MISSOURI OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION

MOA filed Children’s VisionLegislation in MissouriThis legislationmandated thatevery childenrolling inkindergarten orfirst grade musthave at least onevisionexamination by astate licensed eyecare professional. This examination must take place nolater than January 1 following their enrollment. MOAwas not successful in the passage of this legislation.The bill has drawn a large amount of support from theboth the Democrats and Republicans in the MissouriLegislature. MOA is filing this bill again during theupcoming legislative session.BondintroducesVisionCarefor KidsAct“The Vision Care for Kids Act of 2006,” S. 3685,supported by the American Optometric Association(AOA), was introduced by U.S. Sen. Christopher“Kit” Bond (R-Mo.), a leader in Congress oneducation and health issues who still suffers frompermanent vision loss due to his own undiagnosedamblyopia, or lazy eye, as a child.“Good vision is critical to learning. In fact, 80 percentof what children learn in their early school years isvisual. This important legislation will improve visioncare for children to better equip them to succeed inschool and in life,” Sen. Bond said. “With the supportof the American Academy of Ophthalmology, theAmerican Optometric Association and the VisionCouncil of America, together we will make a differencein the lives of children across the country.”S. 3685 would establish a federal grant programfocusing on treatment to bolster children’s visioninitiatives in the states and encourage children’svision partnerships with non-profit entities,including groups as committed to the cause ofsafeguarding the sight of America’s children asstate optometric associations.Restored Medicaid FundingDuring the 2006 legislative session, MOA wassuccessful—with the help of RepresentativesTilley and Swinger—in restoring Medicaidfunding for eyeglasses every other year for adults.Wheelchair batteries were also added after theextreme Medicaid cuts from last session.Dr. Lee Ann BarrettHeart of AmericaofOptometrist theYearDr. Lee Ann Barrett wasawarded the Heart of AmericaContact Lens Society’s Optometrist of the Yearduring the awards luncheon at the annualcongress in February.• She joined the American OptometricAssociation and the Missouri OptometricAssociation (MOA) while she was in optometryschool at the University of Missouri - St. Louis(UMSL) College of Optometry.• Dr. Barrett received her degree in 1985, andsince that time, she has worked tirelessly on behalfof her patients.• In the course of her practice, she volunteers asan InfantSEE provider.• After training in Mexico City in 2002, she hasheld the position of Clinical Director for the SpecialOlympics Lions Club International Opening EyesProgram, which provides vision screenings andglasses to Special Olympics athletes.• She’s been married 25 years to Robert C.Barrett. They have one son, Alexander, age 19. Dr.Barrett makes her home in Boonville.