Davis Vision Being Challenged on Two Fronts, Says PBJ

"Davis Vision’s strategy of creating a 'vertically integrated vision company' — one that manages vision benefits, makes eye glasses and has an affiliate that operates a network of eyeglass stores — is being challenged on two fronts," reports the Philadelphia Business Journal (PBJ). "Earlier this month, U.S. Rep. Earl L. 'Buddy' Carter, R-Georgia, introduced the 'Dental and Optometric Care Access Act' to 'provide fairness in contracts between doctors and insurers to increase the quality of care for patients and eliminate anti-competitive practices.' The DOC Access Act would allow dentists and optometrists to charge a fair and customary amount for the services that are not covered under an insurance plan rather than the insurer’s mandated fee schedule, and prohibit restricting a doctor’s choice of a lab.

Also this month, Illinois-based ophthalmic lens manufacturer Acuity Optical filed amendments to its antitrust lawsuit, originally filed in September 2014, that alleges Davis Vision is violating federal and state laws through actions that include requiring optometrists and opticians to exclusively use Davis Vision’s ophthalmic lens manufacturing laboratories for all Davis Vision’s members’ prescription eyeglass lens manufacturing orders." Read more.

Davis Vision to Handle Boeing's Vision Needs

Davis Vision will provide vision insurance benefits for The Boeing Company employees, retirees, and their dependents starting Jan. 1, 2016. The benefits include eye exams and eyewear. According to the company press release, Davis created a unique digital experience for all Boeing members featuring a virtual frame try-on, educational wellness videos, social media connectivity, and trends in fashion eyewear and eye care. Boeing members have 24/7 access by visiting www.davisvision.com/boeing. To read the press release, click here.

Davis Vision and Visionworks Launch Back-to-School Program

Visionworks and Davis Vision are launching ‘Let’s Go See,’ a cause marketing initiative focused on raising awareness about the importance of children receiving an annual eye exam. Reports from The Center for Health in Schools show that about 60% of students classified as problem learners have some sort of undetected visual problem. Read more.

Davis Vision Goes Hollywood--Sort Of

Davis Vision has launched a new platform "to deliver a heightened interactive experience," goes the company's press release. It was a fancy way of saying that it has a web-based tv show.  The site, called Davis Vision Television (DVTV), "is an online gateway to enable transparency, accessibility, simplicity and what's trending in eyewear and eye care. The interactive, stand-alone site now offers both members and non-members access to a public portal for exploring the unique integrated business model and services offered by Davis Vision in a user-friendly, easy-to-understand format." It's ironic that simplicity can be expressed so obtusively. Finally the company offers a simple explanation of its benefits, including the following features:

• Virtual frame try-on with a selection of over 1,000 options.
• Educational eye health videos narrated by Dr. Florian M. Safner, OD, Vice President of Professional Services, HVHC, Inc.
• Social media connectivity.
• Visionworks retail location search by zip code.
• DV LookBook magazine showcasing Davis Vision's Exclusive Collection of private label and designer frames, style tips and fashion guide.

Read more.

UAW Retirees Sign Up Davis Vision

The UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust (the "Trust") has signed up Davis Vision for its members. The Trust,the largest non-governmental purchaser of retiree health care benefits in the United States, provides health care benefits for UAW retirees and dependents from General Motors, Ford and Chrysler. The addition of vision benefits, effective January 1, 2015, will provide vision coverage including eye exams and eyewear for over 590,000 Trust-eligible UAW GM and Chrysler retirees and dependents.

Transitions and Davis Vision Screenings at ADA Expo

Transitions Optical, Inc. in  partnership with Davis Vision optical retail stores, today joined the American Diabetes Association (ADA) in New York City to educate and motivate consumers to visit an eyecare professional regularly for comprehensive eye exams that help with the early detection of diabetes and the development of certain vision conditions. Transitions Optical and Davis Vision will offer free vision screenings during the ADA Expo on Saturday, March 9, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in booth #431 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

App Connects Patients with VSP and Davis Vision

Guardian members can now locate vision providers with the new Guardian Anytime mobile app for iPhone and Android. The app, created by The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, comes at a time when nearly two out of three smartphone users are interested in using an insurance app, according to research done by Frank N. Magid Associates, Inc., on behalf of Guardian. The free app can be downloaded from www.GuardianAnytime.com. Read more.

Shake Up at Davis Vision, Visionworks, and Viva

Folded into an announcement about staff changes, HVHC Inc. stated that during the next 18 months, the company will be consolidating its 15 national retail brands under a single name, Visionworks and that Davis Vision managed care business will expand into new markets. Oh, yeah, the staffing changes: Steve Holden left as Davis Vision's president, so the company is looking for a replacement. Bob Cox, the former vice president of human resources for Visionworks of America, will assume new responsibilities as senior vice president for HVHC human resources shared services. Cox has been with Visionworks since April 2002. Cheryl Grobelny, a 14-year veteran with Viva, will report to Cox as vice president of HVHC talent management.

Free Eye Exams for Children

For millions of children around the U.S., vision problems that go undetected, and a lack of access to eye exams and glasses, make learning a challenge, according to  a VSP Vision Care press release. To provide children in need with quality eyecare, VSP Vision Care (VSP) launched the Eye Pledge campaign, which will provide up to 50,000 free eye exams and glasses to Boys & Girls Club kids around the country, with a value of more than $19 million. Read more.

In the Detroit area, Davis Vision is offering a similar program, according to a Detroit Free Press blog: "For the fourth consecutive year, Davis Vision’s Focus on America community outreach program and Co/op Optical stores will team up with Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Michigan to provide free vision care to uninsured and underinsured children and adolescents." Read more.

Davis Vision Initiates Reading Program

Davis Vision has started the literacy campaign "Bring a Book. Get a Book. See a Book." The company plans to link proper vision care in children and their ability to read. It has scheduled vision screenings in conjunction with public libraries in Miami, Pittsburgh and Baltimore. Additionally, children who attend a Focus on America vision screening not held in a library or school will receive a free book through Davis Vision's partnership arrangement with Scholastic Books.

Davis Vision Launches New Plan, idealChoice

Davis Vision is offering a new vision plan, idealChoice, which reportedly features increased access, an expanded offering of frames, and a wider variety of lens options. The company says that under this plan, members will have access to more independent providers than any other Davis Vision benefit plan and enhanced benefits for lenses, frames, and contact lenses. The plan was designed to meet and exceed the increasing consumer expectation for higher quality options in their vision benefit plan, according to Davis.

Davis VIsion Introduces New Plan

"Davis Vision announces the launch of its new health and wellness program, the Eye Health Connection Program. With expanded coverage for eye exams and eyewear, it will offer cost savings, greater flexibility and enhanced benefits to members," according to a Yahoo!News post. "Focusing on the four leading eye conditions – age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts and diabetic retinopathy, Davis Vision's new program elevates benefits and reduces costs. The expanded benefits include greater frequency of dilated eye exams, free online resources and personalized, disease-specific communications for each member."