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ST. LOUIS—The American Optometric Association (AOA) is hosting an #AskAOA webinar next week which will examine "Vision Plan Policies That Restrict, Undervalue Eye Health and Your Patient." The session will be held Aug. 13 at 9 p.m. ET. A spokesperson for the AOA told VMAIL at presstime that the organization is still working on the lineup of participants in the session, and said, "We will have AOA leadership and leaders from different states discussing their activities regarding vision plans, as well as legal counsel to address antitrust considerations."

In its communications and other comments posted on its website, the AOA stated, "Although optometry has focused for decades on advancing patient eye health care, vision plans have exercised more control over doctors’ practices. Stagnant fee schedules have undermined the value of primary eye care. Then, at a time of a national health emergency, VSP decided to unilaterally reduce fees for certain lens products based on brand rather than quality or availability. Doctors are citing a potentially harmful impact on patients if this policy is implemented as scheduled on Sept 1. Under this new policy, doctors’ choice in products for patients will be limited based on what’s in the best interest of VSP rather than what’s in the best interest of the patient. Join the next #AskAOA webinar to learn how AOA and affiliates are advocating for doctors at the federal and state levels to challenge vision plan restrictions—and what you can do."

The webinar also plans to address AOA's and states' advocacy efforts with vision plans and regulators, reviewing vision plans' impact on the practice of optometry and compliance, the AOA said.

Registration for the Aug. 13 #AskAOA webinar is available here.