Bill Text: NJ S2040 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Prohibits health insurance carriers from requiring optometrists to become providers with vision care plans as condition of becoming providers in carriers' panel of providers.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-01-07 - Substituted by A1035 (2R) [S2040 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2014-S2040-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 2040

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

216th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED MAY 5, 2014

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  NICHOLAS P. SCUTARI

District 22 (Middlesex, Somerset and Union)

Senator  GERALD CARDINALE

District 39 (Bergen and Passaic)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Prohibits health insurance carriers from requiring optometrists to become providers with vision care plans as condition of becoming providers in carriers' panel of providers.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Senate Commerce Committee on December 21, 2015, with amendments.

 

An Act concerning optometrists and vision care plans and supplementing P.L.1997, c.192 (C.26:2S-1 et seq.).

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    ¹a.¹  A carrier shall not require an optometrist to participate in a vision care plan as a condition for entering into a contract with that carrier for the provision of medically necessary physician services within the scope of practice of an optometrist when those services are provided as a health benefit for covered persons.  ¹[If a carrier subcontracts medically necessary physician services within the scope of practice of an optometrist which are also covered services in its healthcare plan, those subcontracted services shall be identical to those services offered as part of the carrier's own healthcare plan.]¹

     ¹b.¹  For purposes of this section, "vision care plan" means an organization with which a carrier subcontracts to provide or administer supplemental vision or medically necessary physician services within the scope of practice of an optometrist, or both, to covered persons on behalf of the carrier.

     ¹c.   Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent a carrier from entering into a contract with a vision care plan.¹ 

 

     2.    This act shall take effect ¹[immediately] on the 120^th day next following enactment¹.