Latest News Debate on Eyecare’s Role in Health-Care Reform Heats Up By Staff Friday, October 2, 2009 12:24 AM LAS VEGAS—The ongoing debate over the role of eyecare in the planned U.S. health-care reforms came into sharper focus last week when the American Optometric Association (AOA) and the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AOA) jointly sent a letter to Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) expressing concerns about proposed health reform language that would “advance ‘stand-alone’ vision plans as a preferred and specially recognized merchanism for delivering eye health care for our patients, America’s children.” The AOA/AAO letter charged that “‘stand-alone’ vision plan companies aim to turn back the clock by continuing to segment vision from eye health, and seeking to impose misguided limits on the care that our patients—especially children—receive. “Such plans are routinely mislabeled as complete or comprehensive when in fact they are not,” the letter continued. It went on to say, “Any expansion of stand-alone vision plans through health-care reform would result in a continuation of non-responsive action and fractured and uncoordinated care.” The AOA/AAO letter came about two months after managed-vision giant VSP aligned with the National Association of Vision Care Plans (NAVCP), the National Association of Dental Plans and the Delta Dental Plans Association in sending a letter to three U.S. representatives urging that stand-alone vision and dental plans not be excluded from pending health care legislation. Their letter cited “the 132 million Americans enrolled in family stand-alone dental and vision benefits” who might be forced to drop their current coverage and be required to purchase vision or dental coverage for their children through a medical insurer. Response to the Sept. 22 AOA/AAO letter came quickly from several key managed-vision entities. Said a VSP spokesman, “Without an amendment to the current Senate Finance Committee bill, children’s vision would be disconnected from their parents’ coverage. Data from our 55 million members shows that patients are more than two times more likely to access comprehensive eyecare services when an eye exam and prescription eyewear are covered by a stand-alone vision carrier as opposed to major medical.” Dave Holmberg, president and chief executive officer of HVHC—parent of Davis Vision—commented on the stand-alone vision plan idea, “Any concept that supports quality eyecare, while keeping the end user in mind and offering choice and value, is good for the patient and for the industry.” Added Holmberg, “Stand-alone vision plans are part of a healthy marketplace—the system isn’t broken. Through it consumers and decision-makers can go with premium options or value options, choosing what’s best for them.” The board of directors of the NAVCP, whose membership includes a number of large stand-alone vision plans has been discussing whether to take any action in light of the AOA/AAO letter. “We’re exploring our options,” said Steve Ingram, the NAVCP’s executive director.