Congresswoman Kim Schrier, D-WA (Eighth District) on Friday announced that her bill – the Medicare Vision Act of 2019 (HR 4665) – will be voted on next week by the House of Representatives.

The Medicare Vision Act will expand Medicare Part B coverage to cover eye exams and glasses.

“I am excited that my bill was included in The Lower Drug Costs Now Act that will be voted on next week. Expanding Medicare to cover vision is important because as seniors age, vision can deteriorate and eye diseases can emerge. We want to make sure seniors can live independently for as long as possible. Part of this is making sure that they can see well enough to drive to appointments, walk safely around the house, and carefully read prescriptions,” Rep. Schrier said.

The Medicare Vision Act of 2019 will expand Medicare Part B coverage to include routine eye exams, procedures and contact lens fitting services.

Schrier continued, “As a doctor, I am concerned about the number of older Americans who haven’t had an eye exam in over a year and might have undiagnosed eye conditions, like macular degeneration or glaucoma. Also, poor vision can limit physical activity and increase isolation. Those, in turn, can lead to deteriorating health. By expanding Medicare Part B to cover vision care, we will ensure that older Americans will be able to access this care at a cost that isn’t prohibitive.”