AOA Leaders Take on Vision Benefit Managers: Legislation, Advocacy, and the Future of Eye Care

·56 min·5 clips

AOA leaders reveal how vision benefit managers control pricing and access, impacting every optometry practice.

Host Eugene Schatzman introduces a panel of AOA leaders to explore vision benefit manager reform, a key issue for optometry practices. Dr. Jackie Bowen, AOA president, outlines priorities including VBM reform, protecting the doctor-patient relationship, and preventing Medicare cuts. Dr. John Peterson, an AOA trustee, explains how VBMs dominate the market with 85% share and use contracts of adhesion that limit optometrists' negotiating power. Dr. Tommy Lucas, director of advocacy at the Texas Optometric Association, details Texas House Bill 3211, which passed unanimously to implement any willing provider rules, and 2023 legislation addressing chargebacks and patient steering. The discussion highlights how VBMs are vertically integrated, controlling insurance, retail outlets, and supply chains. States like Oklahoma, Arkansas, Illinois, and Nevada are following Texas's lead in passing VBM reform laws. The panel notes that over 200 million Americans are covered by VBMs, making this a growing concern. Federal advocacy includes the Doc Access bill, which focuses on lab choice, non-covered service protections, and contract length limits. Other topics include scope expansion successes in West Virginia and Montana, PBM reform parallels, and the role of private equity groups in advocacy. The episode concludes with actionable steps for optometrists to get involved, such as using AOA resources and participating in Capitol Hill events.

As heard by us

Vision benefit managers are framed as a practical fight over contracts, rates, and practice leverage.

Power Hour Optometry frames vision benefit managers as a practical concern for practice owners, not just a policy debate. Eugene Schatzman keeps the discussion moving with Dr. Jackie Bowen, Dr. John Peterson, and Dr.

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You want the VBM maze translated before the paper cuts start.

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