News from the AOA's Blog

President Obama and leaders in Congress remain committed to national health care reform this year.  And as these efforts gain momentum, the AOA has stepped up its proactive work in Washington, D.C., to ensure that optometry retains its rightful seat “at the table” and continues to influence the direction of the debate as Congress begins to consider the most far-reaching overhaul of health care in America.

“While the AOA has worked hard to position the profession well, the battles ahead will not be easy,” said AOA Executive Director Barry J. Barresi, O.D., Ph.D.

Today, millions of dollars are being spent by organized medicine, the insurance and managed care companies and other well-funded special interests aimed at influencing the direction of the health reform debate.

“Of course we won’t be able to match them dollar-for dollar, but we can and must outwork them,” said Dr. Barresi.

He called on the nation’s tens of thousands of optometrists to commit to becoming actively involved in shaping the health reform debate in the coming weeks.

“Optometry is now at a watershed moment,” said Dr. Barresi. “National health reform is moving forward, and we must do all that we can to ensure optometry is on the train and not left sitting at the station.”

The AOA Advocacy Group has indicated that two influential committees in the U.S. Senate are expected to release complementary health reform overhaul plans over the course of June.

Extensive debate and critical votes are anticipated throughout July, and then this sweeping reform plan will move on to the U.S. House of Representatives for likely action by the end of the summer.

“For the profession, this timetable could not be better,” said AOA Advocacy Group Director, Jon Hymes. “With the strategic convergence of Optometry’s Meeting® and the AOA Congressional Advocacy Conference, we have an invaluable opportunity to educate our leaders in Washington about the importance of eye and vision care and of the central role that optometry plays as a key access point to care.”

Optometry’s Meeting® will take place June 24-28 in Washington, D.C, just as Congress is expected to being serious work on reform legislation.

To make the most of this opportunity, the AOA Advocacy Group’s 2009 Congressional Advocacy Conference will be held June 22-24, immediately prior to the start of the profession’s premier gathering.

The Congressional Advocacy Conference is the profession’s annual effort to educate members of Congress and spotlight the AOA’s priority federal issues. This year the conference is expected to draw up to 500 concerned students and doctors, including many members of optometry’s grassroots lobbying corps, the AOA Keyperson Network.

“Over its history, optometry has developed a respected grassroots network has proven highly effective in shaping legislation at the state and federal levels,” Hymes said. “Now, perhaps more than ever before, it is important for optometrists to demonstrate the kind of legislative strength that has made optometry a model for other health care professions.”

“AOA Keypersons representing all 50 states and all 435 congressional districts will pay visits to legislative offices to bring optometry’s pro-patient, pro-access message directly to every member of Congress and their staffs,” Hymes said.

“The question is: have you already made plans to come to Washington, D.C., to fight for your patients and the future of your profession?” he asked.

To learn more about Optometry’s Meeting® or the AOA Congressional Advocacy Conference, visit www.aoa.org or www.optometrysmeeting.org or call 800-365-2219.