- AOA presses for FDA enforcement focused on ‘Eyebot’ Kiosk
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- COB: Why using VSP’s industry-best program will benefit patients and your practice
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- AOA exposes and challenges VBM lobby group’s latest attacks on optometry
- 5 myths—busted—about money, parties and politics in optometry’s advocacy
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- Enough is enough
- AOA advocacy efforts return more than $7.5 million to members
- Optometry gets results and more work to do in Washington, DC
- Bolstered by courts, AOA demands VBM cease anti-doctor policies
- FTC issues new warnings on Contact Lens, Eyeglass rules
- Understanding the impact of Total Vision vs. VSP settlement for optometrists
- AOA priorities advance as U.S. House approves sweeping legislation
- U.S. senators introduce VBM reform bill amid growing plan scrutiny
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- U.S. House, Senate approve VA OD physician-level recognition legislation
- Citing array of concerns and complaints, Congress ramps up scrutiny of vision benefit manager industry
- AOA-PAC Election Report: Optometry Has Outsized Impact on 2024 Elections
- How the AOA and affiliates are fighting for reimbursement and coverage fairness
- Are you ready for the Eyeglass Rule of 2024?
- NIH, NEI consolidation plan ‘jeopardizes’ vision research, draws AOA opposition
- Bill seeks better fix to Medicare Physician Fee Schedule cuts
- How Chevron ruling could impact optometry
- Takeaways from CMS’ proposed 2025 Physician Fee Schedule
- FTC issues 10-year Eyeglass Rule update as AOA renews demand for crackdown on medical device scammers
- AOA joins other groups seeking Supreme Court reversal of decision favoring ERISA authority
- AOA sees positives in federal children’s eye health legislation
- CMS heeds AOA recommendations on Medicare supplemental benefits
- 'All the advocacy firepower’ called up at AOA on Capitol Hill
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- Capitol Hill inquiries into plan abuses are expanding
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- AOA: No letting up on Eyeglass Rule advocacy
- AOA and AFOS: ‘Cut through the noise’ and empower licensed doctors of optometry to provide greater access to care to veterans
- A force to reckon with
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- Contact lens safety legislation proposes banning robocalls
- Help voice optometry’s priorities at AOA on Capitol Hill: Here’s how
- Part of the solution: Optometry groups join AOA in submitting actionable solutions for workforce shortages
- Hatch Act permits issue advocacy by doctors of optometry
- AOA makes robust rebuttal to FTC over proposed changes to Eyeglass Rule
- DOC Access Act introduced amid growing patient calls for Congress to act
- bill seeks advancement for VA doctors of optometry
- Are you adhering to the Contact Lens Rule
- AOA decries misleading Medicare Advantage advertising
- Gaining access A win for veterans and doctors of optometry
- Congress heeds AOA’s call to stop Medicare pay cuts, but lawmakers’ plan falls short
- Proactive advocacy gets early eyeglass rule gains, notice of potential new burden
- AOA PAC plays outsized role in 2022 midterm elections
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- Supporting Medicare Providers Act
- Federal student loan forgiveness: What to know
- Medicare Pay Cuts 2022
- 2022 Capitol Hill Recap
- AOA and South Carolina doctors expose and defeat retail lobby group’s influence scheme
- Medicare Pay Cuts March 2022
- Hold Medicare Advantage plans accountable
- Hubble Contacts slapped with 3.5 million penalties restrictions and supervision
- Medicare pay cuts, once delayed, looming without Congressional action
- Bipartisan AOA-backed bill targeting abusive discount plans gets boost from policy-expert report delivered to Congress
- Advocacy in optometry
- U.S. House, consumer groups mull federal action against DTC contact lens sales schemes
- Medicare Cuts Averted
- Medicare vision efforts fizzle 10 percent pay cuts still loom
- Optometry’s advocates going FAR beyond the call
- Lawmakers host AOA, patient and consumer advocates for VBM abuse briefing as Congress expands probes
- AOA-AFOS make case to Department of Veterans Affairs for access-boosting national practice standards
- Medicare expansion: The long road to here and now
- House pens Medicare vision benefits
- Congress sets deadline to ink Medicare vision expansion language
- White House extends student loan relief, AOA continues push for NHSC inclusion
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- AOA, AFOS work to ensure optometry well represented in formation of national practice standards by Veterans Affairs
- Medicare expansion
- Congress urges administration to fully implement provider nondiscrimination law
- Department of Veterans Affairs Optometry Service and doctors of optometry
- Medicare Vision Expansion
- AOA-backed DOC Access Act reintroduced to combat anti-competitive vision plans
- 2021 Virtual AOA on Capitol Hill Wrap-up
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- Congress’ COVID-19 relief package HHS funds-ERC extension
- Why staff involvement is critical
- 2021 Virtual AOA on Capitol Hill
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- Congress President Biden asked to activate optometry for COVID-19 vaccination response
- AOA- AOSA-backed federal student loan relief extended through September
- AOA takes on anti-optometry lobbying group’s deceptions
- Contact Lens Rule implications key tax and Medicare pay fixes among AOA wins
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- AOA-backed DOC Access Act gains U.S. Senate companion
- Contact Lens Rule bill gains backing
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- 1-800 Contacts notifies patients not to wear AquaSoft lenses due to lens defect
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- AOA doctors warn FTC of potential adverse impact of new amendment
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- Elevating optometry through media advocacy
- AOA finds allies in fight against new FTC contact lens prescription paperwork mandate
- Proposed payment model would have put burden solely on shoulders of doctors of optometry
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- Medicaid CHIP relief funds
- AOA address increased cost personal protective equipment
- AOA and state affiliates put optometry's concerns front and center in Washington
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- Pandemic relief bill will help optometry practices nationwide
- AOA mobilizes for doctors in national response to pandemic
- AOA assembles industry leaders set future guidance telehealth services
- AOA secures legislative win provides direction Medicare telehealth services
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- How and why you should get involved in advocacy
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- reauthorization of higher education act
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- DOC Access Act fights harmful vision plan abuses
- AOA on Capitol Hill 2019
- The big picture
- AOAs advocacy at top of their game
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- FTC offers revised Contact Lens Rule
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- FTC contact lens paperwork proposal update
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- FTC Contact Lens Workshop
- DOCACCESS
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- Senate VA chairman deals blow to TECS program
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- FTC proposes Contact Lens Rule changes
- AOAs privacy appeal prompts change
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- Bill seeks 90 day EHR reporting period
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- FTC issues warning letters related to Contact Lens Rule
- Recess over Congress considers AOA backed bills
- AOA president stands up for ODs and patients at Senate hearing
- Truth in Healthcare Marketing
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- Day of action Grow support for DOC Access Act
- letter from the president prioritizing optometry
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- Lobbyists hired to oppose AOA ADA backed DOC Access Act
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- New legislation would provide more flexibility in EHR incentive programs
- AOA defends doctors against new attack on Harkin law
- doctors of optometry score win on prescribing law
- AOA submits comments on FTC Contact Lens Eyeglasses rules
- FTC seeks feedback on Contact Lens and Eyeglasses rules
- Rethinking eye health and vision care
- Optometrys advocates mobilize during Congressional recess
- AOA steps up efforts to guide NAM vision study
- AOA advocacy helps avert Medicare cuts in trade bill
- Supreme Court dismisses ACA challenge AOA backed provisions remain in full effect
- AOA lobbies for changes in EHR Incentive Programs
- HHS reverses course on Harkin Law guidance
- AOA advocacy helps shape Cures Act
- Medicare seniors deserve better coverage for eye care
- Optometry takes Capitol Hill
- CMS proposes shorter meaningful use reporting periods
- What you need to know about MACRA the new Medicare pay reform law
- AOA continues fight to improve meaningful use in 2015
- CMS to ease meaningful use reporting periods
- AOA Contact Lens watchdog group to track report illegal contact lens sales
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VA optometrists achieve pay parity
January 7, 2026
Executive order adjusts U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs pay schedule.
Tag(s): Advocacy, Federal Advocacy
Credit: jetcityimage - stock.adobe.com
Key Takeaways
- An executive order published in late December 2025 sets the base and longevity pay schedule for optometrists on par with physicians’ rates.
- This comes after the VA, in October, published new regulations implementing physician-level recognition for VA doctors of optometry, a major win for the profession.
- This achievement is the direct result of persistent advocacy and collaboration by dedicated volunteers and leaders from the Association of Armed Forces and Federal Optometric Services and the AOA.