How Payers Use Clinics to Boost Vision Benefits, Access to Care

December 09, 2020 - Aetna leveraged the clinic model and manufacturing abilities of OneSight, an international vision care nonprofit, in a three-day clinic that improved vision benefits and access to care for 275 Atlanta residents by providing free eye exams and glasses on-site.

From November 17 to 19, OneSight partnered with North Fulton Community Charities (NFCC), a local human services agency, to offer free eye exams and glasses to more than 275 children and adults. Most participants in need of glasses got their newly prescribed eyewear on-site.

“NFCC is excited to partner with OneSight to connect families in the community to this impactful medical resource,” said NFCC Director of Assistance Carol Swan. “Vision care is essential, but also elusive for those who are financially vulnerable and can’t afford it. This is a great opportunity for our community, and we are proud to work with OneSight to help them realize it.”

One in seven people worldwide (over one billion people total) do not have access to vision care they need due to economic, cultural, and physical barriers, according to a study by OneSight and Deloitte.

Clear vision has distinct effects on an individual’s life, drastically impact learning, earning potential, and job performance. For instance, clear vision can help increase a worker’s productivity by 35 percent, leading to a 20 percent increase in earnings, and students with clear vision can learn up to twice as much in school.

Aetna, a CVS Health company, contributed $50,000 to make the event possible.

“Aetna is committed to extending care to all those who are in need,” said Aetna Market Leader Richard Weiss. “The opportunity to support an event with such a positive impact on the health of the Atlanta region was a natural one. It’s something we saw clearly.”

The event addressed care disparities by leveraging OneSight’s established clinic model which has provided permanent vision care access to over 35 million people worldwide over the past 32 years.

“We’re so happy to have been able to support the North Atlanta community with vision care this week.” stated Dawn Yager, OneSight program manager, “We appreciate the support from Aetna, North Fulton Community Charities, and so many volunteers and doctors to enable this vision clinic to happen.”

At the beginning of 2020, the CVS Health and Aetna Foundation announced a $100 million commitment to community health investments as a part of its Building Healthier Communities program. These investments will be spread out over the next five years to focus on the payer’s goal of helping at-risk patients access key social services that address the social determinants of health.

“Out of about 6,000 waking hours in a year, most people only spend a handful in a doctor’s office or hospital - you spend the vast majority of your time in your community,” Executive Vice President of CVS Health and President at Aetna Karen S. Lynch said at the time of the announcement.

“CVS Health is a part of nearly 10,000 communities across the country, so by going beyond our significant philanthropic efforts and addressing social determinants of health through the products and programs our company develops, we have an unprecedented opportunity to improve the health of individuals and communities across America,” Lynch continued.

The CVS Health and Aetna Foundation leveraged technology from health IT developer Unite Us to provide beneficiaries with tools to select community services in their area that fit their unique health needs.

“Our mission is to connect individuals and families across the United States to the services they need through collaboration with local service providers, shared infrastructure, and an inclusive approach for those in need,” said Co-founder and President of Unite Us, Taylor Justice, at the time of the announcement. “Working with CVS Health, we will foster a community of care and a local support system to empower community members to make the most of the services available to them.”