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NAPLES, Fla.—Nearly 100 executives of managed vision companies, retail optical chains and eyewear/eyecare suppliers—a record attendance—gathered here last week for the 7th annual conference of the National Association of Vision Care Plans (NAVCP), where they heard the association’s goals for the coming year and discussed the impact of the new health care reform legislation on the managed-vision arena. At the meeting, the group also shared initial results from the NAVCP’s first member utilization survey.

The NAVCP also elected new officers and board members during the event. The new NAVCP president is Richard Sanchez of Advantica; Sanchez succeeded Liz DiGiandomenico of EyeMed Vision Care, who had held that office for the past two years. Elected first vice president was Joe Wende, OD, of Davis Vision. Other NAVCP officers are Kimberly Hess of Superior Vision Services, VP- marketing; Erich Sternberg of AlwaysCare Benefits, VP-legislative affairs; Aspasia Shappet of MESVision, VP-industry relations; LaJeanne Niles of Carl Zeiss Vision, VP-membership; Don Yee of OptumHealth Systems, secretary/treasure. David Lavely, OD, of OptiCare Managed Vision, and DiGiandomenico were elected directors at large.

Sanchez outlined five key objectives for the organization in the coming year: developing the NAVCP’s strategy toward the rollout of health care reform, and partnering with other groups aligned with its strategy; reviewing the organization’s structure to make sure it best represents its members’ interests; continuing to communicate the value of vision care and the role of vision plans in health care; expanding the awareness and role of the NAVCP with benefiting entities; and continuing to increase membership and add value to members.

The NAVCP currently has 17 primary members and 16 allied members. New members since last year’s conference are Eyefinity/OfficeMate, NGL Insurance, Focal Center, Pro Fit Optix, Eyemart Express and eyeQuest; For Eyes, Block Vision and VisionWeb also have returned as NAVCP members.

During the conference, results of the NAVCP’s first benefit-utilization survey were revealed. The survey—with data provided by 10 major managed vision companies, nine of them NAVCP members—indicated that of the 85.5 million plan members affiliated with those 10 companies, 25.1 percent of them actually used the eye exam benefit provided by their plans during 2009, up from a 24 percent utilization rate for those companies in 2008.

The survey also indicated that stand-alone vision plans that offer coverage for both exams and glasses or contact lenses have the highest rates of member utilization.