There is, at present, no consistent Medicare or Medicaid funding for vision rehabilitation services

At the present time, Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance plans do not provide coverage or reimbursement for most specialized vision-related rehabilitation services or adaptive devices. In some cases, Medicare will provide coverage for some portions of a regular eye exam. The National Vision Rehabilitation Association is working to develop legislation that includes coverage for vision-related rehabilitation in Medicare-reimbursable services.

There is, however, a Medicare Low Vision Rehabilitation Demonstration Project that is currently in progress, sponsored by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Medicare is conducting a five-year demonstration project to investigate the expansion of benefits for individuals with moderate to severe vision loss. Through this project, Medicare will assess the impact of providing reimbursement for up to nine hours of vision rehabilitation services in appropriate settings (including the home) by qualified vision rehabilitation professionals under general supervision by a physician. The demonstration will take place in the following areas: Atlanta, Georgia; Kansas; New Hampshire; New York City (all five boroughs); North Carolina; and Washington State.

To be eligible, patients must meet the following criteria:

• Be enrolled in Medicare Part B fee-for-service and not be a member of a Medicare Advantage Plan;
• Have a diagnosis of moderate to severe vision impairment, including blindness that cannot be corrected by conventional means;
• Reside in one of the six demonstration areas;
• Be able to derive benefit from the rehabilitation.

For more details about the demonstration project, or to find eligible Atlanta and New York City zip codes, go to the CMS Low Vision Rehabilitation Demonstration web page. Enter "vision" into the keyword search box, and select the "refresh list" button. Scroll down to "Medicare Low Vision Rehabilitation Demonstration." If you have questions, contact the Low Vision Rehabilitation Demonstration Project Officer at visiondemo@cms.hhs.gov

Rehabilitation Act Provides State Funding

The primary source of federal funds for vision-related rehabilitation services and adaptive devices for older adults is Title VII Chapter 2 of the Rehabilitation Act (Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who are Blind). Through this program, states provide the following services:

• Daily living and communication skills
• Independent travel
• Use of low vision devices
• Peer and family counseling
• Outreach to rural and undeserved adults

You can read more about Title VII, Chapter 2 programs and funding at the web site of the American Foundation for the Blind.