What Will The TAO Do For You?

Protect Ophthalmology’s Current Scope of Practice.  This is one of the highest and most important priorities for the TAO.  Some of the actions being employed to carry out this missive are: Monitoring legislation and responding to any signals that may mean an assault on the TAO’s current scope of practice; building coalitions with groups to accomplish our legislative missives; developing a network of ophthalmology-friendly legislators; establishing a state-wide ophthalmology-to-legislator grass roots program, educating our members on the importance of having a personal relationship with his or her local legislator(s), educating the public on the meaning of an Eye M. D., and maintaining and building ophthalmology political action committee funds.  David is still considered to be one of the most effective lobbyist in Tennessee.

Ophthalmic Buying Group.  Through ProVision, the TAO offers a discounted purchasing program.  ProVision has over 48 preferred vendors, offering a wide array of products and services for the ophthalmic office.  Only TAO members receive the significantly discounted rates.  For more information, go to the TAO website, www.tneyemds.org.   While there is a $150 membership fee to join ProVision,  the member has the potential to easily recoup his or her TAO Membership Fee by purchasing through the  discounted programs and services.

OMIC Malpractice Insurance. OMIC insurance is available through the TAO for a substantial discount.  In 2007, the discount will increase significantly. Potential savings of $3 - $4,000.  This savings alone can recoup your TAO Membership fee 4.5 times!!

Salary Surveys.  For more information, call the TAO at 615-794-1851.

Coding Seminars.  Each year the TAO sponsors a coding seminar.  Instructors are from the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) so the information you receive is timely and accurate.  The 2007 seminar is Saturday, February 3, 2007, at the Willis Conference Center, Nashville, TN.  Members get discounted fees, which have not increased in five years.  Current TAO member/staff fees are $195 pp, with a 10 percent discount with five or more enrollees.  Non Members/staff fees are $350 pp.

Coding Books at Discount Pricing.  Members can order coding books, HIPAA resource manuals, and other books through the TAO at substantial savings.  Savings are made possible through our cooperative agreement with Ingenix (formally St. Anthony’s).  Go to: https://www.tneyemds.org/ and follow the links.
Members have significantly reduced prices for coding books.  Non members pay retail rate.

Educational Programs for Members.  Scientific CME and practice management meetings as well as ophthalmology personnel education (technical and front office) continue to be a priority. Each year in addition to the annual meeting, we offer two regional meetings across Tennessee.  Discounted Prices for Members – non members pay twice the member rate for educational meetings.

TAO Website.   Our website, www.tyeyemds.org provides electronic communications with the membership, primarily using the “Members Only Section”.  The Web site is also used as an educational tool for the public.  The ‘definitions page’ explains what it means to be an Eye-M. D.  The site has a searchable database for Eye-MDs.    Members have full access to the entire database while the public has limited access.  The TAO website is now newly re-designed with an up to date membership search database.  Only current TAO members are listed in the Search database.

Public Relations.  TAO members serve on Prevent Blindness Tennessee’s Board of Directors. 

Health Plans Affairs.  This committee is your liaison for managed care entities. Representatives meet quarterly with the Tennessee Medicare carrier, CIGNA, and routinely with other insurance companies and managed care companies.  Services of this committee are for Members only.

When you become a member of the Eye-M. D.s of Tennessee (Tennessee Academy of Ophthalmology), you join your colleagues in speaking with a single voice and working together can so that we obtain what is best for our patients, our members, and the organization.