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Now that AB 5 has been signed into law, there has been some confusion as to how certain ancillary care providers in nursing homes should be categorized. We are pleased to inform you that Advanced Eyecare, A Professional Optometric Group, is in full compliance with all aspects of AB 5. Unlike many other vision care providers, all of Advanced Eyecare’s doctors and staff are employees of the company. All doctors and staff receive hourly wages, overtime, worker’s compensation coverage and mandated sick days. Per AB 5 requirements, a “bona fide business-to-business contracting relationship” exists between Advanced Eyecare and our contracted skilled nursing and mental health rehabilitation facilities, such that the optometrists and staff would not be classified as facility employees.
In addition to being in full compliance with AB 5, Advanced Eyecare offers many other advantages to the 600+ facilities and 50,000 residents we serve: • All doctors have a minimum of TPA certification with many having TPG or TLG certification. • We carry corporate professional liability insurance ($2M/$4M), General liability ($2M/$4/M) and Cyber security insurance ($1M). • Our doctors are approved Medicare and Medi-Cal providers and are approved providers for all major vision plans (VSP, EyeMed, March, etc.). • In 2017 Advanced Eyecare contracted with the Northern California and Southern California Kaiser Permanente regions to provide vision care services to custodial care members (upon the request of facility staff and the Kaiser attending physician). |
• All Advanced Eyecare staff members (office and field) undergo criminal background checks prior to hire.
• All doctors and staff have HIPAA training, sexual harassment prevention training, and bi-annual infection control training (with more frequent training as indicated). • All doctors and staff who have contact with patients have updated T.B. testing and immunizations (flu, Hep B). • To ensure quality of care, doctors have random, routine quarterly chart audits performed by Advanced Eyecare’s Clinical Director with feedback and follow-up as indicated. • To enhance the level of care we offer to our contracted facilities and their residents, we offer in-service presentations on eye health and vision disorders and how these impact a resident’s quality of life as well as training in how to recognize emergent and urgent eye health issues. Please feel free to contact us at anytime regarding our compliance with AB 5, the services we offer to residents and facilities or any other matter where we may be of service. Sincerely, Ron Black, O.D. President/Clinical Director Movses D’Janbatian, O.D. CEO David Turetsky, O.D.V.P. Operations |
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Vision Care Often Overlooked
The following article is re-printed from the CAHF Voices section of the CAHF E-News Update November 5, 2015 edition Dr. David Turetsky, O.D. & Deanna Hill, NHA Chair of the CAHF QI Subcommittee Quality vision care is a goal of every provider. It allows us to interact with our community, communicate, and enjoy many activities in our nursing facilities. According to the American Optometric Association, visual impairment represents one of the most common disabilities among nursing home residents. It is also one of the most unrecognized disabilities by nursing home staffs. Nursing home residents suffer visual impairment at rates 13 to 15 times higher than older adults in the general population. Even worse, more than half of nursing home residents receive no eye care, even though the facility has contracted eye care services. Simply put, if a patient (or a family member) doesn’t complain, there is typically no treatment, and a much higher risk for potential visual loss. The Medicare Benefit Policy Manual (Chapter 15) explains that physicians’ services (as well as glaucoma screenings) are covered under Part B, even though the patient has Part A coverage for the hospital or SNF stay. Medi-Cal eligible residents have vision benefits for routine vision exams and, if a resident of a nursing facility, a benefit for eyeglasses. Vision loss is almost always a slow process with few signs or symptoms in the early, most treatable stages. Diabetics are at a higher risk for vision loss due to diabetic retinopathy. Older residents, residents of African-American ancestry and residents with Alzheimer’s disease are more prone to develop glaucoma. Make sure to talk your facility’s vision care provider if you have any questions regarding your residents’ eye health and vision care options. Quality care from committed staff who recognize changes in a resident’s condition early can make all the difference. |
In Service Dates Now Available
Our office is now processing requests for in-service presentations for 2020. We have dates available throughout the year for presentations in Northern and Southern California. This year we will be offering the following presentations: ■ “Through Your Resident’s Eyes.” This in-service will introduce your staff to common eye conditions affecting many facility residents. Your staff will also learn how these conditions impact a person’s quality of life and the challenges visually impaired residents may face. ■ “What’s Wrong with Mrs. Smith’s Eye”? This in-service will present various photos of residents with eye or vision problems and offer simple ways to assess if the condition is an emergency, urgent or routine. Please feel free to contact our Southern office at: (866)-260-2020, or our Northern office at: (877)-393-7260 to schedule a presentation. 
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