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Optometry groups meet with Congress
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Representatives from the American Optometric Association and Johnson & Johnson Vision North America met with members of Congress to advocate for leading optometry initiatives, according to a press release from the AOA.
AOA President Andrea Thau, OD, and Johnson & Johnson President Peter Menziuso met with House and Senate leaders, including Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and Reps. Bob Latta (R-Ohio) and Michael Burgess, MD (R-Texas), on Capitol Hill, according to the AOA.
The groups specifically urged for expanded access to in-person health and vision care in addition to expressing concern over a recent proposal that would impose paperwork burdens on patients and optometrists but would not address illegal online contact lens sales, according to the AOA press release.
“Optometry was heard loud and clear today in Washington, D.C. The Capitol Hill meetings help ensure that optometry practices from coast to coast and our AOA are recognized as a nationwide force for patient health and vision,” Thau said in the release. “At a time when elected officials are making important decisions about the direction of health care, our AOA and state associations are making sure that that our frontline and expanding role is understood and that our priorities, focused on protecting the doctor-patient relationship, are front and center.”
The AOA and the Johnson & Johnson Vision advocacy team had planned to also meet with Vice President Mike Pence and Mick Mulvaney, director of the office of management and budget, but due to a scheduling change, the meeting was postponed, according to a statement from Johnson & Johnson.
In June, AOA doctors and students will have an opportunity to present priorities to Congress as part of Optometry’s Meeting in Washington, according to the release.