Managed Vision Care is a rapidly growing industry in the United States. Representatives from five national companies in the industry met to discuss the need for a trade association. Their discussion identified several purposes for a trade association including:

• A forum for the exchange of information
• A unified voice representing the industry
  Improving quality in Managed Vision Care
• Providing input and perspective in credentialing and development of standards

At this meeting held on November 7, 2002, the representatives of the five companies agreed that a trade association was needed and proceeded to establish the National Association of Vision Care Plans. NAVCP was incorporated on December 23, 2002. The five founding companies are Cole Managed Vision, Davis Vision, EyeMed Vision Care, Spectera, and Superior Vision Services.

The founding Officers and Directors for the NAVCP are:

President: Mr. Tom Davis, Executive Vice President, Spectera

Vice President: Mr. Rick Corbett, President, Superior Vision Services

Vice President Medical Affairs: Dr. Carl Moroff, Executive Vice President and COO, Davis Vision

Secretary: Mr. Kevin Hassey, Vice President and General Manager, EyeMed Vision Care

Treasurer: Mr. Steve Holden, President, Cole Managed Vision

The Officers of NAVCP engaged the services of Stephen L. Ingram, CAE, to assist in the development of the Association and to serve as the first Executive Director. Ingram is an experienced association management professional and holds the CAE designation, Certified Association Executive, from the American Society of Association Executives. Sarah Hayden serves as the Director of Operations.

During the first quarter of 2003, officers and staff contacted Managed Vision Care companies that are national in scope to introduce them to the NAVCP and its purposes. Three companies joined the founding members for the formal announcement of the Association. These companies were National Vision, Inc., Opticare, and Vision Benefits of America. (For more information about membership in the NAVCP, click on "Membership".)

The NAVCP made its formal announcement as a new trade association in April 2003. The leadership of the NAVCP plans to convene study committees to explore issues in managed vision care and to make recommendations for positions and action.