Philadelphia, PA (February 27, 2013)-Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY) reissued its updated "Guide to Vision Care Services for Philadelphia’s Children & Adolescents" today, offering a valuable resource to families on Medical Assistance (MA and CHIP benefits looking for affordable eye care. MA and CHIP health insurance pay for eye exams and glasses.
PCCY also announced its 2013 "Give Kids Sight Day" will be held at Jefferson University Hospital, Alumni Hall at 10th and Locust Streets from 8 am to 2 pm on Saturday, April 13. The day includes free eye exams and glasses for children on a first come first served basis.
"Far too many kids are suffering with poor vision because their parents do not realize that eye exams and glasses are covered under MA and CHIP benefits," said Donna Cooper, PCCY Executive Director. "This Guide is an easy to use tool for parents who may not know that free eye care is right in their neighborhoods."
The Guide, first published in 2008, lists more than 100 eye care providers who deliver care to children who have MA or CHIP health insurance. It includes offices open on evenings and weekend; with staff who speak languages other than English, and that care for kids with special health care needs. The guide also provides an easy to read map that shows parents where offices are located in their neighborhood.
"Many students could be doing better in school if they could simply see better," stated Philadelphia School District Nurse Coordinator Rhona Cooper, R.N. "This is an easy health problem to fix and this guide helps make that possible."
Since the 2006-07 school year persistently about 60% of students (almost 16,000) who fail a school nurse vision screen do not get a follow-up eye exam. Nurse Cooper said school nurses provide a vision screen to each student annually, and one of the main reasons parents say they do not take their kids for follow-up care is
because they do not know where to take them.
"PCCY’s vision guide is a welcome and much needed ‘at your fingertips resource’ for school nurses to inform parents that MA and CHIP DO pay for vision services and it shows parents the locations of eye care providers where they live," said Cooper.
Eye doctors say children should have their eyes screened every year during their physical exam or by the school nurse. Some signs of poor vision include squinting, closing or covering one eye, headaches, excessive clumsiness, using a finger to assist reading, or excessive eye rubbing. If a problem is found, parents should
follow-up with an eye care provider.
Almost every child in Pennsylvania is eligible for Medical Assistance or CHIP. No family makes too much money to qualify. Which program you are eligible for mostly depends on your family size and income. To download the Vision Heath Resource Guide and for more information about "Give Kids Sight Day", visit www.childrenfirstpa.org/vision or call PCCY at 215-563-5848 x21. If you need help finding eye care for your child or signing up for health insurance, call PCCY at 215-563-5848 x17.