News from the AOA's Blog

Final Bill Includes First Federal Provider Non-Discrimination Standard to Target Exclusionary ERISA Plans, Designates Children’s Vision as an Essential Benefit, and Preserves State Patient Access to Care Laws 

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 21, 2010)— The U.S. House of Representatives today gave final approval to a far-reaching $940 billion health care overhaul bill pushed by President Obama and his allies in Congress, which seeks to extend health insurance coverage to 32 million Americans through a system of 50 state-based health insurance exchanges to be administered by the states and subject to state laws, re-shape Medicare and other Federal health programs and impose new requirements on health insurers. Included in the more than 2000-page measure is a landmark provision sponsored by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), and backed by the 36,000-member American Optometric Association (AOA) during a year-long grassroots campaign, that is designed to outlaw discrimination against optometrists and other providers by health plans, including self-insured ERISA plans. The legislation passed the U.S. Senate late last year, and with House passage today, is expected to be signed into law by President Obama. Read the rest of this entry ?

President Obama and his allies in Congress have just released the final version of health care reform legislation and set a “make or break” vote on passage by the U.S. House of Representatives for Sunday afternoon.   

The more than 2000 page plan, estimated to cost $940 billion over 10 years, seeks to extend health insurance coverage to 32 million Americans and impose new consumer-friendly requirements on health insurers.  The measure also seeks to cut billions of dollars from Medicare, including through a powerful new commission that would examine physician payment and other issues, and impose new taxes on wealthy and well-insured Americans.  Read the rest of this entry ?

AOA Federal Keyperson Audie Teague, O.D. and fellow members of the Arkansas delegation present Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.) with the 2010 AOA Health Care Leadership Award. Rep. Ross authored the AOA-backed patient access safeguard / provider non-discrimination amendment to the House health care reform bill that would prevent health insurers from gaining new ability to restrict patient access to optometric care.

As hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent by special interests seeking to influence the Washington, DC debate over national health care reform, the AOA has kept its focus on the profession’s historic strengths – grassroots advocacy leaders and a proven pro-patient access message. This month, nearly 400 ODs and students traveled to the nation’s capital to participate in the AOA Congressional Advocacy Conference and put this strategy into action at the most pivotal point in the year-long legislative process.

In the days leading up to the conference, AOA-backed patient access legislation and the hard-won, four-year $288 million Medicare pay hike for ODs faced renewed attacks by anti-optometry groups. Then, just as doctors and students were receiving their last-minute issue briefings, President Obama and his allies in Congress officially launched a final push for their plans for national health care reform. At the same time, work on Capitol Hill to block a massive 21% cut in Medicare reimbursement was stalling due to a dispute over procedure. Read the rest of this entry ?