OpNetUSA's Independent Practitioners Association (IPA) was
founded as the first NCQA Certified IPA within the Optometric
industry in the spring of 2000. Dr. Stig Pedersen, who originally
received his optometry education in Denmark and obtained his
American Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of
Houston, has been very active in the education process related
to third party insurance programs. Dr. Stig Pedersen's experience
is, that the biggest problem for independent optometrist,
as well as for optometrist working with chains, always has
been all the PAPERWORK that is required in connection with
the initial credentialing and re-credentialing with third
party insurance. Dr. Pedersen, through his companies has over
the past 5 years invested a large amount of time and money
in securing that the IPA is geared specifically towards the
prominent needs for Optometrists and Ophthalmologists.
In December of 2005 Dr. Pedersen decided to add additional
personnel and use his full effort on expanding the IPA to
be nationwide. At the same time the IPA changed it's name
to OpNetUSA to reflect these goals.
