Apparently Vision Plan of America has the only approved individual vision plan in California, that will cover these persons. Once they enroll they can visit the panel providers for services. Vision Plan of American will recommend to their providers to make this plan availabe to their Medi-Cal population for less than $4.00 per month. Information is available at 1 (800) 400-4VPA x 104
California Optometrists, State’s Limited Income Patients, Brace for Elimination of Medi-Cal Vision Care Benefits on 7/1
Eye Exams, treatment for eye infections, providing of eyeglasses slated for cuts
SACRAMENTO, May 20, 2009— With Tuesday’s State Special Election now history and an increasing number of California programs on the chopping block, optometrists are warning that looming cuts to optometric eye care services under Medi-Cal ultimately will prove costly as preventative eyesight saving treatments are eliminated.
Currently, all optometry and optical services for adult Medi-Cal beneficiaries 21 and over are slated to be cut on July 1. These include optometry services for routine eye examinations and eyeglasses as well as optometric treatment of eye infections or other medically related conditions.
“Optometrists are on the front lines of vision care in our state,” said Hilary Hawthorne, O.D. and COA President. “Seven out of 10 Californians see an optometrist first for their eye care needs, with many Medi-Cal patients among them. While we’re acutely aware of the state’s budget problems, the elimination of the kind of affordable and quality vision care that optometrists provide to Medi-Cal patients with limited resources will have serious consequences,” she added.
Dr. Hawthorne noted that with the explosion of obesity-related diabetes and related vision problems such as sight threatening diabetic retinopathy, both of which optometrists can detect through a routine eye exam, “it is not exaggeration to say that without early detection and treatment, some limited income Californians could endure serious eye problems or potentially lose their vision and suffer serious health problems. The medical costs of such outcomes will be significant.”
California’s Medicaid health care program, Medi-Cal pays for a variety of medical services for children and adults with limited income and resources and is supported by federal and state taxes. The state has proposed cuts in Medi-Cal for adult recipients in such areas as dental, optometry, and psychology services. Children under 21 would not be affected by the cuts and physician services are exempted.
With the elimination of optometric services from Medi-Cal, however, many Californians will lose access to the affordable quality eye treatment that optometrists uniquely can provide, particularly in underserved urban settings as well as rural areas. For geographic reach, optometrists are unrivaled at providing vision care: 54 of California’s 58 counties have optometrists. Moreover, optometrists are increasingly providing critically needed access to eye care for many Californians, via telemedicine technology that brings sight saving diagnosis to urban and rural clinics at remote locations across the state, and through the enactment of legislation last year (SB 1406) which enables optometrists to diagnose and treat glaucoma fully, consistent with their education and training.
“At a time when optometrists are becoming a key entry point into quality and affordable eye and health care for Californians, this roll back of Medi-Cal optometric services is penny wise and pound foolish, “ said Dr. Hawthorne. We are urging lawmakers to take a second look on why access to preventative eye care is too important to eliminate.”
Similar Posts:
- Managed Care Resources
- The Vision Council Update on Health Care Reform
- Top 9 Health Care Systems In The World
- Top 8 Ways to Overcome Managed Care in Eyecare
- House Passes Health Care Bill – What about Vision Care?
Recent Comments