STUDIES RELATING TO VISION IMPAIRMENTS.

SEC. 645. STUDIES RELATING TO VISION IMPAIRMENTS.(a) Coverage of Outpatient Vision Services Furnished by Vision Rehabilitation Professionals Under Part B.—(1) Study.—The Secretary shall conduct a study to determine the feasibility and advisability of providing for payment for vision rehabilitation services furnished by vision rehabilitation professionals.(2) Report.—Not later than January 1, 2005, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under paragraph (1) together with recommendations for such legislation or administrative action as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.(3) Vision rehabilitation professional defined.—In this subsection, the term “vision rehabilitation professional” means an orientation and mobility specialist, a rehabilitation teacher, or a low vision therapist.117 STAT. 2324(b) Report on Appropriateness of a Demonstration Project To Test Feasibility of Using PPO Networks To Reduce Costs of Acquiring Eyeglasses for Medicare Beneficiaries After Cataract Surgery.—Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the feasibility of establishing a two-year demonstration project under which the Secretary enters into arrangements with vision care preferred provider organization networks to furnish and pay for conventional eyeglasses subsequent to each cataract surgery with insertion of an intraocular lens on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries. In such report, the Secretary shall include an estimate of potential cost savings to the Medicare program through the use of such networks, taking into consideration quality of service and beneficiary access to services offered by vision care preferred provider organization networks.