RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif.—In a letter to providers sent on Friday of last week, VSP said it would postpone its proposed policy change for frame reimbursements which was to have a start date of July 1.

In an email, Daniel Mannen, OD, FAAO, VSP Global board chair said, “On March 31, 2016 VSP network providers were notified of a VSP policy change to better align frame reimbursements with frame industry pricing. We know that choice is a priority for both VSP doctors and patients. We’ve heard from VSP doctors who perceive this policy change as one that limits choice. With that in mind, we’ve made a business decision to postpone the original effective date of July 1 to allow further review and consideration of frame reimbursements in relation to industry pricing and practices.”

In response to a query, a VSP spokesperson told VMail, “There is no timetable to evaluate the process.” For those practices who purchased or committed to purchase a minimum purchase of Marchon/Altair frames in recent months in anticipation of the new program starting July 1, the spokesperson added, “Product can be returned and they can contact their Marchon/Altair rep for more information.”

The spokesperson emphasized to VMail that the postponement of the frames reimbursement policy “is a policy change that is not related to the VSP Global Premier Program.”

The frames program was to have asked VSP network providers to purchase a minimum dollar amount of Marchon/Altair products and to maintain current levels of reimbursement for non-VSP frame company purchases by VSP enrollees.

The postponement was announced during Optometry’s Meeting held in Boston last week. On July 2, the AOA issued a statement to its members about it, referencing a June 27 letter sent by AOA president Steven A. Loomis, OD, and AOA president-elect Andrea P. Thau, OD, to VSP taking issue with several of its programs. “The AOA will remain vigilant in advocating for vision plan practices that enable high-quality, patient-centered care,” the AOA’s July 2 statement said.