Health Care Reform & Access
AOA's Health Policy Institute (HPI) provides information on health care reform and access to care.
Survey Confirms Insurance Discrimination Remains Widespread
September 2022
According to an American Optometric Association (AOA) Health Policy Institute (HPI) survey, 60% of doctors of optometry report having been denied participation in a health plan’s network.
Timing of Comprehensive Eye Examination is Vital to Reducing Diabetes Complications
July 2021
Enhanced timing into comprehensive optometry care, especially during and after COVID-19, can be useful to address unacceptable levels of diabetes morbidity and mortality and should become incentivized.
March 2021
As the urgency of return-to-classroom builds during the COVID-19 pandemic and a need to catch-up on any loss of academic acumen is realized, it may be just the time for a much-needed change. Problems with children’s vision preclude or limit their lifelong academic, extracurricular, and social success. Research indicates undetected and untreated vision disorders cause students to miss the equivalent of 135 days of school content annually. These vision challenges, made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic, can be easily remedied with policy change.
In Pursuit of Access to Quality Eye Health and Vision Care
August 2020
Access to comprehensive vision and eye health services for everyone, regardless of race, gender, age or other demographic characteristics, can play a critical role in health care disparities and is attributable to an individual’s overall health, success in school, employability, productivity and independence, especially as individuals age.
In Pursuit of Access to Quality Eye Health and Vision Care
August 2020
Access to comprehensive vision and eye health services for everyone, regardless of race, gender, age or other demographic characteristics, can play a critical role in health care disparities and is attributable to an individual’s overall health, success in school, employability, productivity and independence, especially as individuals age.
Stagnation in Vision Plan Fee Schedules
August 2020
Vision plan fee schedules have been stagnant over decades, according to new research by the AOA Health Policy Institute (HPI).
Doctors of Optometry in the Management of Myopia and Prevention of Related Eye Disease
May 2019
Myopia (nearsightedness) is a type of refractive error of the eyes in which progression can be controlled when diagnosed through an eye examination and treatment is provided.
March 2019
As chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis cases continue to rise in U.S., there is an urgent public health need to recognize that doctors of optometry can detect signs of sexually transmitted diseases in the eye.
May 2019
Doctors of optometry play a vital role in team-based care of inflammatory bowel disease and colonic malignancies.
Why Comprehensive Eye and Vision Examinations are Critical for School-aged Children
March 2018
Comprehensive pediatric eye and vision examinations by a doctor of optometry is imperative for the timely diagnosis and treatment of eye and vision problems.
Doctors of Optometry in the Management of Myopia and Prevention of Related Eye Disease
May 2019
Myopia (nearsightedness) is a type of refractive error of the eyes in which progression can be controlled when diagnosed through an eye examination and treatment is provided.
March 2019
As chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis cases continue to rise in U.S., there is an urgent public health need to recognize that doctors of optometry can detect signs of sexually transmitted diseases in the eye.
May 2019
Doctors of optometry play a vital role in team-based care of inflammatory bowel disease and colonic malignancies.
Why Comprehensive Eye and Vision Examinations are Critical for School-aged Children
March 2018
Comprehensive pediatric eye and vision examinations by a doctor of optometry is imperative for the timely diagnosis and treatment of eye and vision problems.
AOA makes robust rebuttal to FTC over proposed changes to Eyeglass Rule
During the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) recent comment period on the proposed changes, the AOA recommends updating the Eyeglass Rule to better serve and protect consumers and seeks to meet with agency officials.
Congratulations to the AOA’s 2023 award winners
The winners will be honored at a ceremony during the 2023 Optometry’s Meeting®.
DOC Access Act introduced amid growing patient calls for Congress to act
The Dental and Optometric Care (DOC) Access Act curbs anti-patient, anti-doctor mandates by vision plans and affirms the doctor-patient relationship.