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Dear Members,
I want to thank each of you who has reached out to share your concerns, questions, and support. As Chair of the AAO Private Insurance Task Force, I want to assure you: we are taking this issue seriously, and we are taking action.
The impact of recent private insurance delistings has been disruptive and deeply concerning — not just for those directly affected, but for the future of Optometry in Alberta. Our Task Force was created to lead a focused, strategic response, and I’m writing today to share a progress update on our work.
We are moving quickly and decisively.
Legal Counsel Engaged:
We have brought on a lawyer with specialized expertise in insurance matters and a strong track record advising health professions through similar challenges. Their role on the Task Force will be to help us evaluate legal risks, identify strategic options, and ensure our actions are informed and defensible.
Government Relations Firm Hired:
We have also secured a government relations and lobbying firm to lead the development of a coordinated advocacy strategy. Their work will span private insurance, and other systemic issues impacting Optometry. As active participants in the Task Force, they will help shape both our policy direction and how we engage with key stakeholders.
Initial Funding Approved:
The AAO Council has approved an initial discovery budget of $250,000 to support this work. Additional finds are available to support this vital work. Our Task Force is now in the discovery phase, working to deliver a proposed short- and long-term strategy including a budget that will guide our next steps.
Learning from Other Jurisdictions:
We are actively consulting with experts who understand the evolution of managed care in the United States. Their insight is helping us identify key trigger points, anticipate risks, and build informed, proactive strategies.
National Coordination:
We continue to work closely with the Canadian Association of Optometrists (CAO) to ensure our provincial strategy aligns with national efforts. To strengthen this collaboration, we now have a CAO representative participating directly on the Task Force. This coordinated approach is critical to building sustained momentum and presenting a united voice for Optometry across Canada.
Listening and Leading – Together
We have heard the concerns of both affected and unaffected members and we share your urgency. We are committed to strategic, coordinated action, grounded in collaboration and evidence. This includes seeking alignment with other allied health care providers who face similar pressures, so that Optometry is not isolated in this fight.
We also recognize that others have taken on similar battles with insurers and spent significant resources without seeing lasting results. We are learning from those efforts and we are committed to being prudent, focused, and deliberate in how we proceed.
Your voices matter. If you haven’t yet shared your input, I encourage you to do so through our submission form. Your experiences and insights are helping shape this work every step of the way.
On behalf of the Task Force, thank you for your continued trust. We will keep you informed as this work continues, and we will keep pushing forward with resolve.
Sincerely,
Dr. Pamela Giles
Chair, AAO Private Insurance Task Force
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