11/27/2024

Strike Force November 2024 Update

During his 2024 State of the State Address, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced plans to form a Children’s Vision Strike Force to ensure every student who fails a vision screening has a follow up comprehensive eye exam and is able to receive glasses if they need them. Citing the Ohio Optometric Foundation’s (OOF) iSEE (In School Eye Exam) mobile program as one of the delivery models, the Strike Force met throughout the summer and discussed how to build upon the existing framework to take these proven models statewide. 

The Strike Force, under the guidance of Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff at The Ohio Department of Health concluded the exploratory meetings on September 23rd. The profession of optometry was represented on the Strike Force by OOA CEO and Executive Director, Dr. Elizabeth Muckley, OOF President Dr. Shane Foster, The OSU College of Optometry’s Interim Dean, Dr. Jeff Walline, and The Vision Professionals Board Executive Director, Anne Gonzales.  

The Ohio Department of Health will be advising the governor’s health policy team on the next steps towards sustainability so that Ohio’s children have access to vision care which is critical for learning and academic success.  

While we await specific policy recommendations, we’re confident that our advocacy with the Ohio Department of Health and the governor’s health policy team will lead to meaningful changes. The OOA expects funding recommendations to be included in the Ohio Budget that will be proposed to the legislature in February. The OOA and our government affairs team at Capitol Advocates will be monitoring the budget proposal and will engage Key ODs to reach legislators to support permanent funding mechanisms for children’s vision initiatives.