On April 14 to 16, members of the American Optometric Association (AOA) will head to Washington, D.C., for the annual “AOA on Capitol Hill” advocacy event. According to information on the AOA’s website (at bit.ly/AOAadvocacyissues2024), this year’s platform involves advocating for four issues: Addressing “vision plan abuses;” stopping Medicare pay cuts; stopping organized medicine’s “turf protection” of veterans services; and making prescription verification “simpler and safer” for contact lens patients.
 
More than 500 attendees, including more than 300 ODs and staff, and more than 200 optometry students, are expected to attend this year’s event, according to AOA president Ronald L. Benner, OD. 

Capitol Hill agenda
The agenda for the AOA’s advocacy day beings with a welcome reception on April 14, at 5 p.m. in the Capitol ballroom. April 15’s events will consist of general information for the attendees and strategy meetings to prepare for April 16, when the AOA members will meet with federal representatives from their home states to address the AOA’s advocacy goals. 

How to be involved
ODs interested in being involved with the AOA’s advocacy have options outside of attending the Capitol Hill event, says Dr. Benner, such as contacting their local representatives to advocate for optometry-friendly legislation. The AOA hosts the Advocacy Action Center (at bit.ly/AOAadvocacyactioncenter) which can be used to help write a letter, make a phone call, or create a social media post asking federal lawmakers and agencies to support AOA priorities, says Dr. Benner. The action center allows visitors to search for their legislators by entering their address, making them easier to contact.  Donations to the AOA’s political action committee (at bit.ly/AOAPAC) are also helpful, says Dr. Benner.

Interested ODs can also volunteer with their state optometry association and with the AOA. “The AOA could not provide the advocacy, education, practice tools and public awareness programs that support our profession without the contributions of our volunteers,” he says. OM