House Approves Vision Care For Kids Act

October 16, 2007, WASHINGTON – On Monday, the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation to improve vision care for children by helping the neediest children receive eye examinations.

“Anyone who has had an eye exam without having vision coverage can tell you about the high cost of exams and glasses,” said U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon, a co-sponsor of the legislation.

“For many parents, the lack of insurance is a roadblock to getting their children proper eye care, but it’s also tough for parents who have health insurance if their policy doesn’t cover vision. Unfortunately, the kids are the ones who suffer in school from the lack of proper vision care. Being able to see the blackboard is important to keeping up with your schoolwork.”

The Vision Care for Kids Act, H.R. 507, authorizes a grant program to complement state efforts to provide comprehensive eye exams for children who have been identified as having a potential vision disorder. Under the grant program, priority will go to children under the age of nine.

States can use the grants for specific treatments and services to correct the vision disorders identified through eye exams. The grants also can be used for education and awareness programs.

A 2005 report from the Vision Council for America showed wide variation among state laws governing vision care for children entering school. Some states require no vision screening for students, while others, such as Tennessee, mandate screenings but do not guarantee that children who fail the screenings will receive follow-up eye exams.

“As many as 80 percent of children who fail a vision screening do not receive a comprehensive eye exam, as recommended,” said Gordon. “It’s easy to sit back and say parents should be able to provide for their children, but it’s a lot harder to tell that to children who can’t see as well as they could. These grants will help those children get the care they need.”