AOA disagrees with Ky. governor’s proposed Medicaid cuts

The American Optometric Association voiced its concern over Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin’s intention to cut dental and vision coverage for nearly 460,000 state Medicaid beneficiaries.

“AOA is deeply alarmed to see the citizens of the Commonwealth of Kentucky deliberately stripped of essential health and vision care, which, in addition to saving vision, can save lives with early detection of systemic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes during the course of a comprehensive eye exam,” AOA President Samuel D. Pierce, OD, told Primary Care Optometry News.

According to a statement the AOA provided to PCON, “This short-sighted retaliatory choice to cut vision coverage directly conflicts with doctors of optometry’s mission to improve the quality and availability of eye and vision care for all Americans,” the group said.

“Through an in-person, comprehensive examination, doctors of optometry assure precise and healthy vision, identify and treat diseases such as dry eye, macular degeneration and glaucoma as well as ensure early diagnosis of immediate threats to overall health, including hypertension, stroke and diabetes, which may have no obvious signs or symptoms,” according to the AOA.

Diabetic retinopathy was one of the leading causes of blindness and in 2017, optometrists diagnosed more than 400,000 cases in patients who did not know they had diabetes, according to the statement.

“This action represents a significant move in the wrong direction and fails thousands of individuals and families who rely on Medicaid to meet their essential health needs,” Pierce said. “Ensuring all patients have access to quality, comprehensive eye health and vision care should be a top priority for elected officials not just in Kentucky, but throughout the nation.” – by Abigail Sutton

Disclosure: Pierce is president of the AOA.