NAVCP Releases Ocular Telemedicine – Vision Plan Covered Services and Provider Guidelines Policy Statement

(PRESS RELEASE) TUCKER, GA — The National Association of Vision Care Plans (NAVCP) Board of Directors approved the Ocular Telemedicine – Vision Plan Covered Services and Provider Guidelines policy statement during the June 29, 2020 virtual meeting. The policy statement was compiled with extensive member input and consultation with both the NAVCP Provider Council and Retail Council along with outside industry stakeholders and telemedicine community leaders.

The intent of the policy statement is to define the ocular telemedicine common denominator that can be covered by managed vision care plans. It is to serve as a guide for working with managed vision care plans who offer ocular telemedicine as a covered service. The policy statement will simplify provider, client and industry – including equipment and technology system manufacturers – planning and participation in service delivery.

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“We are pleased to put forth ocular telemedicine policy guidelines to the vision care community,” says Kirk Rothrock, chairman of the board of directors of NAVCP and chief executive officer at Versant Health, a managed vision care company. “Ocular telemedicine is rapidly evolving delivery of vision care. We embrace the opportunity it presents to improve access to eye care.”

The NAVCP policy statement isn’t meant to describe the only forms of legal and beneficial ocular telemedicine available to patients and providers. Instead, it was created to indicate forms of telemedicine that are appropriate for the standard vision benefits offered by NAVCP member plans. The policy statement does not require a NAVCP member to offer this benefit, and members are able to provide alternative approaches to ocular telemedicine.

“As the unified voice for the managed vision care industry, NAVCP understands our responsibility to provide guidance on appropriate uses for telemedicine. To that end, our members have collaborated to create policy guidelines that aim to serve the best interests of the individuals receiving care,” said Julian Roberts, executive director, NAVCP.

NAVCP will review this policy statement annually and update it as technology advances and the standard of care evolves. The position statement is available here.