You'll find this interesting reading...and a crystal ball into your future. ____________________________________________________________________ Vision Care—General 46. What vision care services are available at LifeConnections Health Center? The vision care services include both optometry services and eyewear, including glasses, sunglasses and contact lenses. Optometry services are provided onsite by an optometrist under contract with the North First Street Medical Group at the LifeConnections Health Center. The LifeConnections Vision Center, an optical dispensary owned and operated by Eyefinity, Inc. (Eyefinity), offers you quality, stylish eyewear at discounted prices. 47. Where is the optometrist located? The optometrist is located at the LifeConnections Health Center at: Building Q, Second floor 3571 North First Street, Suite 200 San Jose, CA 95134 (Near the corner of First and Tasman) 48. Where is the Vision Center located? The LifeConnections Vision Center is located within the LifeConnections Health Center at: Building Q, Second floor 3571 North First Street, Suite 202 San Jose, CA 95134 (Near the corner of First and Tasman) 408 424-2229 49. Who is VSP® Vision Care? It appears that VSP, through it's EyeFinity division, is now the owner of an optical dispensary inside of the Cisco Campus in San Jose, CA (competing directly with private practice optometrists). As I've written in the past, the day when VSP "goes direct" with the sale of eyewear is here. The document below describes a logical model for VSP to attempt to promulgate...the O.D. gets the exam (at ludicrous reimbursement rates) and VSP gets the eyewear.
VSP® Vision Care has focused on eye health and its impact on the overall wellness of some 55 million members for more than 50 years. Cisco employees and their families have had access to VSP benefits for many years. As the largest not-for-profit vision care provider in the industry, VSP works with optometrists, including the one at the LifeConnections Health Center, to offer discounts on eyewear and eye exams to its plan members in rural and metropolitan areas throughout the United States — this includes Cisco employees and their dependents.
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50. Who is Eyefinity? Eyefinity owns and operates the LifeConnections Vision Center. Eyefinity is the leading business management partner in the eyecare industry, specializing in web-based solutions that allow eyecare professionals to order products and materials. LifeConnections Health Center Optometrist 51. What are the qualifications of the LifeConnections Health Center optometrist? Vision care is provided onsite by a licensed optometrist under contract with the North First Street Medical Group at the LifeConnections Health Center. The optometrist is highly skilled, experienced, and licensed. She will take the time to get to know you and the health of your eyes. 52. Are all Cisco employees eligible to be seen by the health center optometrist? All Cisco employees and their dependents eligible for benefits can use the health center optometrist. Cisco employees and their families covered under VSP will receive in-network benefits when they see an optometrist at the health center. If you’re not covered under VSP, you can be seen at the health center and pay directly for services. 53. What services does the optometrist offer? The optometrist focuses on your eye health and visual acuity. You’ll receive an exam that is more than just a quick eye check—the exam focuses on your eyes and overall wellness. Our optometrist will look for vision problems within the scope of licensure and look for signs of serious health conditions, like glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, too. 54. Is there an advantage to seeing the optometrist at LifeConnections Health Center? Yes, there are many advantages. The health center optometrist is a proactive, collaborative member of the LifeConnections Health Center medical team. This integrated approach makes it easy for the physicians to refer to the optometrist for vision care and for the optometrist to refer patients directly to a primary care physician if a health care problem such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol is detected during a routine eye examination. Of course, another advantage is the time you save time by visiting an optometrist located on the San Jose campus. 55. Are same-day appointments available with the optometrist? Yes, depending on availability. Call the LifeConnections Health Center at 408 424-2000 to find out.
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56. How much does it cost to visit the optometrist? Employees and their dependents that are covered under the VSP plan will have their optometry claims processed by VSP. For eye exams, you are generally responsible for a $25.00 copay. Employees not covered under the VSP plan are responsible for the full payment, and can be reimbursed through their individual Health Care Flexible Spending Account or submit a claim with their vision care plan. 57. As a Kaiser member, can I see the optometrist? Yes, you are welcome to see the optometrist at the LifeConnections Health Center, but you must pay the full cost for services, unless you are covered under VSP. 58. How often should I get an eye exam? You and your doctor should determine the eye exam schedule that best meets your eyecare needs. However, as a rule, the recommended care is to have an eye exam every one to two years. Those with a family history of eye diseases, diabetic patients, and anyone whose general health is poor or who are taking medications that may have potential side effects on the eye may need to have their eyes examined more frequently. 59. Why should I have my eyes examined regularly? Thorough eye exams are essential not just for detecting vision problems, but also as an important preventive measure for maintaining overall health and wellness. And your VSP coverage is designed to protect and enhance your eyesight. In fact, a thorough eye exam can detect a number of serious medical conditions, such as glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetes--even cancer. Caring for your eyes should always be a part of your regular healthcare routine. 60. When should my child have his or her first eye exam? The American Optometric Association suggests that children should have their first regular eye exam at six months of age. Follow up exams should be done around age two to three. 61. How often should children’s eyes be examined after their initial eye exam? As with adults, children's eyes should be examined every two years, or more often if there is an eye or vision problem, or a family history of eye disease. School children use their eyes more often than adults to read and perform other activities, so it's critical for them to have regular eye exams. Also, it's important to remember that an eye screening typically offered at school only tests for distance. Screenings will not detect some vision problems. Your child can have problems with near vision, eye coordination, or focusing and still have 20/20
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distance vision. If left untreated, these problems can cause learning disabilities, headaches, and other visual discomforts. 62. Do I need a special eye exam as I get close to, or past, age 40? You don't need a special eye exam over age 40, but it's critical that you have your regular eye exam at least every two years. As we get older, we are more susceptible to certain eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. A regular eye exam enables your eye doctor to detect the first signs of disease and prescribe the appropriate treatments to prevent vision loss. 63. Are primary eyecare services provided onsite? Your VSP Primary EyeCare benefit provides medical and urgent eyecare that goes beyond your regular VSP plan, including:
64. Do you need a referral for primary eyecare? You’ll never need a referral. And if the optometrist finds that you need to see a specialist, he/she will consult and coordinate with your primary care physician, or an ophthalmologist. 65. Can I get a prescription from the optometrist filled at the LifeConnections Pharmacy? Like the other practitioners at LifeConnections Health Center, the optometrist has the ability to e-prescribe to the LifeConnections Pharmacy, to the extent allowed by state law.
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LifeConnections Vision Center 66. Are all Cisco employees eligible to get eyewear/services at the LifeConnections Vision Center? All Cisco employees and their dependents eligible for benefits can use the Vision Center. Cisco employees and their families covered under VSP will receive in-network benefits. If you’re not covered under VSP, you will be fully responsible for the costs of all eyewear and services. 67. What are the qualifications of the LifeConnections Vision Center staff? The LifeConnections Vision Center opticians are board-registered in fitting glasses and contacts. They’re trained in image consulting and can work with you to achieve the best vision as well as the right image and look to enhance your lifestyle. 68. Do I have to be seen by the health center optometrist to see an optician at the LifeConnections Vision Center? No. You and your eligible dependents can purchase eyewear at the LifeConnections Vision Center without using the services of the health center optometrist. Simply bring your prescription to the LifeConnections Vision Center and the opticians will be happy to assist. 69. What services and products are offered at the LifeConnections Vision Center? We offer visual solutions for all of life’s needs, including glasses and contact lenses, along with adjustments and repairs of existing eyewear. We have an exceptional range of glasses, designed to fit every need. From practical to sporty, we carry popular brands such as Calvin Klein®, Sean John®, Nike®, Tommy Bahama®, Karl Lagerfeld®, Fendi®, Coach®, and many more. We also offer the latest in high-def lens technology, which allows you to see things more clearly.
70. How much does it cost for eyewear and contact lenses?
For eyewear and contact lenses, the VSP plan offers Cisco employees and their dependents a generous allowance that may offset the entire cost of the eyewear purchased. Employees not covered under the VSP plan are required to pay for
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services directly, and then can submit a claim to be reimbursed through their individual Health Care Flexible Spending Account. 71. As a Kaiser member, can I get glasses or contact lenses at the LifeConnections Vision Center? Yes, you are welcome to purchase glasses and contact lenses at the LifeConnections Vision Center, but you must pay the full cost for the products you purchase, unless you are covered under VSP. 72. What savings and discounts will I receive at the LifeConnections Vision Center? If covered under the VSP plan, you’ll get lens and brand options every year, and frames every other year, with an allowance for contacts and the contact lens exam (fitting and evaluation). You’ll also get extra discounts and savings on glasses, sunglasses, contacts, and laser vision correction. For more details on exact allowance and discounts, please visit ciscolifeconnections.com and click on the "Vision Care" tab. 73. What are the Vision Center office hours? The LifeConnections Vision Center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closed on Cisco holidays.
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Note: Although high-def lenses are not covered under the VSP benefit plan, you’ll receive an average of 35-40 percent savings on these lens options.
Exams to monitor cataracts
Tests to diagnose eye conditions, such as glaucoma and diabetic eye disease
Tests to diagnose sudden vision changes
Treatment for eye pain or conditions like pink eye
There is so much more than what you write here ....
The execs working for Marchon and Altair in their quest for world frame domination - have lost sight of the doctors that have made them both so profitable. The right hand does not know what the left hand is doing and both companies (really one company - in fact VSP will soon be the same - MARCHON) are losing significant market share with their recent SAP computer disaster/conversion. No inventory, no frames to provide, lost, never filled orders that "appear" as filled, thousands of returns that are not being processed for MONTHS...They are in crisis management mode, staff is stressed and dejected, employees are leaving or have left and hiring is up for the young man or woman armed with the ability to make 50 calls in a day. VSP a great company to work for? This is OLD news ... very old news. Grumblings from old and new employees and the quick understanding that all is not what they told you. Yes, there are those docs still loyal because they have been hit over the head so often that they are brain dead and just go with "consignment". Well wait til there isn't consignment. Calling Altair and Marchon for "service" is a joke. Weary reps and CSR's make apologies (for a living you might say) and the frames keep coming back.
No end in sight either. Sell more .. sell more .. care less. My experience isn't with the insurance end but the lab and they aren't just working for you doctors out there that assume it is a VSP lab.
Wish more would follow this blog ... it is the rare truth teller of all things VSP.
Posted by: Anonymous | May 18, 2011 at 06:16 AM
Wow - we never saw this coming (said with sarcasm).
I do like the top photo of the typical private practice VSP optometrist.
Posted by: Don Furman OD | May 12, 2011 at 05:18 PM