AOA on Capitol Hill 2025: Live News Updates

AOA leadership takes optometry's priorities to the White House

AOA President Jacquie M. Bowen, O.D., led a high-level discussion at the White House complex on Tuesday, bringing optometry's key issues directly to U.S. Presidential Aide Karalee Geis. The meeting focused on the profession's essential and expanding role in health care and the importance of annual eye exams. 

Dr. Bowen and the AOA delegation stressed the urgent need to eliminate patient access barriers, particularly those created by health plan abuses. Presenting alongside Dr. Bowen were AOA President-elect Teri K. Geist, O.D., AOA Vice President Terri A. Gossard, O.D., MS, and AOA Chief Strategy Officer Kara Webb, underscoring the association's unified commitment to advancing its pro-patient agenda at the federal level. The meeting reflects optometry's growing influence in federal policy discussions surrounding patient access and quality care.

AOA on Capitol Hill: Nearly 600 of optometry's advocates deliver united message to Congress

Nearly 600 doctors of optometry and optometry students canvassed Capitol Hill on Tuesday, directly engaging in over 280 meetings with their Members of Congress and their staff. This massive advocacy presence delivered a united message across optometry's top legislative priorities. Advocates pushed for the urgent passage of the Dental and Optometric Care Access Act, and Vision Lab Choice Act,  to combat costly, controlling and care-limiting vision benefit middleman (VBM) policies; demanded that Congress permanently fix declining Medicare pay rates and address Medicare advantage plans; and urged action to preserve access to veterans' eye health and vision care, as well as emphasized the criticality of the doctor-patient relationship within the contact lens marketplace. The strong turnout for AOA on Capitol Hill, including over 230 students representing every school and college of optometry, ensured that optometry's voice was heard loud and clear on Capitol Hill. 

"While House and Senate leaders are increasingly turning their attention to health care policy challenges, our advocacy priorities, reinforced by the unmatched power and passion of our collective voice this week in DC,  are perfectly aligned for immediate action--from abusive middlemen reforms to Medicare reimbursement, VA access to care and medical device safety. We've capitalized on this important opportunity to make real and lasting progress together with our profession's advocates here in Washington, D.C.," says AOA President Jacquie M. Bowen, O.D.  

The AOA thanks CooperVision, Vision Source, InMode, the Health Care Alliance for Patient Safety, Barti and Vision HQ for supporting AOA on Capitol Hill. 

The Future of Advocacy: Students on Capitol Hill

The future of optometry's advocacy was on full display at AOA on Capitol Hill with over 230 optometry students joining the ranks of doctors and staff heading to the Hill to advocate for the profession. Their presence was noted by multiple Members of Congress, who reiterated the critical importance of getting involved in advocacy early. 

Throughout AOA on Capitol Hill, student advocates participated in briefings and Hill meetings, ensuring lawmakers understand the profession's policy priorities—from fighting vision benefit middlemen (VBM) abuses to modernizing Medicare reimbursement or Medicare Advantage plans. By engaging now, these students are learning to translate optometry's daily work into legislative action. Their involvement ensures the profession can continue delivering high-quality eye health and vision care to Americans and helps define optometry’s role as a leading provider. The AOA is proud to support this next generation of advocacy leaders. 

"Yes, there are challenges when it comes to expanding patient care and fighting for optometry," noted AOSA President James Chung. "In school and in clinic, we are learning how to best take care of our patients, but we’ve also seen faults in our health care system. But by being here in Washington DC, we are proactive in how we realize our own future. We set the tone, and we get to dictate the future of eye care." 

AOA recognizes congressional leaders at Breakfast of Optometry's Champions

Tuesday's AOA on Capitol Hill session opened with the recognition of two Members of Congress, notable for their long-term commitment to supporting optometry. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., and Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-FL, were recognized during AOA's Breakfast with Optometry's Champions with 2025 AOA Health Care Leadership Awards from their AOA Federal Advocacy Representatives, Dori Carlson, O.D., and Dave Rouse, O.D., respectively. The Members of Congress both remarked on the sheer presence of optometry in Washington, D.C., this week, seeing nearly 600 doctors and optometry students attending the annual Hill Day to advocate for the profession. 

AOA on Capitol Hill: Nearly 600 of optometry's advocates deliver united message to Congress

Nearly 600 doctors of optometry and optometry students canvassed Capitol Hill on Tuesday, directly engaging in over 280 meetings with their Members of Congress and their staff. This massive advocacy presence delivered a united message across optometry's top legislative priorities. Advocates pushed for the urgent passage of the Dental and Optometric Care Access Act, and Vision Lab Choice Act,  to combat costly, controlling and care-limiting vision benefit middleman (VBM) policies; demanded that Congress permanently fix declining Medicare pay rates and address Medicare advantage plans; and urged action to preserve access to veterans' eye health and vision care, as well as emphasized the criticality of the doctor-patient relationship within the contact lens marketplace. The strong turnout for AOA on Capitol Hill, including over 230 students representing every school and college of optometry, ensured that optometry's voice was heard loud and clear on Capitol Hill. 

Patient, consumer advocacy partners honored for VBM reform efforts

The AOA presented 2025 AOA Health Care Leadership Awards to both Sally Greenberg, CEO of the National Consumers League (NCL), and Terry Wilcox, co-founder and Chief Mission Officer of Patients Rising, recognizing their powerful consumer and patient advocacy efforts. 

Both organizations have been crucial allies in confronting abusive vision benefit middlemen (VBM) policies. NCL, America's oldest consumer advocacy organization, and Patients Rising, a leading national patient advocacy group, have forcefully backed the AOA's legislative priorities, including the Dental and Optometric Care (DOC) Access Act and the Vision Lab Choice Act, on Capitol Hill. 

Honoring leaders in veteran eye care access

The AOA honored two staunch advocates for veteran eye health and vision care: Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI), and Joe Chenelly, National Executive Director of AMVETS, as recipients of the 2025 AOA Health Care Leadership Award 

Rep. Bergman, a (Ret.) Lieutenant General in the Marine Corps and a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, was recognized for leading the charge against attempts to limit veterans' access to care. He has consistently pushed the VA to break down barriers so veterans can access the full range of services doctors of optometry are licensed to provide, including laser eye care. 

Chenelly, a combat veteran and former Marine Staff Sergeant, has partnered with the AOA for years to ensure veteran access to needed vision care, which is the third-most requested service by veterans. AMVETS was on the frontlines fighting for the law that grants VA doctors of optometry physician-level recognition and compensation. Both leaders are deeply committed to ensuring veterans receive the comprehensive, full-scope eye care they deserve. 

The paradox of partisanship: Jonah Goldberg speaks during Political Luncheon

During the AOA on Capitol Hill Political Luncheon, syndicated political columnist Jonah Goldberg offered an analysis of current American politics, arguing that while partisanship has reached historic highs, the political parties themselves have never been weaker. He characterized modern parties as "free-floating brands" because their ability to select and fund candidates has been diminished by a reliance on primaries—a unique system among advanced democracies. 

This weakness, Goldberg argued, makes parties susceptible to hijacking by charismatic or highly passionate but non-ideological movements. Instead of building broad coalitions that require compromise, parties are increasingly reliant on outside forces and small-dollar donors motivated by "negative polarization"—the mutual hatred of the opposing side. Goldberg cited the metaphor of "it’s not good enough that [one group] succeed but [the other] must also fail" to describe the current dynamic of political conflict. 

He concluded by providing a sobering view of the current "cult of personality" that creates a critical vulnerability: once the dominant personalities or movements leave, there will be a lack of credibility among those who simply fell in line. Despite these challenges, Goldberg ended on a note of long-term optimism, asserting that "despair is a sin" and that the U.S. has a profound capacity to right itself. He concluded that navigating current political turbulence will require citizens to "demand more of our leaders" and, crucially, to become "better followers" by learning the right lessons from current mistakes. 

Protecting patients from unsafe online contact lens sales

Jeff Sonsino, O.D., AOA FRAAC member and Health Care Alliance for Patient Safety (HCAPS) board member, continued Monday's policy briefings with a discussion about preserving the doctor-patient relationship, especially within the contact lens marketplace. 

As Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-regulated Class II and Class III medical devices, contact lenses require an eye doctor's prescription and proper fitting, as ill-fitting or improperly used lenses can lead to serious complications, including infections and even blindness. Considering 45 million Americans wear contact lenses, HCAPS is advocating for H.R. 4282 to modernize the contact lens prescription verification process and safeguard patients. 

Unfortunately, some online contact lens sellers exploit the current "prescription verification" system and the continued use of problematic verification "robocalls" to sell contact lenses. In fact, a 2016 patient survey highlighted that danger—nearly one in three patients were able to purchase lenses with an expired prescription, while one in four received different contact lenses than what was prescribed. 

Therefore, the HCAPS and AOA support the Contact Lens Prescription Verification Modernization Act, H.R. 4282, designed to ensure the process is simpler, safer and working as intended by: 

• Banning the use of confusing verification robocalls. 
• Empowering patients to upload an electronic copy of their prescription to skip verification altogether. 

"Together we can make a difference for our patients," Dr. Sonsino says. 

VA Optometry: The push for full-scope practice and protecting veterans' access

Laura Suppa, O.D., AOA FRAAC member, continued the issues breakout sessions with a discussion about safeguarding veterans' access to eye health and vision care. 

Vision and eye health care is the third-most requested service by veterans, outpaced only by primary care and mental health care, with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) doctors of optometry providing roughly three-quarters of this essential care. Importantly, this opportunity to provide primary eye health care is critical for early detection and intervention for systemic diseases. In many cases, VA optometrists are the only licensed independent eye care practitioner available in VA facilities across the country. 

In 2024, Congress enacted legislation to boost recruitment with physician-level recognition and market-based pay for VA optometrists. The so-called "Dole Act" represented a significant achievement not only for VA optometrists but also the profession as a whole with another federal agency recognizing optometry's physician status. Yet a critical gap still remains: the VA does not yet fully recognize the full range of care that optometrists are educated and licensed to provide. 

Doctors of optometry, leading Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) and Members of Congress are now urging the VA to ensure that veterans receive guaranteed access to the full scope of services provided under their respective state license as the VA updates its Eye Care Directive and Optometry National Standards of Practice. This is already policy as part of the VA Community Care Program and is standard practice across nearly all private and federal health plans. With nearly 150,000 safe laser procedures documented nationally since the 1980s, the AOA asserts that aligning in-house care with state scope-of-practice laws is critical to meeting the growing need for veterans access. 

"Veterans deserve at least the same access to optometric care now enjoyed by every other citizen of their state, including those covered under every other federal health program and private insurer," Dr. Suppa said. 

Addressing Medicare pay cuts and Medicare Advantage reform

After the morning session, advocates split into breakout sessions for detailed discussions on optometry's priority federal issues, including Medicare reimbursement and Medicare Advantage plans.  

Despite providing over two-thirds of all primary eye care, essential to nearly seven million Medicare beneficiaries annually, America's doctors of optometry are failing to receive adequate Medicare reimbursements that keep pace with the increase in costs. Adjusted for inflation, physician payments have declined by 33% since 2001. Unlike other providers (hospitals, hospice or surgical centers), doctors of optometry and other physicians do not receive automatic, annual inflationary updates. Congress must urgently address this by permanently tying Medicare physician pay to the Medicare Economic Index. 

"The failure of Medicare reimbursement to keep pace with the true cost of providing care, combined with the threat of year-over-year cuts, clearly demonstrates that the Medicare payment system is broken," noted Ray Pirozzolo, O.D., AOA FRAAC member. 

Furthermore, with 54% of enrollees now in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, reform is critical. Patient frustration is widespread, with 96% of doctors reporting patients are angry or unhappy with MA coverage, often leading to a delay in needed medical eye care. MA plans are increasingly deploying profit-squeezing schemes, leading to payment delays and driving providers to drop contracts. The AOA is advocating for the Prompt and Fair Pay Act (H.R. 4559), which would require MA plans to reimburse providers at least at the traditional Medicare rate and stop payment delays.  

Federal momentum and the urgent push for the DOC Access Act

Dr. Jenn Deakins continued that the mission for optometrists on Capitol Hill this week is to capitalize on rapidly accelerating federal momentum to address PBM and VBM reforms, such as the Dental and Optometric Care (DOC) Access Act. This momentum is bolstered by recent developments in federal investigations. As noted by Rep. Carter on Sunday's AOA on Capitol Hill welcome reception, the U.S. House Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee has launched a deeper investigation into VBMs, citing troubling patient steering, doctor tiering and practice acquisitions. Additionally, lawmakers continue to push the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for a report on the VBM stranglehold. 

And this pressure is forcing optometry's opponents into troubling positions. Recently, the National Association for Vision Care Plans (NAVCP) was forced to issue a Capitol Hill-wide retraction of inaccuracies that portrayed doctor and patient lab choice provisions would lead to 400% markups benefiting doctors themselves. 

"Their arguments are weak and ours are based on real patient care and interactions," Dr. Deakins says. "We are not alone in this fight either; we're backed by numerous consumer and patient advocacy groups, as well as other physician advocacy groups." 

The hostile takeover: Corporate control over clinical care

Dr. Jenn Deakins continued to detail how vision benefit middlemen (VBMs) leverage their market dominance to exert corporate control over the optometry profession. The VBM model is now "almost completely vertically integrated," with one company owning the insurer, the optical lab, the frame manufacturers, and even the electronic health records and practice management systems. 

This control translates into harmful practices, including tiering of doctors—based on providers' willingness to "play ball" with VBM policies as opposed to care or quality metrics—and steering patients away from independent practices. Further, VBMs force doctors and patients to use VBM-owned labs, limit patient choice and use "lopsided, never-ending contracts" that set prices for services the plan doesn't even cover. Dr. Deakins said: "This isn't healthcare, it's corporate control of our profession." She also called out VBM opponents, namely the National Association for Vision Care Plans (NAVCP), for reducing doctors of optometry to mere "salespeople" in public testimony concerning a 2025 VBM reform bill in Arkansas, underscoring the battle to define the profession. 

VBM consolidation mirrors PBM crisis, creating urgency

Jenn Deakins, O.D., AOA FRAAC member, deliver a sharp warning about the accelerating consolidation within eye care, noting that the vision benefit middlemen (VBM) market mirrors the highly scrutinized pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) crisis currently capturing bipartisan attention in Congress. In a plenary session to advocates, Dr. Deakins highlighted that the two largest VBMs now control 85% of the market with a single VBM dominating 75% of the market in 28 states. VBMs are relying on a model of vertical integration that sees these large corporations purchasing practices at an aggressive pace—including one 2024 transaction in which VSP acquired over 300 locations.  

Dr. Deakins stressed that the bipartisan momentum for PBM reform in Congress presents a perfect opening for optometry to advocate that "the eye care industry is next." Patient and consumer groups are now urging Congress and the Federal Trade Commission to ban VBMs from acquiring eye care practices, demonstrating the broad consensus that this market dominance leads to higher prices and harms patient care. 

Mobilizing Optometry’s Advocates with KP Dashboard

During the conference, Adam Parker, O.D., FRAAC member, introduced the KP Dashboard, a platform built by and for optometry to streamline grassroots advocacy efforts. Parker stressed that effective advocacy requires direct engagement from practitioners, calling on optometrists to be "Keypersons." 

The KP Dashboard solves the complexity of coordinating tens of thousands of members with 535 federal legislators and their staff. Since its launch, the AOA has seen a near-total assignment rate of legislators to Keypersons and a two-time increase in keyperson engagement, highlighting the platform's success in mobilizing advocates. 

AOA Federal Relations and Advocacy Action Committee

Dr. Deanna Alexander, AOA Federal Relations and Advocacy Action Committee (FRAC) chair, welcomed the nearly 600 attendees, doctors of optometry and optometry students, to the first full day of sessions at AOA on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Dr. Alexnader set the stage by noting how optometry's advocates have grown strong, trusted connections with the majority of Members of Congress at a crucial time on Capitol Hill. She reiterated the profession's priority issues, including vision benefit middlemen (VBM) reforms, preserving the doctor-patient relationship within contact lens wear and care, promoting a permanent fix to Medicare pay issues, and remarking on the prolonged fight for veterans' eye care. Dr. Alexander also set the stage for discussing new advocacy tools to be made available to AOA members. 

Rep. Buddy Carter Honored for VBM Advocacy

Congressman Buddy Carter (R-GA) was presented with the 2025 AOA Health Care Leadership Award at AOA on Capitol Hill for his two decades of dedication to fighting VBM abuses. Introduced by John Whitlow, O.D., Rep. Carter—a pharmacist by training—was praised for immediately understanding the challenges faced by independent eye care and pharmacy practices from large insurers. 

Dr. Whitlow highlighted the Congressman’s successful state-level efforts in Georgia, where he championed legislation that outlawed forcing optometrists to use VBM-owned labs and prevented price fixing. Since coming to Congress, Rep. Carter has led the national charge against vision benefit middlemen (VBMs) by authoring and introducing the DOC Access Act, H.R. 1521. The Congressman's efforts are credited with changing the conversation in Washington, D.C., leading directly to active federal antitrust probes and committee investigations into VBM abuses. "None of this would have been possible without Buddy Carter," Dr. Whitlow affirmed. 

Advancing care at the VA and patient safety issues

AOA President Jacquie M. Bowen, O.D., highlighted significant advocacy progress regarding care for U.S. Veterans, noting two major policy victories this year. The AOA and its partners secured physician-level recognition and pay for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) doctors of optometry, and reaffirmed the authority of ODs within the VA's Community Care Program to provide services including injections and laser eye care. An "unfinished item," however, remains winning full scope recognition as the VA updates its optometry national standards of practice. 

In a related push for patient safety, Dr. Bowen confirmed the AOA's focus on stopping the dangers of unscrupulous online contact lens sellers. This includes supporting House legislation aimed at banning prescription verification robocalls and pushing Congress to maintain pressure against the harmful practices of direct-to-consumer contact lens retailers. 

Taking the fight to abusive vision benefit middlemen

Advocacy against abusive vision benefit middlemen (VBMs) is a major focus for the AOA, reiterated President Jacquie M. Bowen, O.D. She outlined a multi-pronged approach that includes supporting state-level reforms, advancing federal legislation like the Dental and Optometric Care (DOC) Access Act, H.R. 1521, and the Vision Lab Choice Act, S. 1716, and pushing for federal oversight. 

"We’re working overtime to put a stop to the growing abuses of vision benefit middlemen," Dr. Bowen stated. This push has resulted in four different U.S. House and Senate committees opening probes into VBM abuses in the last year, alongside ongoing investigations at the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and a forthcoming landmark report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Most recently, the House Judiciary Committee launched a serious anti-trust investigation into VBM tiering, patient steering, and acquisitions of independent optometry practices, demonstrating an expanding federal commitment to regulating VBM practices. 

"This new front is especially serious for the VBMs as that committee has full power to demand documents and compel sworn testimony," Dr. Bowen says. 

AOA on Capitol Hill 2025 kicks off with welcome reception

AOA President Jacquie M. Bowen, O.D., welcomed nearly 600 attendees to AOA on Capitol Hill 2025 in Washington, D.C., kicking off the AOA's single-largest annual advocacy event to advance optometry's federal priorities. Dr. Bowen highlighted the AOA's consistent recognition as one of D.C.'s most effective advocacy groups, noting its ability to skillfully navigate a challenging political environment. 

She detailed recent legislative successes, including fighting alongside physician organizations to stop planned 2026 Medicare pay cuts and securing significant tax benefits for optometric practices. These wins included making the small business optometry pass-through tax deduction permanent—estimated to be "roughly $6,000 in tax savings for the average OD practice." Looking ahead, Dr. Bowen called for a permanent overhaul of Medicare's pay system to guarantee annual positive updates, similar to those received by hospitals, by linking reimbursements to an inflationary index. 

"Others in Medicare, like hospitals and surgery centers, see regular inflationary updates - and it's time we push Congress to do the same for us," Dr. Bowen said.