News from the AOA's Blog

The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate approved separate comprehensive health care reform bills in late 2009 with the intention of developing a merged bill – containing selected provisions from both – for final consideration in early 2010. However, in recent weeks, the considerable divisions that exist in Washington, D.C. and around the country on the issues surrounding health care policy have left it unclear as to how or when a final version will be put to a vote on Capitol Hill.

To break the stalemate, President Obama has invited Congressional leaders from both parties to attend a special White House summit on health care reform on Feb. 25. The AOA, already closely following negotiations leading up to this meeting, is urging the Obama administration and Members of Congress to ensure that AOA-backed provisions are included in any final bill that emerges, including:

Federal Provider Non-Discrimination Safeguards (Harkin Amendment, Section 2706 of the Senate bill) – This important provision in the Senate bill is needed because health insurance plans routinely discriminate against the participation of qualified non-MD health providers, including optometrists. Such discrimination is anti-competitive, restricts patient choice of provider and availability of treatment options.

Protect State Patient Access to Care Laws (Ross-Braley Amendment, Section 238 of the House bill) – Nearly every state has enacted provider non-discrimination/patient choice laws that are benefiting consumers and assuring patient access to optometric and other essential health care. This provision in the House bill would make it clear that it is not the intent of Congress to preempt any such state law.

Full Recognition of ODs in Medicaid (Schakowsky Amendment, Section 1726A of the House bill) – With optometric care too often considered an optional benefit in Medicaid, essential eye health and vision care services are being targeted for massive cuts. The House bill includes language based on HR 2697, the bipartisan Schakowsky-Hall Optometric Equity in Medicaid Act, to ensure that Medicaid patients are not denied the care they need.

Children’s Vision is Essential – Both the Senate and House bills would recognize children’s vision as an essential health care benefit. The Senate bill would also recognize the importance of offering vision care through school-based health clinics.

Recognition of First Contact Providers in a Patient’s Health Care Home – Although the so-called “medical home” model was designed to promote integrated, coordinated and comprehensive care, it can fall short in assuring full patient access to vision and eye health care. Any final bill must provide for an inclusive Health Care Home for patients that would cover eye and vision care as part of the complete ranged of recognized primary care services.

Repeal the Insurance Industry’s Anti-Trust Exemption – Although not included in either the Senate or House bills at this time, there is a renewed effort in Congress, supported by the AOA, to level the playing field in health care by eliminating the anti-trust exemption enjoyed by the insurance industry since 1945.