Committees: Roles & Responsibilities

Montana Optometric Association

Mission: To continuously elevate and enhance the profession of optometry and the quality of care to patients served.

Committees and Job Descriptions as of May 11, 2020

Finance Committee

Mission: To ensure financial stability and longevity for the Montana Optometric Association

Committee Chair Responsibilities:

• Starting in June, the committee chair will confirm with committee members their interest in continuing to serve on the committee for the following MOA year. If not, the committee chair will work with the President in finding a replacement(s).
• Ensure the below responsibilities are delegated and achieved

Responsibilities:

• Review and make recommendations to the ED's proposed budget prior to it being presented to the Board.
• Meet with the ED to discuss the management contract and make a budget recommendation.
• Recommend any changes to the association's investments.
• Recommend any adjustments to the association's reserves.
• Review the financial policies annually and recommend appropriate changes to the Board.
• Update the Board when requested or when the President deems necessary

Legislative Committee

Mission: To ensure adequate and appropriate monitoring, lobbying and oversight on federal and state legislation and issues affecting optometrists of Montana and their patients.

Committee Chair Responsibilities:

• Starting in May, the committee chair will confirm with committee members their interest in continuing to serve on the committee for the following MOA year. If not, committee chair will work with the President in finding a replacement(s).
• Ensure the below responsibilities are delegated and achieved

Responsibilities:

• Motivating and activating membership participation with State Legislators and other elected state officials.
• Appoint regional legislative chairs to assist with the MOA's grassroots efforts
• Work closely with regional chairs to facilitate pre-election contacts with legislators and other elected officials.
• Recommend any strategies to the board for more effective membership/legislator involvement, including prior to the election, during session and after the session, as appropriate.
• Work closely with the ED and the board during the pre-Session, during the Session, and post-session with respect to association's positions, strategies and hearings.
• Be current on state and federal activities and issues that impact the profession
• Work closely with the ED during the Legislative session to monitor legislative bills flagged as "possible interest" to the profession and recommend positions/actions
• Take immediate action to contact regional legislative chairs or key members when the MOA issues a "Legislative Action Alert" concerning specific legislative priorities, and coordinate efforts to work with the Executive Director. This may include providing and/or contacting and coordinating members needed to testify at legislative hearings;
• Attend and support the MOA Legislative Day in Helena, including recruitment of participants, if needed
• Stay current on the scheduling, status and progress of health care reform meetings, groups and activities in Montana, ensure optometric presence and representation at such meetings
• Update the Board when requested or when the committee chair deems necessary
• Utilize the resources and opportunities afforded by the AOA.

Conference Committee

Mission: To plan, organize and conduct quality educational conferences for optometrists, and paraoptometric staff.

Committee Chair Responsibilities:

• Starting in May, the committee chair will confirm with committee members their interest in continuing to serve on the committee for the following MOA year. If not, committee chair will work with the President in finding a replacement(s).

Responsibilities:

• Plan all educational speakers for the annual MOA conference, Big Sky Conference and Legislative Day.
• Work with the ED in regards to the conference schedules to ensure efficient and quality conferences
• Ensure quality education is provided
• Ensure the education provided meets optometry and paraoptometric CE requirements
• Obtain sponsorships for both the MOA and Big Sky Conferences with the assistance of the Board
• Understand the financial goals for the conferences and strive to ensure they are met
• Explore development of a series of skills workshops to enhance services and procedures.

Third Party Committee

Mission: To educate and prepare practicing optometrists in Montana who participate in the managed-care marketplace.

Committee Chair Responsibilities:

• Starting in May, immediately after appointment the committee chair will confirm with committee members their interested in continuing to serve on the committee for the following MOA year. If not, committee chair will work with the President in finding a replacement(s).
• Ensure the below responsibilities are delegated and achieved

Responsibilities:

• Be the voice of advocacy in optometry's participation in third party health care programs.
• Stay abreast of third party and healthcare developments by studying relevant materials and regularly attending meetings and conferences
• The chair will serve as the Montana CAC representative for the Medicare CAC
• Evaluate and determine the impact of third party healthcare policy changes in Optometry
• Meet and develop relationships with major decision-makers in the third party health care delivery arena to promote the benefits of access and integration of eye health and vision care in Montana.
• Be consultants and liaisons to insurance plans, managed care systems, large employers, employer coalitions, and other organizations involved with third party health care delivery.
• Promote and encourage rational inclusion of optometry as a panel provider of medical eye care services in Montana.
• Update MOA member optometrists, when appropriate, on issues concerning the Third Party Health Care changes and opportunities.
• Utilize the resources and opportunities afforded by the AOA.
• Attend and participate in AOA TPC calls

Legal and Legislative Advisory Committee

Mission: To ensure legal and legislative equality and guidance as pertains to practicing optometrists in Montana.

Committee Chair Responsibilities:

• Immediately upon appointment, the committee chair will confirm with committee members their interested in continuing to serve on the committee for the following MOA year. If not, committee chair will work with the President in finding a replacement(s).
• Ensure the below responsibilities are delegated and achieved

Responsibilities:

• Advise the Board upon request on sensitive or complex issues
• Share and provide knowledge and recommendations from past experience and research regarding issues impacting the profession

Diabetic Task Force

Mission: To establish communication and collaboration between Primary Care Physicians and optometrists to improve care for diabetic patients.

Committee Chair Responsibilities:

• Starting in February, the committee chair will confirm with committee members their interest in continuing to serve on the committee for the following MOA year. If not, committee chair will work with the President in finding a replacement(s).
• Ensure the below responsibilities are delegated and achieved

Responsibilities:

• Develop a program that will set guidelines for timely optometric care for diabetic patients and communication between the optometrist and the diabetic patient's Primary Care Physician
• Determine who will be responsible for the reports, who will analyze and share the data
• Determine what data needs to be shared with the third party health care groups
• Create a user-friendly report form for optometrists to use for communication of findings to primary care physician
• Educate third party health care groups of the mission of this program to encourage increased diabetic eyecare and HEDIS scores

GWCO Representative

Mission of GWCO: to provide a common voice for members within organized optometry, facilitate communication, enhance professional development, and provide financial support to affiliated state optometric associations

Responsibilities:

• Represent MOA's best interests at the GWCO meeting
• Report to the MOA board as appropriate
• Report to the MOA Annual meeting on GWCO activities