Joe E. Ellis OD

We have just witnessed the largest, loudest and most expensive lobbying effort this country has ever seen regarding health care reform. The American Optometric Association (AOA) did in fact stand up for our patients, and did stand up for optometry during this debate against a range of groups intent on trying to impose their definitions, limits and restrictions on our profession.

Throughout the health-care reform debate, we stayed focused on our patients’ concerns and on patient access issues. We must always remember that we are the advocates for our patients concerning eyecare and eye health in this complex and confusing system.

We’ve taken some time to reflect on and celebrate our efforts regarding patient advocacy with the passage of the Harkin Amendment, the greatest patient access victory the AOA has ever achieved. For 35 years, ERISA and the discrimination it allowed have stood as a too-often impenetrable barrier to eyecare provided by ODs. Our previous efforts on behalf of our patients regarding ERISA had failed.

When you consider that 55 percent of Americans with coverage through their employers are insured under ERISA through self-funded plans (about 73 million workers), it is clear how huge a barrier existed concerning patient access. However, the time for reflection and celebration must end, as the promulgation of regulations takes place concerning health-care reform. This regulatory activity will be the largest America has ever seen. Now we must focus on how the AOA can help our members thrive and succeed with the implementation of health-care reform. Considering the enormous change that we all face with health-care reform it is evident that:

• Never before has optometry needed the AOA and state affiliates more than now.
• Never before has health care needed optometry more than now.
• Optometry's greatest challenge that we have ever faced is the implementation of health-care reform.
• Optometry's greatest opportunity is the implementation of health-care reform.

I challenge ODs to be relentless and steadfast in standing up for our patients and standing up for optometry. I believe we have now turned a page in the history of our profession. We have just weathered a brief period of internal debate regarding the maturity of our profession. We must now look outward and move forward together.

Joe E. Ellis, OD, was elected president of the American Optometric Association during last month’s
Optometry’s Meeting.