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Supporters say new federal report provides a green light for VBM accountability legislation
Supporters say new federal report provides a green light for VBM accountability legislation
March 11, 2026
Advocates head to Washington, D.C., next week to urge their legislators to support the bipartisan DOC Access Act and to continue to actively investigate VBM abuses.
Tag(s): Advocacy, Federal Advocacy
Key Takeaways
- A new report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) examines the vision benefit middleman (VBM) industry and documents the structure and concentration of control in the marketplace, spotlighting the urgent need for comprehensive reform.
- The findings reveal extraordinary levels of market power dominance and limited transparency and underscore serious concerns among policymakers about ensuring competition, accountability and patient choice within the vision benefits system.
- Hundreds of doctors of optometry will be in Washington, D.C., to meet with and urge their U.S. senators and House members to support the bipartisan DOC Access Act and to continue to actively investigate VBM abuses.
- If you experience payer issues, please contact stopplanabuses@aoa.org to enlist AOA support on your behalf.
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