There is a lot of buzz in the optometric community about the recent launch of AOA MORE (Measures and Outcomes Registry for Eyecare). Free to COA-AOA members (non-members pay $1,800 a year), AOA MORE is a registry that pairs with your EHR system to capture data and provide feedback to all registry users on patient outcomes for specific treatments, which spurs cost-effective improvements and innovation in health care delivery, and can lead to reimbursement bonuses of up to 27 percent. The quality of the data hinges on the amount of doctors of optometry signed up to utilize AOA MORE. The greater the number of doctors who share their practice and clinical data, the more patient outcomes available for analysis that can help improve care over time.

Here are the top four things to know about AOA MORE:

1. You can get paid more with AOA MORE.
Participation in a registry is one of the requirements for obtaining maximum reimbursement rates by Medicare. AOA MORE allows doctors to participate in the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), the new value-based payment system that Medicare and other insurers are using that combines the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS), EHR Meaningful Use Program and Value-Based Modifier clinical quality improvement measures. Starting in 2019, MIPS could earn ODs as much as a 12 percent reimbursement bonus in the first year and 27 percent in bonuses by 2022.

2. Registries are not new to health care, but are certainly the way of the future.
Registries expand the base of medical knowledge beyond clinical trials to track the real-world outcomes of patients, which helps to inform providers of effective treatments for patients who present later with similar conditions. For example, diabetes and contact lens complications can all be studied by using AOA MORE. Registries have been in place for many years for health care professions such as cardiology, oncology, osteopathy and ophthalmology.

3. It is a secure and valuable practice management tool.
By allowing doctors to compare clinical and practice data for their practice versus registry-wide benchmarks, you can know where you stand compared to other practices. It systematically and securely integrates non-identifying patient data from multiple EHR systems, remaining HIPAA compliant - AOA, individual patients, insurance companies, licensing boards, regulatory agencies and other groups will not be able to see or obtain any information about specific doctors or patients. AOA MORE is currently compatible with Eyecare Advantage by Compulink Business Systems, Inc., MaximEyes by First Insight^® and RevolutionEHR by Health Innovation Technologies. Three additional EHR systems are anticipated to be added shortly in upcoming bi-monthly program releases: Eyefinity^® EHR, Crystal Practice Management and Practice Director EHR by Williams Group™. Note: AOA is tracking the demand for all vendors, so please register for free with AOA MORE. This way, AOA can contact your vendor to let them know of your desire to participate.

4. It is free for AOA members.
Non-members must pay $1,800 a year to participate in the registry. Free registration with AOA MORE returns nearly 100 percent of a full active member’s annual dues investment, plus it can increase your reimbursements. AOA MORE provides a big bang for your membership bucks.

Much more information on this breakthrough new member service, including an extensive FAQ, is available by clicking here. To sign up for free for AOA MORE, click here (AOA member login required).