The House just before recessing until mid-November passed a bill (HR-5295) to authorize a vision-dental benefits program for federal employees, retirees and family members apart from the Federal Employees Health Benefits program. The bill supercedes an earlier House approach that merely would have required a study of such a benefits package, and adopts the approach favored in the Senate (S-2657) to authorize such a program. The new benefits package, which would not be available until at least 2006, would be modeled on the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program in that the Office of Personnel Management would create a general structure and oversee contractor bidding, but individuals would pay the entire cost. The House version differs somewhat from the Senate approach because the House bill also would order a study of whether hearing benefits could be added as well. The Senate could act when Congress returns.