Schakowsky Introduces Bill to Make Optometrists Providers Under Medicaid

SCHAKOWSKY INTRODUCES BILL TO MAKE OPTOMETRISTS PROVIDERS UNDER MEDICAID

WASHINGTON, DC–U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) recently introduced H.R. 1983, which would require Medicaid to cover the professional services provided by optometrists. Optometrists are currently recognized as physicians under Medicare, but not under Medicaid. While optometrists often perform the procedures covered by Medicaid, they can be excluded as providers under the current law and thus ineligible for reimbursement.

"This bill will give low-income families and persons with disabilities access to certified eye care professionals to help diagnose and treat vision problems,... said U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky. "Instead of relying on physicians to handle these procedures, this bill will make optometrists readily available to all Medicaid recipients....

H.R. 1983 would simply expand the definition of a physician under Medicaid to include optometrists. The bill does not actually change the type of services that are covered under Medicaid. It simply gives recipients access to optometrists that specialize in these procedures. In many cases, optometrists are already providing care to Medicaid beneficiaries, but their professional services are not guaranteed by law.

Optometrists are the frontline providers of eye and vision care, treating patients of all ages in 6,500 communities across the country. They also provide a range of services, including detecting and diagnosing eye diseases like glaucoma, cataracts, retinal disorders and eye infections; treating eye diseases; and evaluating and treating presbyopia and other vision conditions.

There are over 40 million Americans currently enrolled in Medicaid and nearly 20 million of those recipients are children. Medicaid is a joint federal-state program that was established in 1965 to provide health insurance for low-income individuals and persons with disabilities.