California warily watches ‘not-a-doctor’ wording in Senate bill
A recently amended California bill tackles who can and can’t be called a doctor in California. The California Optometric Association is on top of the issue, making sure the exclusionary wording does not apply to the state’s doctors of optometry. Not-a-doctor legislation emerged in several states last year, each effort defeated by optometry.
Contacts Lens Prescription Modernization Act introduced as next step in ending damaging robocalls
The fight to end the problematic loophole of robocalls continues with the introduction of Senate bill S.4083, a companion bill to H.R. 2748 from 2023.
'All the advocacy firepower’ called up at AOA on Capitol Hill
Over 500 AOA doctors and optometry students championed the profession’s priority issues in Washington, D.C., including a growing Congressional focus on vision plan abuses.
Latest: Texas defends landmark vision plan law
Texas optometrists stand alongside the State as a legal challenge to the constitutionality of the new vision plan law now heads before an appellate court.
Fight for Optometry
The AOA is the only advocate for optometry. Discover how you can help optometry keep a seat at the table whenever and wherever health care policy decisions are being made.
West Virginia adds optometric surgical procedures
The state board’s legislative rule change, approved by the governor and effective immediately, expands Mountain State doctors’ scope of practice to include eyelid procedures.
Florida optometrists quash effort—again—to pass ‘not-a-doctor’ bill
“Not-a-doctor” bills have resurfaced again during this legislative session, after state affiliates and the AOA defeated similar pushes across the country in 2023. In Florida, on the last day of the legislative session, a bill there to limit the use of specific medical titles failed.
South Dakota secures scope expansion for injections, optometric laser procedures
South Dakota’s scope victory makes it the twelfth state in the nation to authorize doctors of optometry for ophthalmic lasers, bolstering patients’ access to this level of care.
What optometry’s advocates are championing at AOA on Capitol Hill
Learn about the priority federal issues that hundreds of optometrists and optometry students will take to Capitol Hill as part of optometry’s single-largest annual advocacy gathering, April 14-16, and how you can join.
Capitol Hill inquiries into plan abuses are expanding
Key congressional health panel chairs join forces to probe impact of VBM vertical integration and acquisition strategies.
Health system optometrists strike for recognition, fair labor practices
Doctors of optometry employed by the University of California system went on strike Feb. 6-7, after a year of efforts to secure an agreement to invest in the care they provide.