- AOA presses for FDA enforcement focused on ‘Eyebot’ Kiosk
- Supporters say new federal report provides a green light for VBM accountability legislation
- AOA continues to advocate for student loan flexibility amidst changes
- 6 AOA advocacy wins in 2025 that set the stage for 2026
- AOA makes progress to soften the impact of federal student loan changes
- AOA secures legislative win DEA opioid training update
- VSP agrees to new contracting transparency standards as AOA presses for industrywide change
- COB: Why using VSP’s industry-best program will benefit patients and your practice
- Myopia Collective urges Congress to back nation’s first federally funded children’s vision health program
- 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule: What to know about the rule
- Another win for VA doctors of optometry
- AOA on Capitol Hill 2025: Live News
- AOA exposes and challenges VBM lobby group’s latest attacks on optometry
- 5 myths—busted—about money, parties and politics in optometry’s advocacy
- Get the inside scoop on the issues at play for AOA on Capitol Hill
- 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
- DOC Access Act reintroduced amid growing Capitol Hill vigor for VBM reform
- 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
- What optometry’s advocates are championing at AOA on Capitol Hill
- Capitol Hill inquiries into plan abuses are expanding
- Vision plan abuses top of mind? Register for AOA’s town hall on reimbursement, coverage fairness advocacy
- 15 advocacy highlights of 2023
- CMS takes aim at Medicare Advantage plans misrepresenting vision benefits
- Fighting for veterans, fighting for optometry
- 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
- U.S. House investigative committee calls for scrutiny of vision plans
- Retail optical lobbying group name change allays AOA, affiliate concerns
- Doctors of optometry challenge reasoning behind proposed Eyeglass Rule changes at FTC workshop
- 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
- Veterans notch win as VA rescinds restrictive language governing community ODs
- 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
- 4 questions about Medicare vision expansion answered
- 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
- Contact lens prescription verification failings targeted by new legislation
- Advocacy Bootcamp
- Medicare Telehealth Expansion
- 2 percent Medicare sequester delayed
- Doctors of optometry obtain 2.1 billion in federal relief
- CL rule takes effect
- Medicare Sequester
- Expanded COVID-19 vaccinator workforce includes doctors and students of optometry
- NBEO decisions provoke AOA-AOSA response
- Congress’ COVID-19 relief package HHS funds-ERC extension
- Why staff involvement is critical
- 2021 Virtual AOA on Capitol Hill
- Ohio activates eligible doctors for COVID-19 vaccine administration AOA focuses new relief efforts
- 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
- AOA and AOSA make appeal to extend suspension of student loan payments
- AOA-backed DOC Access Act gains U.S. Senate companion
- Contact Lens Rule bill gains backing
- Contact Lens Rule changes take effect Oct 16
- 1-800 Contacts notifies patients not to wear AquaSoft lenses due to lens defect
- Contact Lens Rule Modernization Act introduced in the U.S. Senate
- Virtual AOA on Capitol Hill Recap
- Championing paraoptometrics
- Virtual AOA on Capitol Hill 2020
- AOA doctors warn FTC of potential adverse impact of new amendment
- Concerns as optometry students prepare for boards
- 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
- Optometry help divert emergent eye cases from ER COVID-19
- Medicaid CHIP relief funds
- AOA address increased cost personal protective equipment
- AOA and state affiliates put optometry's concerns front and center in Washington
- AOA petitions NAVCP member plans temporary relief during emergency
- 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
- AOA calls for FDA investigation into retailers remote vision test
- How and why you should get involved in advocacy
- AOA ensures Medicare legislation recognizes eye exams
- reauthorization of higher education act
- Legislation targets contact lens prescription verification shortcomings
- DOC Access Act fights harmful vision plan abuses
- AOA on Capitol Hill 2019
- The big picture
- AOAs advocacy at top of their game
- Tusculum denied optometry program by institutional accreditor
- Remembering John McCain
- Tusculum media campaign prompts AOA insistence on accreditation standards
- FTC offers revised Contact Lens Rule
- 2018 AOA on Capitol Hill makes history
- AOA on Capitol Hill 2018
- FTC contact lens paperwork proposal update
- FTC workshop wrapup
- Californias congressional delegation joins bi-partisan call to stop FTC paperwork proposal
- Every doc has their day—on the Hill
- FTC Contact Lens Workshop
- DOCACCESS
- FTC Contact Lens Rule Workshop
- Tax Reform Passes
- Scam Alerts
- Better Care Reconciliation Act
- AOAs 247 advocacy is shaping news coverage
- AOA and GOA backed bill take aim at antipatient anticompetitive abuses
- AOA launches Health Policy Institute
- AOA alerts states to NAVCP backed noncovered services bill
- Senate VA chairman deals blow to TECS program
- AOAs patient safeguards reflected in final Cures Bill
- Fullcourt press AOAs 2016 advocacy highlights
- Proposed Contact Lens Rule misguided
- 3 ways to be an all star advocate
- AOA-PAC chair talks importance of contributions
- FTC proposes Contact Lens Rule changes
- AOAs privacy appeal prompts change
- AOA calls for federal investigation
- Bill seeks 90 day EHR reporting period
- Advocates urge federal action against contact lens resellers
- 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
- Vision Quest
- AOA provides model legislation to fight forced discounts
- Day of action Grow support for DOC Access Act
- letter from the president prioritizing optometry
- Rumors of meaningful uses demise have been greatly exaggerated
- Year end legislation advances AOA priorities
- Contact lens care guides scrutinized by FDA panel
- AOA-backed legislation aims to boost eye exams among seniors with diabetes
- 3 tips for becoming an AOA keyperson
- Lobbyists hired to oppose AOA ADA backed DOC Access Act
- AOA calls for antitrust protection before Supreme Court case
- 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
- How to engage with local elected officials
- Medicare payments increase by 75 percent in 10 years
- AOA urges members to lobby for loan repayment bill at CAC
- Congress spending bill addresses optometrys priorities
- Doctors of optometry step up as pandemic sets in
- Medicare pay cuts loom without Congress action
Storms no match for optometry's force
March 18, 2026
More than 375 of optometry’s advocates rallied on Capitol Hill for expanded eye care access and patient protections.
Tag(s): Advocacy, Federal Advocacy
AOA Board of Trustees leadership conduct a White House briefing during AOA on Capitol Hill | AOA Federal Keyperson Summit with President Trump’s Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair. Top AOA officers Jacquie M. Bowen, O.D., Teri K. Geist, O.D., Terri A. Gossard, O.D., M.S., and Steven T. Reed, O.D., delivered updates on optometry’s top advocacy priorities, including legislation designed to eliminate plan-imposed barriers to care.
Key Takeaways
- AOA on Capitol Hill | AOA Federal Keyperson Summit, a newly envisioned meeting, harnessed the power of the AOA’s 500-strong Federal Keyperson Program.
- Through policy sessions with Capitol Hill leaders, doctors of optometry were briefed on priority issues such as Vision Benefit Middlemen (VBM) reforms, meeting veterans’ needs for care, Medicare Advantage pay and patient access reforms, and making the contact lens prescription verification process simpler and safer for patients.
- Attendees had the opportunity to participate in important training on medical aesthetics.
- The AOA presented its Healthcare Leadership Awards to six of optometry’s champions.