AUSTIN, Texas—The National Association of Vision Care Plans  (NAVCP) announced Monday that Lukas Ruecker, president of EyeMed Vision Care, was seated as the new chairman of its board of directors for the 2018-2020 term. The announcement came as NAVCP members were meeting here at the association’s 2018 Vision Health Summit. Ruecker succeeds Karen Gustin, executive vice president, group division, at Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. Gustin had served as NAVCP chairman since 2016. Superior Vision chief executive officer Kirk Rothrock, who has been NAVCP’s secretary/treasurer since 2016, will assume the chairman-elect position, according to the announcement.

“Lukas has actively shared his deep industry knowledge and strategic leadership with the association for the past four years,” NAVCP executive director Julian Roberts said in the announcement. “NAVCP is fortunate to have such a respected thought leader as chairman.”

“As the unified voice of the managed vision care industry, NAVCP needs to better position vision care as essential health care for all Americans and improve access to quality eyecare,” Ruecker added. “We also need to continue to reduce duplication and simplify administration for patients, providers and other stakeholders in the optical eco system.”

The NAVCP 2018 Vision Health Summit brings together managed vision care professionals to engage in two-way discussion with industry thought leaders and federal and state health care public policymakers. Those discussions will center on future business and treatment trends, innovative approaches for promoting access and vision health for all Americans and simplifying health care administration, the announcement noted.

NAVCP is a nonprofit association serving as a unified voice for the managed vision care industry, the association noted. In addition, it provides a forum for cooperative industry collaboration on initiatives that work to preserve and strengthen consumer access to affordable vision insurance and benefits.