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Arkansas doctors rallying to defeat EyeMed tactics that undermine purpose of state’s new VBM accountability law
Arkansas doctors rallying to defeat EyeMed tactics that undermine purpose of state's new VBM accountability law
January 14, 2026
State association and AOA unite in push for full implementation and fairness for optometry practices
Tag(s): Advocacy, State Advocacy
Key Takeaways
- The Arkansas Optometric Association (ArOA) and the AOA are united in fighting "bad faith" tactics by EyeMed, which undermines Arkansas' new VBM accountability law (Act 142).
- 91% of surveyed Arkansas optometrists reported feeling pressured to sign new provider agreements under threat of network removal, despite EyeMed not explaining why a new agreement was warranted
- While other vision plans have successfully updated their rates to meet the law's Medicare-based reimbursement floor, ArOA argues that EyeMed is attempting to evade these requirements through misleading coding recommendations and unsupported interpretations.
- The AOA champions nationwide VBM reform by supporting federal legislation like the DOC Access Act and conducting direct plan advocacy that drove over $12.1 million back into optometry practices, all while no less than three Congressional investigations currently target VBMs.