RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif.—VSP Global and its chief executive officer, Rob Lynch, have turned to the media in recent weeks to deliver a message to consumers about how plans for health-care reform could and should impact eyecare.

Late last month, VSP Vision Care partnered with the National Association of Dental Plans (NADP) in sending out an op-ed piece—carrying a joint byline by Lynch and Evelyn Ireland, the NADP's executive director—to newspapers around the country. The article expressed concern that the health-care proposal being discussed in Congress would cause "significant disruptions in families' self-directed, ancillary healthcare coverage—dental and vision—potentially causing millions of Americans to go without quality services and care."

Noting that both eyecare practitioners and dentists have the ability to detect disease symptoms in the course of regular examinations, Lynch and Ireland warn that both medical plans and consumers would face additional costs under reform measures being considered. The two conclude, "Hundreds of dental and vision benefits plans already exist and are successfully serving millions of Americans' needs. The proposed legislation should build on successful and proven efforts to efficiently provide dental and vision services."

In addition to the op-ed piece, Lynch and Ireland—along with Steve Ingram, executive director of the National Association of Vision Plans, and Kim Volk, president and CEO of Delta Dental Plans Association—sent a letter July 24 to three U.S. House of Representatives committee chairs providing similar information.

As a result of the op-ed piece, Lynch appeared July 31 on a Fox Business television program discussing health-care reform. For a look at what he said, go to Vision Monday's VM WebTV You Tube section at VisionMonday.com.