State Advocacy
Affiliates, AOA share forward-thinking strategies for optometry’s advocates
AOA State Government Relations Center (SGRC) Regional Advocacy Meetings convened affiliate leaders and advocates from across the nation to collaborate and build formidable grassroots strategies for continued legislative success.
Texas’ vision plan law takes effect, court challenge continues
The nation’s first comprehensive state law prohibiting vision plans’ anti-competitive behaviors threatening the doctor-patient relationship and patient eye care access took effect amid plans’ legal challenge.
Doctors of optometry in New Hampshire earn authorization to provide vaccines to public
The public can now get their vaccinations for COVID-19, shingles and flu from doctors of optometry in New Hampshire, after the New Hampshire Optometric Association helped secure passage of a bill giving them that authority. The new law goes into effect Sept. 3.
New Texas law halts vision plans’ anti-competitive, monopolistic behaviors
ICYMI: Texas optometry’s vision plan bill protects the doctor-patient relationship with provisions that promote fair competition and valuation of comprehensive optometric care. What does that mean for the profession at large?
Equip to Expand Scope
Americans deserve 21st-century optometric eye health and vision care. Learn how advocating for change in your state can advance the profession’s future.
YAG procedures by doctors of optometry, after cataract surgery, better for patients’ care and convenience
Survey of 10 states, where doctors of optometry are certified to perform the YAG capsulotomy to treat complications from cataract surgery, finds patients are more likely to get in to see their doctors of optometry for the laser eye surgery than their ophthalmologists, and many see cost savings. Survey results provide evidence or grounds for further optometric scope expansion to other states, especially in light of workforce shortages.
Affiliates’ advocacy teams prepare to convene for meeting of the minds
The state advocacy-focused meetings, hosted by the AOA State Government Relations Committee, return in 2023 with three regionally based forums August through October.
Doctors of optometry in Texas and Nevada build bulwark against vision plan abuses
Doctors of optometry in Texas and Nevada out-worked, out-organized and out-witted a better-funded opposition to realize legislation meant to overcome abuses by vision plans. The biggest opponent? The National Association of Vision Care Plans, which describes itself as a “voice for the managed vision care industry.”
DeSantis decision delivers historic win for Florida optometrists and patients
Florida governor’s veto of far-reaching “not-a-doctor/physician” bill marks a high-profile rejection of organized medicine’s effort to derail AOA/affiliates’ drive nationwide toward optometric scope expansion.
AOA and state affiliates rally to decry and defeat discriminatory ‘not-a-doctor’ bills
Amid historic gains for optometry, the AOA and seven state affiliates find themselves battling a spate of legislation that potentially seeks to block, limit or discourage doctors of optometry from being referenced as doctors and physicians in their respective states and threatens to undermine the profession’s progress.
Optometry’s scope wins draw new attacks from medical, ophthalmology groups
Affiliates and AOA fighting to retain nationwide scope expansion momentum while defeating misinformation scheme launched by extremist MD groups.