Bill Text: NJ A1035 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Amended
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 10-6)
Status: (Enrolled - Dead) 2016-01-19 - Pocket Veto - Bills not Acted on by Governor-end of Session [A1035 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-A1035-Amended.html
ASSEMBLY, No. 1035
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
216th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2014 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman DANIEL R. BENSON
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Assemblyman DAVID P. RIBLE
District 30 (Monmouth and Ocean)
Assemblywoman BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Assemblyman ANTHONY M. BUCCO
District 25 (Morris and Somerset)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen C.A.Brown, Ciattarelli, Assemblywomen Lampitt, Angelini, Assemblymen Garcia, Wimberly and Wilson
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 Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee on June 5, 2014, 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.
1b.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 1[identical to] consistent with1 those services offered as part of the carrier's own healthcare plan.
1c.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.
1d. 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 120th day next following enactment1.
