Subcommittee orders study of new dental, hearing, vision benefits

A House Government Reform subcommittee on Wednesday approved a bill ordering the Office of Personnel Management to study and recommend improvements in dental, vision, and hearing benefits for federal workers.

Action by the Civil Service subcommittee on the bill (H.R. 3751) came by voice vote. The subcommittee also approved by voice vote an amendment by Rep. Danny K. Davis, D-Ill., to add glaucoma and hearing benefits to the measure, which covers workers in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

The improved benefits are "an issue of great importance to federal employees," said Subcommittee Chairwoman Jo Ann Davis, R-Va.

"We heard from industry representatives who made a clear case that federal dental and vision benefits are much less generous than those typically offered in the private sector," Davis said last month at hearing.