WellPoint launches first Vision Industry Advisory Board

Indianapolis-WellPoint has formed a new Vision Advisory Board. The advisory board is intended to help facilitate a dialogue on how WellPoint can work with its network of providers in a mutually beneficial manner.

“WellPoint is committed to meeting the needs of both our providers and patients,” said Jeff Spahr, WellPoint’s president of Vision Services. “The advisory board will provide us with a forum to exchange ideas with providers and explore new ways to meet the needs of patients.”

The members of the advisory board are:

• Harry Boparai, OD - medical director at New York Vision Group, chief of eye care at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center and Buena Vida Continuing Care and Rehabilitation Center

• Heath Gilbert, OD – past president of the Ohio Optometric Association and private practice at Dayton Optometric Center

• Douglas Kiefer, OD – LensCrafters in Colorado

• Karin E. Meng, MS, OD – chair, Healthcare Delivery Systems Committee for the California Optometric Association and private practice

• Steven Richlin, OD – optometry clinic chief, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, and private practice

• Robert E. Smith, OD – staff optometrist, Eye Associates and private practice

“The board will act as an early warning system for issues that might affect providers and the managed vision care industry, and it can serve as a resource and 'focus group' for developing and implementing new programs, products and services to providers and our members,” said Richard Hom, OD, MPA, FAAO, WellPoint’s national optometric director and chair of the advisory board.

The advisory board will be tasked with finding new ways to help address patients’ vision wellness needs, drive more patients to providers, improve provider growth and profitability, and help develop an eye wellness educational campaign. The advisory board will be constituted for 3 years with each member serving a 1-year term.