,i  #aai? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4
 ,r4 #ajdgf  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(         
,,repres5tatives  ,septemb] #af1        
#bjbf,ms4 ,wilson ( ,florida 7= h]self1 
,mr4 ,bi%op1 ,mr4 ,cleav]1 ,ms4 ,lois   
,frankel ( ,florida1 ,mrs4 ,grijalva1   
,ms4 ,kelly ( ,ill9ois1 ,ms4            
,mc,clellan1 ,mr4 ,mfume1 ,mr4 ,nadl]1  
,ms4 ,norton1 ,ms4 ,sewell1 ,mr4 ,%]man1
 ,mr4 ,?an$>1 ,mr4 ,?ompson (           
,mississippi1 ,ms4 ,velzquez1 ,ms4      
,wat]s1 ,mrs4 ,watson ,coleman1 ,ms4    
,williams ( ,georgia1 ,mr4 ,m5efee1     
,mrs4 ,mc,bath1 ,ms4 ,crockett1 ,mr4    
,c>t] ( ,l\isiana1 ,mrs4 ,mc,iver1 ,mrs4
 ,beatty1 & ,ms4 ,cl>ke ( ,new ,york7   
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to
 ! ,committee on ,en]gy & ,comm]ce1 & 9 
addition to ! ,committees on ,ways &    
,means1 & ,ov]sight & ,gov]nm5t ,re=m1 =
 a p]iod to be subsequ5tly det]m9$ by ! 
,speak]1 9 ea* case = consid]ation ( su*
 provisions z fall )9 ! jurisdiction ( !
 committee conc]n$  ,a ,,bill  ,to      
require cov]age ( annual glaucoma       

scre5+s = c]ta9 individuals1 & = o!r    
purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title  ,?is ,act   
may be cit$ z ! ,glaucoma ,vision ,act (
 #bjbf4  #b4 ,f9d+s ,congress f9ds !    
foll[+3 7#a7 ,approximately #d4bb       
million p 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates 7 liv+ )    
glaucoma 9 #bjbb1 & ab\t #a4di million p
 h vision affect+ glaucoma ) measurable 
visual field loss4  7#b7 ,approximately 
half ( p ) glaucoma are unaw>e !y h !   
disease2 "o ,,nhanes bas$ analysis      
e/imat$ ab\t #b4d million ,am]icans )   
undiagnos$ & untreat$ glaucoma1         
repres5t+ r\ghly #gh p]c5t ( ^? )       
def9ite disease4  7#c7 ,! ,c5t]s =      
,disease ,control & ,prev5tion projects 
t m ?an #c million ,am]icans curr5tly h 
glaucoma & t ?is numb] w increase to    
ab\t #f4c million by #bjej z !          
population ages4  7#d7 ,vision loss &   
bl9dness sub/antially increase ,m$ic>e &
 ov]all m$ical sp5d+1 ) e>li] "w %[+ t  
vision loss is associat$ ) billions (   
doll>s 9 additional non-eye-relat$      
m$ical co/s4  7#e7 ,adults at high] risk

 = glaucoma include individuals :o are  
#dj ye>s ( age or old] & are ( ,african1
 ,hispanic_/,lat9o1 or ,asian ance/ry1 z
 well z individuals ) cl9ical risk      
factors = glaucoma1 includ+ diabetes2 a 
family hi/ory ( glaucoma2 elevat$       
intraocul> pressure2 v l[ or v high     
blood pressure2 myopia2 a hi/ory (      
corneal refractive surg]y or o!r causes 
( r$uc$ c5tral corneal ?ickness2 or     
*ronic cortico/]oid use4 ,all           
individuals may also be at high] risk if
 !y h a fir/-degree relative ) diagnos$ 
glaucoma or h uncontroll$ diabetes4     
7#f7 ,economic burd5 /udies gr\p        
glaucoma )9 major adult visual disord]s 
& e/imate t vision problems jo9tly co/  
t5s ( billions ( doll>s annually 9      
direct m$ical co/s1 lo/ productivity1   
disability b5efits1 & lo/ tax rev5ues4  
7#g7 ,m$ic>e "p ,b curr5tly cov]s "o    
glaucoma scre5+ e #ab mon?s = c]ta9     
high-risk individuals1 includ+ p )      
diabetes1 ^? ) a family hi/ory (        
glaucoma1 ,african ,am]icans age #ej &  

old]1 & ,hispanics age #fe & old]4  7#h7
 ,by contra/1 ,m$icaid programs1 private
 sector gr\p heal? plans1 & ,f$]al      
,employees ,heal? ,b5efits 7,,fehb7     
plans are n uni=mly requir$ by ,f$]al   
law to cov] glaucoma scre5+1 leav+      
significant gaps 9 e>ly detection = _m  
high-risk adults4  #c4 ,requir+ cov]age 
( annual glaucoma scre5+s = c]ta9       
individuals  7a7 ,private insurance     
7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,section #bgac ( ! ,public
 ,heal? ,s]vice ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4     
#cjj;gg-#ac7 is am5d$-- 7,a7 9          
subsection 7a7--  7i7 9 p>agraph 7#b71  
by /rik+ & at ! end2  7ii7 9 p>agraph   
7#c71 by /rik+ ! p]iod & ins]t+ a       
semicolon2  7iii7 9 p>agraph 7#d71 by   
/rik+ ! p]iod at ! end & ins]t+ 2 &2    
7iv7 by r$esignat+ p>agraph 7#e7 z      
p>agraph 7#f72 &  7v7 by ins]t+ aft]    
p>agraph 7#d7 ! foll[+ new p>agraph3    
7#e7 ) respect to specifi$ individuals  
7z def9$ 9 subsection 7d771 scre5+ =    
glaucoma 7z def9$ 9 section #ahfa7uu7 ( 
! ,social ,security ,act74  2 &  7,b7 by

 add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new subsection3 
7d7 ,specifi$ individual def9$ ,=       
purposes ( subsection 7a77#e71 ! t]m    
specifi$ individual means any ( ! foll[+
 individuals3  7#a7 ,an individual #dj  
ye>s ( age or old] :o-- 7,a7 id5tifies z
 hav+ ,african1 ,hispanic_/,lat9o1 or   
,asian ance/ry2 or  7,b7 has a cl9ical  
risk factor = glaucoma 7includ+         
diabetes1 a family hi/ory ( glaucoma1   
elevat$ intraocul> pressure1 v l[ or v  
high blood pressure1 myopia1 a hi/ory ( 
corneal refractive surg]y or o!r causes 
( r$uc$ c5tral corneal ?ickness1 or a   
hi/ory ( *ronic cortico/]oid use74  7#b7
 ,an individual #fj ye>s ( age or old]4 
4  7#b7 ,effective date ,! am5dm5ts made
 by ?is subsection %all apply ) respect 
to plan ye>s beg9n+ on or aft] ,janu>y  
#a1 #bjbg4  7b7 ,m$ic>e  7#a7 ,9 g5]al  
,section #ahcc ( ! ,social ,security    
,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aciel7 is am5d$--  
7,a7 9 subsection 7a77#a77,y71 by ins]t+
 7o!r ?an scre5+ = glaucoma furni%$ to a
 specifi$ individual 7z def9$ 9 section 

#bgac7;d7 ( ! ,public ,heal? ,s]vice    
,act77 aft] subp>agraph 7,a72 &  7,b7 9 
subsection 7b77#a71 by /rik+ ! p]iod &  
ins]t+ or t are scre5+s = glaucoma      
furni%$ to specifi$ individuals 7z def9$
 9 section #bgac7;d7 ( ! ,public ,heal? 
,s]vice ,act7 & are appropriate = su*   
individuals14  7#b7 ,effective date ,!  
am5dm5ts made by ?is subsection %all    
apply ) respect to items & s]vices      
furni%$ on or aft] ,janu>y #a1 #bjbg4   
7c7 ,m$icaid  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,section    
#aije7;a7 ( ! ,social ,security ,act    
7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acif;d7a77 is am5d$--   
7,a7 9 p>agraph 7#ca71 by /rik+ & at !  
end2  7,b7 by r$esignat+ p>agraph 7#cb7 
z p>agraph 7#cc72 &  7,c7 by ins]t+ aft]
 p>agraph 7#ca7 ! foll[+ new p>agraph3  
7#cb7 scre5+ = glaucoma 7z def9$ 9      
section #ahfa7uu77 furni%$ to specifi$  
individuals 7z def9$ 9 section #bgac7;d7
 ( ! ,public ,heal? ,s]vice ,act72 &  4 
7#b7 ,m&atory b5efit ,section           
#aijb7;a77#aj77;,a7 ( ! ,social         
,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4           

#acif;a7a77#aj77;,a77 is am5d$ by /rik+ 
& 7#cj7 & ins]t+ 7#cj71 & 7#cb74  7#c7  
,alt]native b5efit plans ,section       
#aicg7;b7 ( ! ,social ,security ,act    
7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acifu-#g7;b77 is am5d$  
by add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new p>agraph3 
7#i7 ,scre5+ = glaucoma = specifi$      
individuals ,not)/&+ ! previ\s          
provisions ( ?is section1 a ,/ate may n 
provide = m$ical assi/ance ?r\gh        
enrollm5t ( an individual ) b5*m>k      
cov]age or b5*m>k-equival5t cov]age "u  
?is section unless su* cov]age includes 
7& does n impose any d$uction1 co/ %>+1 
or simil> *>ge =7 scre5+ = glaucoma 7z  
def9$ 9 section #ahfa7uu77 furni%$ to   
specifi$ individuals 7z def9$ 9 section 
#bgac7;d7 ( ! ,public ,heal? ,s]vice    
,act74  4  7#d7 ,co/ %>+  7,a7 ,9 g5]al 
,section #aiaf7;a77#b7 ( ! ,social      
,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4           
#acifo7a77#b77 is am5d$--  7i7 9        
subp>agraph 7,i71 by /rik+ or at ! end2 
7ii7 9 subp>agraph 7,j71 by /rik+ 2 & & 
ins]t+ 1 or2 &  7iii7 by add+ at ! end !

 foll[+ new subp>agraph3  7,k7 scre5+ = 
glaucoma 7z def9$ 9 section #ahfa7uu77  
furni%$ to specifi$ individuals 7z def9$
 9 section #bgac7;d7 ( ! ,public ,heal? 
,s]vice ,act72 &  4  7,b7 ,alt]native   
co/ %>+ ,section #aiaf;,a7b77#c77;,b7 ( 
! ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 
#acifo-#a7;b77#c77;,b77 is am5d$ by add+
 at ! end ! foll[+ new clause3  7xv7    
,scre5+ = glaucoma 7z def9$ 9 section   
#ahfa7uu77 furni%$ to specifi$          
individuals 7z def9$ 9 section #bgac7;d7
 ( ! ,public ,heal? ,s]vice ,act74  4   
7#e7 ,effective date ,! am5dm5ts made by
 ?is subsection %all apply ) respect to 
m$ical assi/ance furni%$ on or aft]     
,janu>y #a1 #bjbg4  7d7 ,,fehb  7#a7 ,9 
g5]al ,section #hijb ( title #e1 ,unit$ 
,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end 
! foll[+ new subsection3  7q7 ,ea*      
contract "u ?is *apt] %all require !    
c>ri] to provide b5efits = scre5+ =     
glaucoma 7z def9$ 9 section #ahfa7uu7 ( 
! ,social ,security ,act7 furni%$ to    
specifi$ individuals 7z def9$ 9 section 

#bgac7;d7 ( ! ,public ,heal? ,s]vice    
,act7 )\t imposition ( any co/ %>+      
7includ+ co9surance1 copaym5ts1 &       
d$uctibles74  4  7#b7 ,effective date ,!
 am5dm5t made by ?is subsection %all    
apply ) respect to contracts ent]$ into 
= plan ye>s beg9n+ on or aft] ,janu>y   
#a1 #bjbg4  #d4 ,glaucoma detection &   
prev5tion program  7a7  ,9 g5]al  ,!    
,director ( ! ,c5t]s = ,disease ,control
 & ,prev5tion1 act+ ?r\gh ! head ( !    
,vision ,heal? ,initiative1 79 ?is      
section ref]r$ to z ! ,director7 %all   
exp& & support glaucoma detection &     
prev5tion activities1 includ+ by aw>d+  
grants1 on a competitive basis1 to      
eligible entities to provide free or    
l[-co/ glaucoma scre5+s & foll[-up      
treatm5t to un9sur$ & und]9sur$         
high-risk individuals4  7b7             
,applications ,to be eligible to receive
 a grant "u ?is section1 an entity %all 
submit to ! ,director an application at 
su* "t1 9 su* mann]1 & conta9+ su*      
in=mation z ! ,director det]m9es        

appropriate4  7c7 ,use ( funds ,a grant 
"u ?is section may be us$--  7#a7 to    
provide ! scre5+s & treatm5t ref]r$ to 9
 subsection 7a72 &  7#b7 z x relates to 
su* scre5+s & treatm5t1 =--  7,a7       
outrea* & community education2  7,b7    
mobile scre5+ units2  7,c7 c>e          
coord9ation & l9kage to ongo+           
oph?almologic c>e2  7,d7 ! evaluation   
describ$ 9 subsection 7e71 includ+ data 
collection to assi/ 9 prep>+ su*        
evaluation2 &  7,e7 glaucoma disease    
surveillance4  7d7 ,priority ,9 aw>d+   
grants "u ?is section1 ! ,director %all 
give priority to projects s]v+ racial & 
e?nic m9ority communities & o!r und]s]v$
 populations ) a high burd5 ( glaucoma &
 vision loss4  7e7 ,evaluation ,z a     
condition ( receiv+ a grant "u ?is      
section1 an eligible entity %all submit 
to ! ,director a report evaluat+ !      
effectiv5ess ( ! activities fund$ by su*
 grant4  7f7 ,eligible entity def9$ ,9  
?is section1 ! t]m eligible entity means
 any ( ! foll[+3  7#a7 ,a ,/ate or      

t]ritory ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates 7includ+ !   
,di/rict ( ,columbia74  7#b7 ,a local   
heal? dep>tm5t4  7#c7 ,a community heal?
 c5t]4  7#d7 ,an academic m$ical c5t]4  
7#e7 ,a nonpr(it organization4  7#f7    
,su* o!r entity z ! ,director det]m9es  
appropriate4  7g7 ,au?orization (       
appropriations ,!re is au?oriz$ to be   
appropriat$ to c>ry out ?is section     
#aj1jjj1jjj = ! p]iod ( fiscal ye>s     
#bjbg ?r\gh #bjbh4  #e4 ,glaucoma &     
optic n]ve damage rese>* ,subp>t #i ( "p
 ,c ( title ,,iv ( ! ,public ,heal?     
,s]vice ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bhe;i et   
seq47 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end !       
foll[+3  #def;,a4 ,grants = glaucoma &  
optic n]ve damage rese>*  7a7 ,9 g5]al  
,! ,director ( ! ,in/itute %all aw>d    
grants1 on a competitive basis1 = rese>*
 relat$ to glaucoma & optic n]ve damage1
 includ+-- 7#a7 optic n]ve reg5]ation & 
repair2  7#b7 neuroprotection /rategies 
to prev5t ret9al ganglion cell loss2    
7#c7 g5e !rapies direct$ at             
glaucoma-relat$ pa?ways2 &  7#d7 /em    

cell-bas$ !rapies & o!r advanc$         
approa*es to pres]v+ or re/or+ vision4  
7b7 ,au?orization ( appropriations ,!re 
is au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ to c>ry   
out ?is section #aj1jjj1jjj = ! p]iod ( 
fiscal ye>s #bjbg ?r\gh #bjbh4  4