AUSTIN, Texas—The National Association of Vision Care Plans (NAVCP) brought together members and associate members to its 2018 Vision Health Summit here last month. The group, consisting of major U.S. managed vision care plans and insurance companies, listened to a summary of changes on the state and federal regulation fronts, examined telehealth trends and elected new officers.

Lukas Ruecker, president of EyeMed Vision Care, was seated as the new chairman of its board of directors for the 2018-2020 term. Ruecker succeeds Karen Gustin, executive vice president, group division, at Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. Gustin had served as NAVCP chairman since 2016. Superior Vision chief executive officer Kirk Rothrock, who has been NAVCP’s secretary/treasurer since 2016, will assume the chairman-elect position, according to the announcement.

“Lukas has actively shared his deep industry knowledge and strategic leadership with the association for the past four years,” NAVCP executive director Julian Roberts said in the announcement. “NAVCP is fortunate to have such a respected thought leader as chairman.”

“As the unified voice of the managed vision care industry, NAVCP needs to better position vision care as essential health care for all Americans and improve access to quality eyecare,” Ruecker added. “We also need to continue to reduce duplication and simplify administration for patients, providers and other stakeholders in the optical eco system.”

The NAVCP 2018 Vision Health Summit brings together managed vision care professionals to engage in two-way discussion with industry thought leaders and federal and state health care public policymakers. Those discussions will center on future business and treatment trends, innovative approaches for promoting access and vision health for all Americans and simplifying health care administration.