HB256 Alabama 2014 Session

Under existing law, the Access to Eye Care Act provides that certain health insurance policies, health maintenance organization plans, and the like, which cover eye care services, include a provision for payment to licensed optometrists for services which are both within the scope of the insurance coverage and within the scope of the optometrist’s license

This bill would specify that both public and private insurance policies, plans, contracts, and programs provide coverage for optometrists under the act

This bill would also prohibit the insurance policy, plan, contract, or program from requiring an eye care provider to participate as a condition of receiving payment, from requiring that products and services be provided at a set fee, unless part of the subscriber agreement, from restricting which lab is selected, from designating which insurance plan shall be used for reimbursement, and from imposing restrictions on noncovered products and services

To amend Sections 27-56-2, 27-56-3, 27-56-4, 27-56-5, 27-56-6, 27-56-7, and 27-56-8, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the Access to Eye Care Act; to specify that both public and private insurance policies, plans, contracts, and programs provide coverage for optometrists under the act; to prohibit the insurance policy, plan, contract, or program from requiring an eye care provider to participate as a condition of receiving payment; to prohibit the insurance policy, plan, contract, or program from requiring that products and services be provided at a set fee, unless part of the subscriber agreement; to prohibit the insurance policy, plan, contract, or program from restricting which lab is selected; to prohibit the insurance policy, plan, contract, or program from designating which insurance plan shall be used for reimbursement; and to prohibit the insurance policy, plan, contract, or program from imposing restrictions on noncovered products and services.