VSP Discontinues Integrated Primary EyeCare Program

"Concerted third party and state advocacy efforts ensure Kentucky's optometrists have direct access to health plan members needing medical eye care via a business model that could be a bellwether for other states,"
 goes an American Optometric Assn. press release. "At the behest of a new state law—backed by the Kentucky Optometric Association (KOA) and AOA—VSP Vision Care announced on July 15 that their business model in Kentucky would change to allow doctors the opportunity to participate directly with the Cigna medical network sans participation with a vision care plan, and the state's VSP Integrated Primary EyeCare Program (IPEC) would be discontinued, effective Sept. 15, 2015. This change in posture comes after months of third party advocacy and legislative efforts by the KOA and AOA to roll back these tying arrangements between health and vision care plans for credentialing and contracting optometrists." Read more.

CareCredit and VSPTeam Up to Connect CareCredit Card Holders with VSP Doctors

CareCredit and VSP Vision Care have entered an agreement to help nearly 70 million VSP members increase access to financing for quality eye care and optical products at thousands of participating VSP network providers. The companies will "educate VSP’s nearly 70 million members and CareCredit’s 9 million cardholders about options for managing eyecare expenses for a range of lifestyle choices, including glasses and contacts, sunglasses, specialty sport and other customizable eyewear. They will also work to connect members and cardholders with the providers who accept CareCredit in the VSP doctor network." Read more.

G.I.’s to Get Guide Dogs

Some 1.5 million U.S. veterans are affected by vision issues as a result of active duty. A guide dog can empower them to lead more independent lives. VSP Vision Care has teamed up with VetDogs, a not-for-profit guide and service dog school that serves the needs of veterans. They are launching Vision to Share. VSP intents to provide up to $50,000 to place a guide dog with a veteran who is blind or has low vision. People nationwide are encouraged to participate by visiting SeeMuchMore.com and sharing the Vision to Share video. Every time a person shares the video through Facebook, Twitter or email, VSP will make a donation toward the care and training of a guide dog. Read more.

Concerns about Blue Light from Digital Devices Increase

VSP Expects Growth in Near Term

“Rob Lynch, president and CEO of VSP Global in Rancho Cordova, says ‘this isn’t just a vision service company anymore,’” says a post from the Sacramento Bee. “That’s easy to see, just from the numbers alone. What most knew simply as a provider of vision benefits and services a generation ago has grown into a nearly 5,600-employee international enterprise overseeing companies touching all aspects of the vision industry – member benefits, vision practice assistance/development, eyewear, customized lenses, software and ophthalmic technology.

“About 2,000 VSP Global employees work in five buildings in and around the square-mile campus in Rancho Cordova, and VSP Global companies operate in 100 countries on six continents. The long-standing core vision benefits/services entity, VSP Vision Care, now has 64 million members and a network of 30,000 eye doctors nationwide. Lynch sees more growth ahead. ‘The way we’re organized, there’s nothing exactly like us. ... We’re very excited about what the future holds,’ he said.” Read more.

Added as UBA Strategic Partner, VSP Reach Expands

United Benefit Advisors (UBA) has added VSP Vision Care (VSP) as a Strategic Partner. Strategic Partners, the highest level of collaboration, offer what UBA calls “exceptional products and make a special commitment to the success of UBA and its partnership.” The benefits are twofold: The Strategic Partner garners exposure and an expanded book of business through UBA Partners, while the UBA Partnership and its clientele gain access to high-quality products. VSP is the largest not-for-profit vision benefits and services company in the United States with 60 million members and a network of 30,000 eye doctors. Read more.

Brokers Selling VSP Plans Directly to Consumers

VSP has authorized independent insurance brokers to sell its individual insurance plans. The brokers will use a VSP website that allows clients to self-enroll. The broker plan provides individuals and families with the same eye care found in the VSP’s employer based plans. Read more.

An Alternative to the Snellen Vision Screening at Schools

An exam using the Snellen eye chart can fail to identify students with vision problems. That does need to be the case, according to a study called "The Need to Modernize Vision-Screening Practices in Schools," presented as an abstract at the recent American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference and Exhibition. The study involved a charitable event that took place in 2012 held by Transitions Optical and its partner VSP Vision Care at a Florida elementary school. Some 537 students with parental permissions received a vision screening. Using the visioni screener called Spot—a 2.5-pound handheld device—examiners screened students in all grades within five hours. The exams revealed 93 children with potential vision issues. They were referred to a mobile eye clinic or an eye care provider for follow-up eye care. Read more.

VSP Vision Launches Sweepstakes

VSP Vision Care, Spry magazine, and SpryLiving.com have launched the "See Well & Be Well" sweepstakes. People wishing to participate must visit www.spryliving.com/VSPDirect. Individuals who enter by September 30 have a chance to win one of 10 free individual vision insurance plans for a year of coverage from VSP Direct. Each one-year plan being given away is valued up to $218.95, says a VSP spokesperson. Read more.

VSP Launches AMD Awareness Campaign

VSP Vision Care is launching the VSP Eye on age-related macular degeneration campaign designed to increase consumer awareness about preventative care behaviors, support eye doctors with continuing education in providing essential care and providing free eyecare services to those in need. As part of the VSP Eye on Wellness program, which launched an Eye on Diabetes campaign four years ago, this campaign will highlight the importance of annual eye exams in the treatment of AMD. The program will also emphasize such preventive measures as eating nutrient-rich foods, incorporating a regular exercise routine, protecting your eyes from harmful ultraviolet (UV) light, and minimizing your exposure to digital devices that emit blue light. Read more.

Fourth Annual Marathon for the Blind and Visually Impaired

In partnership with VSP Vision Care, the United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) will host the Fourth Annual USABA National Marathon Championship, which will be held in conjunction with the California International Marathon (CIM) on December 2, 2012 in Sacramento, CA. Some 30 blind or visually impaired runners from around the world will compete, including 15 who will run the full marathon. These numbers far exceed past years and are up from 18 participants in 2011. Runners are representing 10 states, numerous Canadian provinces, China, and New Zealand, complementing the global reach the CIM has itself. (Picture from last year’s marathon.)

VSP Offers $10-Million Program for Kids’ Eye Exams

Some 15 million children will go back to school with undiagnosed vision issues, affecting how they perform in the classroom. In such a light, VSP has created the "Clicks for Kids" campaign, which will provide up to 25,000 gift certificates for vision exams and new glasses to Big Brothers Big Sisters programs nationwide – a total donation valued at close to $10 million.

Stand-Alone Vision Plans May Not Join California’s Exchange

“Vision Service Plan's launch on California's new health care exchange is downright blurry, and the firm is seeing red,” says the Sacramento Bee. “The Rancho Cordova company and others in the vision industry lobbied successfully last year for the right to sell adult vision insurance to individuals via the state's new health care exchange.But a new controversy has emerged, raising the prospect that vision plans will not be part of the state's exchange, Covered California, when it begins offering health insurance Oct. 1.” Read more.

VSP Tells California to Use Colorado Model for Stand Alones

“VSP Vision Care has advice for board members from Covered California when they meet Thursday to decide how and when to offer stand-alone vision and other supplemental benefits in the new health insurance marketplace: look at Colorado.” That’s the report from the Sacramento Business Journal. “Last week, Connect for Health Colorado voted to provide direct access to stand-alone vision plans for consumers via a link during the health insurance enrollment process that starts Oct. 1. Like other states — including California — Colorado hit a stumbling block in March when new federal rules narrowed the way supplemental plans can be offered in exchanges. These products can be offered by separate state programs that share resources and infrastructure with a state-based exchange, but federal subsidies can’t be used for non-essential benefits — nor can exchange administrative fees support them.” For more details, read more.

Boise Ranked Top Eye Health City

Boise is the top city where more residents took care of their eyes in 2012, according to VSP Vision Care's 2013 Eye Health Index.The index reviewed tens of millions of VSP claims from more than 100 geographic areas. VSP began analyzing claim data in 2012 to recognize the top cities whose citizens are getting eye exams as part of their healthcare routine.

The Top 10 2013 Eye Healthy Regions in the United States

1. Boise
2. Sacramento (10th in 2012)
3. Oklahoma City-Tulsa (9th in 2012)
4. Wichita (2nd in 2012)
5. Columbus, OH (6th in 2012)
6. Des Moines
7. Birmingham, AL (4th in 2012)
8. Denver (5th in 2012)
9. Raleigh, NC (3rd in 2012)
10. Bay Area, CA (San Jose 7th in 2012)

VSP Offers Individual Monthly Eye Care Plans

Nearly 50 percent of Americans are without vision coverage.¹ In an effort to increase access to care, today VSP Vision Care is making vision coverage more attainable by offering individual plans with a monthly pay option in 46 states. Consumers can pay as little as $13 a month – depending on the state in which they live. Coverage includes an eye exam with a low co-payment, allowance for glasses or contacts, fully covered lens options with 20-25 percent off any non-covered options, and access to the largest doctor network in the industry—all backed by a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee. Read more.

VSP Vision Care Introduces New Plan

VSP Vision Care has introduced a new plan that gives members and their dependents their choice of added eyewear benefits, including progressive lenses, photochromic lenses, or an increase in frame or contact lens allowance. The customizable coverage can currently be purchased directly by individuals or families through yourvsp.com and is available on a limited basis in Arizona, North Carolina, Ohio and Washington. Read more.

CT Health Exchange Exchange Stand-Alone Vision Plans

“Surprisingly, stand-alone vision plans, like VSP Vision Care and Eyemed, have not yet been included in the Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange when care begins on Jan. 1, 2014. If these plans are not permitted to participate when the exchange begins or at any future point, millions of people in our state could be forced to find new eye doctors,” writes Joel Roffer, a Farmington optometrist, in the Hartford Business Journal. “With such major changes affecting our healthcare delivery model, it's more important than ever that we urge our Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange Board to recognize the benefits of vision care and the importance of protecting consumer choice with the inclusion of stand-alone vision plans.” Read more.

VSP Promotes Reading and Vision Care thru Bloggers

"Vision benefits and services nonprofit VSP Vision Care and long-time AOR KCSA Strategic Communications recruited three influential family-oriented bloggers in key markets last summer to compete in an EyeCare About Reading Book Drive Competition," acccording to a case hisotry from PRWeek. "Contestant bloggers in Atlanta, Houston, and Oklahoma City drove book donations to benefit a local charity of their choice. ...For every three books collected, VSP donated to the bloggers' chosen charity a gift certificate for a free eye exam and glasses with lenses from industry partner Transitions Optical. The blogger collecting the most books would win a visit from “Eyenstein,” VSP's mobile vision clinic, and “Bess the Book Bus,” a nonprofit mobile literacy program." Read more.

US Assn of Blind Athletes Marathon Partners with VSP

With VSP Vision Care, the United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) will host the 4th Annual USABA National Marathon Championship this Sunday. It will be held in conjunction with the California International Marathon (CIM) in Sacramento, Calif.  Some 30 blind or visually impaired runners from around the world will compete. Fifteen will run the full marathon. Last year, 18 participated.  Read more.