Federal Advocacy
AOA and AFOS: ‘Cut through the noise’ and empower licensed doctors of optometry to provide greater access to care to veterans
Eye care is the third-most requested health service by veterans at the VA—and doctors of optometry provide the majority of that care. Yet, as the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) considers new national standards of practice for more than 50 health professions at its facilities, optometrists are making a winning case for expanding their role at an understaffed VA and are galvanizing against baseless attacks from organized medicine, ophthalmology and a few unbending legislators.
AOA: A force to reckon with
Always ready for the profession’s collective defense and advancement, the AOA leverages its full power, might and ability to deliver for you. You and your fellow members are the reason why the AOA remains an advocacy force, able to consistently deliver for doctors and their practices. So, explore how the AOA is working on your behalf.
U.S. House investigative committee calls for scrutiny of vision plans
Amid the AOA’s push for the bipartisan Dental and Optometric Care Access Act, a congressional panel authorized to investigate “any matter at any time” goes public with vision plan concerns and demands for oversight of industry consolidation and vertical integration.
Retail optical lobbying group name change allays AOA, affiliate concerns
The “National Association of Optometrists and Opticians” moniker has been dropped and replaced with NAROC, the National Association of Retail Optical Companies.
Take Action, Secure Change
Brush up on AOA’s priority issues and connect with your lawmakers to urge their support.
Doctors of optometry challenge reasoning behind proposed Eyeglass Rule changes at FTC workshop
The recent workshop heard testimony from various stakeholders on the potential impact that proposed changes to the Eyeglass Rule might have on consumer choice and the burden on the practices of doctors of optometry and ophthalmology, which are already understaffed and saddled with other federal regulation. The Federal Trade Commission will use the feedback to determine whether to go forward with its recommendations.
DOC Access Act gains Senate companion
The Dental and Optometric Care (DOC) Access Act curbs anti-patient, anti-doctor mandates by vision plans and affirms the doctor-patient relationship.
Contact lens safety legislation proposes banning robocalls
Backed by the AOA and Health Care Alliance for Patient Safety, the legislation would prohibit sellers’ manipulation of the current contact lens prescription verification system and restore doctors’ oversight.
Help voice optometry’s priorities at AOA on Capitol Hill: Here’s how
This year the AOA’s single-largest annual advocacy experience, AOA on Capitol Hill, occurs in conjunction with Optometry’s Meeting®, June 21-24, in Washington, D.C. Join optometry’s advocates in our nation’s capital.
Part of the solution: Optometry groups join AOA in submitting actionable solutions for workforce shortages
The presidents of the AOA, ASCO and AOSA jointly respond to March 2 call from Sen. Bernie Sanders, chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), and ranking member Sen. Bill Cassidy, M.D., for AOA and its partners to give input on “the root causes of the current health care workforce shortage and potential ways to address it.” Their feedback will be used to identify bipartisan solutions for legislation in the future, the senators say.
Hatch Act permits issue advocacy by doctors of optometry
AOA general counsel provides a primer on the dos and don’ts of engaging in political activity by federal employees.