UECP's three P's: Purchasing Power with Preferred vendors

WHY WOULD I WANT TO BELONG TO UECP?

UECP provides many advantages that may not be possible for you to obtain on your own. While your individual purchasing power with ophthalmic vendors is limited, as a member of UECP, you will receive discounts that are based on the purchasing power of the entire group.

As an independent practitioner you will be able to purchase lab services, frames, and other ophthalmic related supplies from the industry's leading ophthalmic vendors at competitive discounts. Membership is FREE – it doesn't cost anything to join (with use of our participating vendors/discount groups).

AM I ALLOWED TO HAVE BOTH A DIRECT ACCOUNT AND BENEFIT AS A UECP MEMBER WITH THE SAME VENDOR?

Most vendors require that you to choose one account, so you will need to decide if you wish to buy: as a member of UECP, through a buying group or direct. Should you decide to participate as member of UECP you will still make your purchases directly with the vendor and be billed directly from the vendor. The only difference will be the amount of discount you receive from UECP's Preferred Vendor Program, in many cases, these will be greater than any amounts you receive from most buying groups.

DOES MY SALES REPRESENTATIVE STILL GET CREDIT FOR ANY PURCHASES I MAKE AS A UECP MEMBER?

Yes, you can order from your sales representative or directly from the company. Just be sure to inform your sales rep that you are a member of UECP to ensure your discounts.

UECP'S PREFERRED VENDOR PROGRAM VS. BUYING GROUPS

As one of the largest expenses to any practice, most will agree that choosing a lab requires a careful review. While UECP does not control nor dictate where its members purchase their lab

services, most of UECP's members purchase between two of America's largest laboratories, ELOA and Hoya. Under UECP's Preferred Vendor Program, these laboratories offer UECP members the very best in lens materials, laboratory services, pricing, discounts and programs available.

UECP partners with its preferred vendors. Offering too many labs, frame, and contact lens vendors dilutes buying power for members and lost profits to the vendors – everyone loses! By selecting those vendors utilized by the members increases more business for the vendors and more purchasing power to the members without sacrificing quality for patients.

UECP offers superior vision and insurance plans

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Membership in UECP goes far beyond maximum discounts from UECP's preferred vendor program and special opportunities you can't get anywhere else. UECP also offers its members customized

continuing education seminars on practice management and clinical training from industry experts such as: Mark Wright, OD and John McGreal, Jr., OD, UECP also offers free tools for profitability benchmarking and troubleshooting,

"and Consumer Reports-style" evaluations on equipment, practice management systems and other exclusive member services.

MEDICAL PATIENTS

UECP opened the door to medical eye care for optometry. Today, because of UECP, optometrists in Illinois are able to medically treat patients and are reimbursed on most commercial plans that is commensurate with their education, experience and skills for those they medically treat. UECP continues to advocate on behalf of it members of the important role optometry plays in primary eye care.

DISCOUNT VISION PLAN

UECP offers a discounted vision care plan to both individuals and businesses in the communities where UECP members practice. The program includes: reduced flat rate vision exams, discounts on frames, lenses, contacts and specialty services; free, no obligation consultation for refractive surgery and a discount on LASIK. These discounts can be in addition to any vision insurance that is already provided by employers to their employees.

The primary goal of UECP's discount plan is to make UECP's services available to more individuals in our community, while providing the best care possible at a special rate for selected organizations.

HOW DOES THE PLAN WORK?

UECP works with the Human Resources Department of the participating employer to implement UECP's Discount Vision Plan. UECP provides the employer with all materials needed to educate their employees including educational seminars and follow-up programs, as well as providing employers with a membership cards that entitles their employees to reduced prices for procedures offered by UECP. There are no premiums or enrollment fees due from the employees or the employer.

Click here to view the plan.

GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE

UECP has a very competitive group health insurance program for its members.

By offering health insurance to your employees you will improve your ability to attract and retain qualified staff. However, health insurance is a huge challenge because it is very expensive and

may be prohibitive to offer. You may be one of those practices that has experienced that your health insurance premiums were reasonable the first year, but jumped significantly when it came up for renewal the following year.

UECP's group health insurance program is exclusive. So whether you have a single practice or five practices, you will be able to offer more to your employees.

Under UECP's group health insurance plan, each practice will have the ability to offer multiple plans and designs to its employees, such a: PPOs, HMOs and health savings accounts (HSAs).

To get started, ask your current employees about their interest in health insurance and benefit features, including the importance of drug plans, deductibles, copayments and choice of physician. Don't forget about dental and life insurance, they too are available and affordable.

UECP VISION SOLUTIONS

UECP's team can help you double your sales. We'll share the program with you, provide you with the training and tools necessary to grow your practice and provide your patients with the best in eye care.

UECP's package of benefits

UECP'S CORE

UECP prides itself as a huge advocate of private practice optometry: gaining access to commercial medical plans; leveling the playing field in the dispensing of contact lenses; partnering with ophthalmic companies that address our members' requirements with dependability and unsurpassed

service, while offering competitive discounts, rebates and special promotions; providing continuing education that raises the bar in patient care and grows the bottom line; creating change to meet today's business challenges that will drive its members' growth tomorrow; hosting workshops where members share their

ideas and experiences; offering submission services for medical claims exclusive to optometry through our contracted billing service.

UECP'S PRESENCE

Through WWW.UECP.COM, we educate and promote what our members have to offer to individuals, families, small business, municipalities, large companies, school districts, etc.

UECP not only stresses the importance of eye care, but gives access to eye care for all by offering a discounted vision plan that values its members and their patients.

UECP'S GIFT

Giving back is also an important part of UECP's philosophy, illustrated by its members' participation with Optometry Giving Sight, an initiative to wipe out blindness by 2020 due to uncorrected refractive error affecting the lives of some 670 million men, women and children worldwide.

UECP'S FOCUS AND BEYOND

More patients for our members! By offering premium products to

patients through UECP's Preferred Vendor Program; offering access to eye care for all through UECP's Discount Vision Plan; offering continuing education to our members that provides proven methods for enhancing practices and solutions for patient eye care and vision needs.

UECP OPPORTUNITIES

UECP's view of eye care is all about having the vision of the ever changing landscape of the market.

HOW TO JOIN

What does it cost to join UECP? There is no cost to join.

Click here to send us information about yourself and your practice.

HOW DO I JOIN?

It's easy to apply to UECP. Just [click here] to submit your information online. We will process your credentialing application and call you once you have been approved as a panel member. You may also contact UECP at 888- 660-2020 to set up a face-to-face meeting. If you have questions or need additional information, please call UECP at 888-660-2020.

HOW LONG TILL I FIND OUT IF I HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED?

After you return your credentialing application, we will process your application and call you once it's been approved. This usually takes less than week.

JOIN UECP TODAY!

We are not a buying group, but we have buying power as a group. We are not a list of doctors on a plan, but we are a network of doctors offering a plan. We are not dependent and controlled, but we are independent and in control. We do not follow, but we do lead. We do not look one way, but we see all ways.

Members who actively participate in UECP have successful practices! Actively participate and pay nothing or sit back and pay something!

UECP'S HISTORY

United Eye Care Providers, LLC (UECP) a privately held organization of 150+ partners (all optometrists) was established in 1995 by optometry for optometry.

UECP is still one of the largest networks of subspecialty providers in the country.

UECP was awarded the first medical contract for optometry. UECP is one of the founding members of a national network

of what is known today as the National Coalition of Eye Care IPAs with 6000+ member optometrists in more than 30 states.

A subgroup of UECP members created a fledgling "true comanagement model for LASIK," where optometry has primary responsibility of their patient's care.

UECP offers access, affordability and choice to its members for group health insurance.

UECP is the "Light" of eye care!

WHAT IS UECP?

UECP is the acronym for United Eye Care Providers, LLC.

UECP is one of the first-ever networks consisting of private practice optometrists that is 100% owned and operated by private practice optometrists.

UECP's purchasing power is derived from all of the private practice optometrists together as a network, where each member receives the maximum discounts from a preferred group of the best labs, frame and other ophthalmic vendors. UECP does not charge its members a fee that is based on the amount of volume they purchase nor does it take a percentage of gross receipts from its members.

UECP was designed to provide

opportunities for its members in the marketplace, while providing the highest level of patient care and still maintaining individual practice autonomy. Today, some fifteen years later, UECP is still a 100% owned and operated network of private practice optometrists.

UECP is a self sustaining organization that is supported and funded only by its member doctors. UECP requires only that its members utilize a minimum of one preferred lab and a choice of one or more of its preferred vendors.

Should a member decide not to utilize UECP's preferred vendors, then there is a flat monthly charge per practice to participate as a member of UECP. UECP is a great opportunity for any practice

wanting to grow and prosper by utilizing all that UECP has to offer. Please call (888) 660-2020 for more information.

If you would like to become a member today, click here to begin the process.

WHO OWNS AND OPERATES UECP?

UECP is owned by a network of private practice optometrists under the structure of a limited liability company. There are two types of members: owner members and panel members.

UECP is overseen by an eight member board. UECP contracts both its management and billing services to individuals with both the expertise and experience in the eye care industry.