09/19/2024

Important Message Regarding 2025-2026 Assessment and Membership Dues 

Dear OOA Members, 

Thank you for your continued support of the OOA, which works on your behalf to preserve and advance the profession of optometry in Ohio and in the nation. As you know, optometry is a legislated profession, and the OOA has both a longstanding and respected presence at the Statehouse advocating for you, your colleagues, and your patients. Making our voice heard in the Statehouse takes persistence, dedication, and good financial backing. 

We face a challenging legislative agenda in the coming two years to advance the profession of optometry ensuring we continue to provide timely care to our patients, as well as retain the best and brightest students to stay in Ohio to practice as they were taught. The OOA has committed to advancing the profession and modernizing the optometric scope of practice. It has been 15 years since the profession has been updated and much has changed. Twelve states now allow laser procedures and over 20 states are authorized to perform injections for the removal of benign eyelid lesions. Ohio still has limitations in prescribing restricted to five categories of medications. It is once again time to ensure our patients are receiving modern care from their trusted Doctor of Optometry. 

To help achieve our robust legislative agenda in the Statehouse, the OOA Board of Directors has recommended, voted and approved a temporary Government Affairs & Public Relations Assessment of $300.00 to be collected in both 2025 and in 2026 to off-set expected cost increases for legislative activity and public relations. This assessment will be discounted in accordance with Ascending Dues and Partial Practice rates. 2025 dues invoices will automatically include the assessment. 

OOA leadership did not come to this decision without careful consideration and deliberation. A Scope Budget Task Force was created to analyze the anticipated financial need for retaining the services of a public relations firm as well as expenditures for increased lobbying efforts. States that have succeeded in their scope expansion efforts have reported that over a 4-year period, the cost to modernize the profession was approximately one million dollars. 

Thanks to past leadership and foresight, the OOA is financially strong due to investments and solid reserves. However, these reserves will decrease with the cost of anticipated legislation which could potentially weaken the OOA financially, making Ohio optometry vulnerable to outside threats such as 1-800- Contacts or “Not a Doctor” bills. This 2-year assessment would ensure our association remains fiscally sound while advancing the profession. 

Many of you cannot remember a time when optometrists were not allowed to dilate patients or prescribe a topical antibiotic, but it was not that long ago when we were granted these privileges thanks to the advocacy efforts of the OOA.  Someday, our future optometrists won’t remember a time when optometrists were not performing minor in-office surgical procedures as well. With the support of its members, the OOA is poised to make great advances for optometry in Ohio. 

If you have any questions regarding the legislative agenda, please do not hesitate to contact your OOA Board of Directors and OOA Executive Director, Dr. Elizabeth Muckley. Your continued membership remains our top priority. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to our profession. 

Sincerely, 

Your OOA Board of Directors 

Lindsay Florkey, OD, MS - President 
Timothy Fries, OD, MBA, MPH - President-Elect 
San-San Cooley, OD, MS - Secretary-Treasurer 
Brian Dietz, OD - Immediate Past President 
Taylor Babcock, OD - Trustee 
David Bejot, OD - Trustee 
Katherine Fisher, OD - Trustee 
Katie Greiner, OD, MS, MBA - Trustee 
Greg Nixon, OD - Trustee 
Jennifer Vincent, OD - Trustee