VSP Vision Care’s Jim McGrann succeeded MESVision’s Aspasia Shappet as NAVCP chair.

LAS VEGAS—During the 2015 Specialty Health Summit held earlier this week at the Four Seasons Las Vegas Hotel by the National Association of Vision Care Plans (NAVCP) and the National Association of Specialty Health Organizations (NASHO), the NAVCP announced the formation of the Administrative Simplification Committee. The committee’s first priority is to create a universal credentialing process that will eliminate the need for eyecare professionals to credential separately with each of their vision care plans.

“This is a monumental step forward that will allow eyecare professionals to reduce the administrative burden currently associated with credentialing requirements,” said Aspasia Shappet, CEO of MESVision and outgoing chairwoman of NAVCP. “Our goal is to simplify the process for eyecare professionals to do business with whomever they choose, so they can focus on what’s most important, patient care.”

Multiple options are being considered, and the resolution will be announced later this year. The priority is to reduce the administrative costs and resources needed to manage credentialing when participating with various plans. The committee members consist of representatives from Avesis, Davis Vision, EyeMed, EyeQuest, General Vision Services, MESVision, National Vision, OptiCare, Superior Vision, UnitedHealthcare Vision and VSP Vision Care.

“We have heard from doctors that they need an easier way to work with vision care plans, and we’re committed to finding solutions and supporting the implementation of them in order to streamline processes,” said Lukas Ruecker, president of EyeMed and chair of the Administrative Simplification Committee.

“To see the vision care plans come together in this way is a demonstration of everyone’s commitment to the overall optical industry and our support for eyecare professionals,” said Julian Roberts, executive director for NAVCP, which hosted the Specialty Health Summit along with NASHO at the Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas, May 4 to 6.

The three-day event focused on the theme of “Cashing in On Consumer Value” and featured presentations by health plan professionals, vision care executives, and health care leaders. As the Affordable Care Act continues influencing dramatic change in the field of health care overall and vision care specifically, much of the presenters’ discussions centered around the impact of health care reform on reimbursements and the switch to outcomes-based patient care. The impact of consolidation among vision care providers was also a trending topic during the meeting.

General sessions about changes in health care during Tuesday’s full day of presentations were followed by breakout meetings on Wednesday that focused specifically on vision care and physical medicine management. Vision care industry speakers included focalCenter’s Ron Krefman, OD, FAAO, who encouraged members to take part in a new benchmarketing study, Vision Monday’s Marge Axelrad who reviewed optical industry trends and recent data, Visibility Management’s Richard Sanchez, who led a discussion about investment and new health care models, and Joe Wende, OD of Zeiss who led a session on the advent of telemedicine.

Also during the Specialty Health Summit, VSP Vision Care’s Jim McGrann succeeded MESVision’s Aspasia Shappet as NAVCP chair, as reported earlier this week by VMail.

Supporters of the event included platinum sponsors VSP Vision Care and Carl Zeiss Vision and preferred sponsors CareCredit, Essilor, LCA Vision, and PFO Global. To see some of the managed vision care and allied executives in attendance, view the slideshow here: NAVCP/NASHO Specialty Health Summit Hosts Vision Care Leaders.