WASHINGTON--New legislation passed by Congress and signed by President Bush last month would provide federal employees with enhanced vision benefits, eye exams and more government supplementation of costs under the existing Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP).

The Federal Employee Dental and Vision Benefits Enhancement Act of 2004 would establish programs through which current and retired Federal employees and their family members and dependents could obtain enhanced dental and vision benefits to supplement those available under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB).

The law (S.2657, and companion bill HR 4844) would qualify some 8 million federal government workers, retirees and their dependents for reduced-fee eye exams starting Jan. 1, 2006, along with enhanced dental benefits, according to Vision Council of America spokesman Joe LaMountain. Under the new law, employees would receive discounts on refractive services, preventive eyecare and eyewear. At that time, the Office of Personnel Management would contract with qualified companies to provide benefits policies. Qualified companies would include indemnity, preferred provider organizations, health maintenance organizations or discount vision programs, according to the proposed law.

The new law also would require Congress to evaluate whether the cost of vision care should be further reduced for employees to increase their use of benefits.

LaMountain said there is no stated timeline for Congress to decide if vision benefits should be further subsidized or made part of the government's benefit package.

The current federal health benefits program provides no reimbursement for eye exams or eyewear. The new legislation would create a voluntary benefit program that would leverage the purchasing power of the federal government, combined with market-driven competition, to provide federal employees and retirees with access to more comprehensive vision coverage, according to a statement from senator Susan Collins (R-Me.), a sponsor of the legislation.