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Stay connected with PEN & our IPA project! 
Thank you for your interest in PEN's IPA Project. Our overall objective is to build an organization that will both represent and support independent doctors of optometry who wish to expand their practices to offer comprehensive medical eye care, as well as vision correction, and function as members of an integrated primary health care team.
PEN hopes to create a successful Independent Practice Association (IPA)* that will enable California-licensed doctors of optometry to:
Compete to offer and be paid fairly for comprehensive, nonsurgical medical eye care services.
Negotiate with health and vision plans, medical groups, and other health care organizations from a position of strength as members of an integrated and credentialed network.
Provide a framework for the profession to anticipate and capitalize on changes coming to California's health care marketplace.
*A good working definition of an “Independent Practice Association (IPA)” is a group of providers, typically MDs, who organize into a corporation which contracts with HMOs. In IPAs, these providers retain their traditional practice autonomy, while integrating themselves into self-directed groups that solve group problems and exert political influence within the managed care system.
Project Background:
The project was started by PEN's Advisory Board, a 10-member group of industry-leading optometrists. Their initial inspiration was the success of a Management Services Organization (MSO) affiliated with the State University of New York's College of Optometry, called the University Eye Care Network.
The first phase of the project, begun late last year, investigated the feasibility of a managed care optometric network in California. The starting point was to determine whether PEN could create a similar network to the University Eye Care Network and compete successfully. We hired a consultant, skilled attorneys, and managed care experts. Many of you likely took part in our survey, sent out earlier this year, and we thank you for your shared opinions. We've listened to your advice and the advice of our team of experts and created an online presentation of our report and recommendations for a California optometric/medical IPA. Click on the image below to play our online presentation.
Still have unanswered questions? Download our IPA FAQs or Email Us
The second phase of the project is estimated to take another five months. It will consist of raising significant funds from the profession to create the IPA's legal structure - an optometric professional corporation - adopting a final business plan, and seeking capital sufficient to begin operations. If you are interested in getting involved in the project, your valued donation will go towards PEN's IPA project expenses, which are described in the online presentation above and estimated to cost no more than $175,000.
Any donations to our project are appreciated!