June Society News

COA Needs Applicants

Leaders Needed!

This is your opportunity as a member of COA to apply for a volunteer position within the association. We would very much appreciate it if you or any interested colleague would complete the “Potential Leadership Questionnaire”. If you wish to be a candidate for the COA Board of Trustees, please also complete and return the “Candidate Biographical Summary”. Both forms are attached to this email as well as available on the COA website in the ‘Members Only’ section. Fax these forms back to the COA office by no later than August 8, 2008.

Interviews for candidates will take place on Thursday, September 25, 2008 at the Hyatt Grand Champion Resort in Indian Wells, California. If you have any questions, concerns, or comments, please feel free to contact Michelle Whitlow at 800.877.5738 or by e-mail at mwhitlow@coavision.org. Any information submitted to the Nominating Committee will be handled in the strictest confidence. Thank you very much for your assistance.

Thank you,

Michelle

Michelle L. Whitlow

Governance Coordinator & California Vision Foundation Administrator

Medi-Cal Budget Cut News

Friday, May 30, 2008

GOOD NEWS! On two fronts:

• Earlier this afternoon, the full Senate Budget Committee and Subcommittee No. 1 on Health & Human Services of the Assembly Budget Committee voted to reject the Governor's May budget revision proposal to eliminate "optional" adult optometric and optical services in FY 2008-09. (Thanks go to Assemblyman Ed Hernandez, a "Sub 1" member, for continuing to champion our cause.) On the 10% provider payment reduction slated to take effect July 1, the two panels split. The Senate committee agreed to cut it in half to 5%, while the Assembly body voted to reject it in its entirety. Once the respective committees' work is concluded, their recommendations will be sent to each floor where they'll be redirected to a six-member conference committee to hash out differences as negotiations continue. In short: We're not home free, but we're alive!
• Progress continues on the provider lawsuit to block the 10% cut. COA is one of eight plaintiff provider groups suing the Department of Health Care Services to keep the earlier-enacted 10% claim payment reduction from going into effect on July 1. Acting on DHCS' behalf, the Attorney General has filed to remove the case to federal court. The plaintiff coalition is resisting and has filed a motion for expedited hearing to remand the case to state court, where the action was filed on May 5. If you're interested in participating in the suit as a declarant or have a patient who can demonstrate significant harm if this cut takes effect, please contact Tim Hart at timh@coavision.org or (800) 877-5738, Ext. 227, as soon as possible.

We'll keep you posted on Medi-Cal budget developments and will let you know when to take action.

Thanks for all you do to protect our profession and patients.

Sincerely,

David Redman, O.D.
COA President