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OPTOMETRISTS LEAD WINNING PATIENT ACCESS COALITION
WASHINGTON, July 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Optometric
Association (AOA) applauds Members of Congress from both parties for voting
to override President Bush's veto of legislation passed to stop massive
cuts in the Medicare program.
Concerned optometrists from across the country have been calling
Capitol Hill to urge their representatives in Congress to safeguard patient
access to eye and vision care through Medicare. In spite of the President's
veto earlier today, Congress has voted by an overwhelming majority to
ensure that the AOA-backed bill to save Medicare is the law.
H.R. 6331 prevents a looming 10.6 percent cut in Medicare payments to
physicians and managed care plans and halts misguided new regulations
governing durable medical equipment (DME) accreditation.
"Congress heard us loud and clear. Massive Medicare cuts would have
severely hampered our mission to ensure that America's seniors have access
to quality and affordable eye care. I'm proud of the role that optometry
played in averting a Medicare meltdown and protecting patient access to
care," said Dr. Peter Kehoe, O.D., AOA President.
The American Optometric Association is committed to increasing access
to eye care for America's families, including working men and women,
military service personnel, veterans, seniors and school-aged children.
Comprehensive eye exams can help a child avoid school failure, lead to the
diagnosis of other health problems in older Americans and help ensure that
treatable diseases are caught early. Healthy vision is critical for
everyone.
In addition to blocking the 10.6 percent cut, the measure also prevents
the 5 percent pay cut scheduled to begin Jan 1, 2009. The bill also extends
a 0.5 percent payment update through December 31, 2008 and provides a
positive update of 1.1 percent for 2009 while blocking implementation of a
proposed DMEPOS (durable medical equipment/prosthetics, orthotics and
supplies) accreditation restriction, which the AOA strongly opposed. The
measure also provides Congress with a full 18 months to find a solution to
the flawed Medicare-sustainable grow [1] [2] [3] 下一页
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