ADVOCACY
Connecticut doctors secure Medicaid payment parity for optometry
New law eliminates a longstanding reimbursement disparity and directs an additional $2.27 million in Medicaid funding to optometric care—recognizing the doctors who provide nearly 9 in 10 Medicaid eye exams in the state.
A blueprint for children's vision
Built by optometrists, Ohio’s children’s vision model shows how grassroots advocacy, clinical care and community trust can transform access to care.
New study adds to growing body of evidence supporting contemporized optometric scope
Patient interviews reinforce what decades of research and practice continue to show: expanding optometric scope improves access to timely, patient-centered eye health and vision care.
AOA fights to ensure health plans continue to credential optometrists
New resource available to doctors of optometry who want to advocate for patients.
AOA expands the Future Practice Initiative to support priority legislative pursuits
The FPI has helped many states win laser scope legislation. Now they open the playbook for more.
Historic win: Vermont advances optometry’s nationwide scope momentum
Vermont becomes the 17th state to authorize optometric laser procedures—and the third state in 2026 to modernize optometric practice.
Arkansas doctors continue to fight for transparency and fair compensation
Public hearings further reinforced support for the state’s VBM rule, Act 142.
Louisiana unanimously approves comprehensive VBM regulations
New law sets reimbursement floors, bans coercive contracting and limits the ability of vision benefit middlemen to steer patients away from independent providers.
AOA calls on FTC to scrutinize Eyebot kiosk
In its latest action targeting retail vision kiosks, the AOA is urging an investigation into whether marketing language violates federal consumer protection rules.
Stronger together for patient safety
The Health Care Alliance for Patient Safety is expanding its advocacy network—and AOA members are crucial to its success.
Virginia expands access to patient care with new dispensing law
The new law comes after Georgia passed similar legislation last year, improving patient access, convenience and continuity of care.
Landmark Win: Tennessee Modernizes Eye Care with Scope Expansion
Tennessee becomes the sixteenth state — and the second in 2026 — to authorize doctors of optometry to use ophthalmic lasers.