Children's Vision Bill Introduced In Congress

Main Category: Eye Health / Blindness
Article Date: 16 Jan 2009 - 6:00 PDT

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The American Academy of Ophthalmology applauded the introduction of legislation in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives this week to combat undiagnosed and untreated vision problems in children. The legislation, known as the Vision Care for Kids Act of 2009, passed the House during the last Congress but stalled in the Senate.

"This measure would be a major milestone in partnership with the states to address the vision needs of our nation's uninsured children," said Michael X. Repka, MD, the Academy's secretary for federal affairs and professor of ophthalmology and pediatrics at John Hopkins University School of Medicine. "The Academy is pleased that this legislation has attracted bipartisan support, with all recognizing the importance of the measure."

In the Senate the bill is sponsored by Sens. Christopher Bond, R-Mo., and Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., and cosponsored by several Senators who were cosponsors in the last Congress, Sens. Bob Casey, D-Pa., Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, Susan Collins, R-Maine, Claire McCaskill, D-Mo. and Jon Tester, D-Mont., the Vision Care for Kids Act will bridge a significant gap in vision care. While many states have vision screening programs in place for the lowest income, financial resources are often lacking for many uninsured children to have follow-up diagnosis and treatment. This bill would complement existing state efforts by providing funding in the form of state grants for comprehensive eye examinations and treatment for uninsured children who fail a vision screening, authorizing $65 million dollars over five years. The legislation is important in that the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 does not mandate vision coverage. The Academy was instrumental in developing language used for the legislation.

"Particularly in these tough economic times, this legislation would provide states with incentives for current screening efforts to help uninsured children receive the follow-up treatment that they need for their vision problems," said Catherine G. Cohen, the Academy vice president for governmental affairs.

The Academy has joined the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, the Vision Council of America, Prevent Blindness America and the American Optometric Association in making treating children's vision a top priority for Congress this year.

About the American Academy of Ophthalmology

AAO is the world's largest association of eye physicians and surgeons-Eye M.D.s-with more than 27,000 members worldwide. Eye health care is provided by the three "O's" - opticians, optometrists and ophthalmologists. It is the ophthalmologist, or Eye M.D., who can treat it all: eye diseases and injuries, and perform eye surgery.

American Academy of Ophthalmology