Congressional Panel Votes to Do Away with Tax on Eyewear

"A Republican-controlled congressional panel voted on Thursday to repeal a tax on medical devices, a key revenue provision in President Barack Obama's 2010 healthcare reform law, but the measure was not expected to become law," notes MSNBC. "Approval in the House, which is dominated by Republicans, was viewed as probable, possibly as soon as next week. But the measure faced an uphill climb in the Democrat-controlled Senate, where parallel legislation lacks bipartisan sponsors." Read more.

MDs Meet with House Members about Vision Care

More than 350 ophthalmologists yesterday met with members of Congress to raise awareness about current threats to eye care and urge their support for policies that enhance disease prevention and treatment for millions of Americans. During its annual Congressional Advocacy Day, the American Academy of Ophthalmology will share with legislators that an estimated 50 percent of all Americans will suffer from an eye disease at some point during their lifetime. Left undetected and untreated, diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataract and diabetic retinopathy can rob people of their vision. Yet, pending Medicare cuts could threaten patients' access to critical, sight-saving eye screenings and treatments.Read more.