The American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS), along with other medical specialty organizations, are working to pass the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act (ELSA). This bipartisan legislation (S. 1677/H.R. 3277) requires all private insurance groups and individual health care plans to cover medically necessary services resulting from congenital abnormalities, including procedures and treatments needed to restore normal body function.

The legislation would benefit children born with congenital cataracts and those developing in infancy and early childhood who require swift treatment to prevent permanent vision loss. In addition to surgery, children with cataracts require a combination of contact lenses, intraocular lens (IOL) and glasses. Today there is a huge variation in health insurance coverage for aphakic contact lenses despite the fact that they are considered medically necessary. Many families find the ongoing costs of these contact lenses a major barrier to this treatment, and children are at serious risk for losing vision if they do not have timely access to these medically necessary lenses. 

Children who receive timely treatment and follow-up have a good prognosis as demonstrated by National Eye Institute sponsored studies. The Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act will benefit these children by improving access to appropriate treatments.

Make sure your voice is heard. Contact your members of Congress and urge them to cosponsor S.1677/H.R. 3277.