HB 929 has gotten less attention so far. Please get behind these bills and contact your legislators regarding SB 939 and HB 929. Explain to them how these bills benefit our patients (their constituents) and our profession.
In addition to our legislative issues, we have a lot of other activity at the POA. Dr. Donna Buraczewski, your POA president for 2012, recently held her planning session for next year. It was very productive and set the stage for the final year of our current three-year Strategic Plan. All uncompleted objectives were given action plans in this final year. I am very excited and looking forward to serving under Dr. Buraczewski and President-elect Dr. Bob Owens.
As I look forward, I also want to take a moment to look back. I want to thank three people directly responsible for my professional success – the two POA presidents before me and our executive director. Dr. Bob Bittel, Dr. Greg Caldwell and Dr. Charlie Stuckey have given me the support and friendship I needed to lead this association this year. We had a bumpy road at times and were dealt some bad hands, but we always acted with the best interest of our membership first in our minds.
I want to thank the unmentioned remainder of the POA Board of Directors: Dr. Marianne Boltz, Dr. Rich Christoph, Dr. Mark Margolies and incoming Board member Dr. Steve Eiss. Remember these names, as they will continue the tradition of great leadership in the years to come. I will join in supporting every one of them. These are all good, smart people and dedicated volunteer leaders! They will all learn how valuable the POA staff can be. I know, but if I mention them each by name they will edit that out before printing this. (Editor’s note: true.) They are great people who work tirelessly to support us and make us look good. To the rest of my colleagues – thank you again for lending me your ear this year with this forum and for all of the support and willingness to help when called upon.
Finally, I want to thank my wife, Danielle, and our three children – Sarah, Jake and Tommy who range in age from twelve to five. I have either missed (or dragged you along to) many things in the past six years to do this job effectively, and I appreciate that it has been hardest on you! I love you all!
Daniel F. Russell, O.D.
President
Pennsylvania Optometric Association
http://www.poaeyes.org/
