HB585 (2013) Detail

Relative to insurance parity for optometrists.


HB 585 – AS INTRODUCED

2013 SESSION

13-0546

01/04

HOUSE BILL 585

AN ACT relative to insurance parity for optometrists.

SPONSORS: Rep. Schlachman, Rock 18; Rep. Hammond, Hills 24; Rep. Harding, Graf 13; Rep.?Cebrowski, Hills 7; Rep. Kotowski, Merr 24; Sen. Stiles, Dist 24; Sen. Kelly, Dist 10; Sen. Boutin, Dist 16; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. Prescott, Dist 23

COMMITTEE: Commerce and Consumer Affairs

ANALYSIS

This bill requires insurers to allow covered persons to choose their eye care professional without discrimination as to reimbursement for the same or similar eye care services.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

13-0546

01/04

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Thirteen

AN ACT relative to insurance parity for optometrists.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Section; Choice of Eye Care Professional; Individual. Amend RSA 415 by inserting after section 6-r the following new section:

415:6-s Choice of Eye Care Professionals. Each insurer that issues or renews any individual policy, plan, or contract of accident or health insurance or vision insurance providing benefits for medical or hospital expenses for eye care that is within the scope of the practice of optometry in this state shall provide to persons covered by such insurance who are residents of this state, and their covered dependents, the choice of either an optometrist or an ophthalmologist to provide such eye care. Such benefits shall not be subject to any greater deductible, co-payment, or coinsurance than any other similar benefits provided under the policy or certificate and there shall be no discrimination as to the rate of reimbursement for the same or similar eye care services whether provided by an optometrist or an ophthalmologist licensed in this state. Notwithstanding any provision of law or rule to the contrary, the provisions of this section also shall apply to the medical assistance program pursuant to RSA 161 and RSA 167.

II. No insurer, person or entity described in paragraph I shall:

(a) Require that an optometrist licensed in this state participate in a separate vision plan, whether owned, operated, or administered by the insurer, a subsidiary, affiliate, third-party administrator, or other third party, or accept specified levels of payment for services or materials not covered by applicable policies or certificates issued or renewed by the insurer as a condition for the optometrist to be a participating provider with such insurer or to participate in such insurer’s participating or preferred provider panel, or

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of law or rule to the contrary, discriminate between optometrists and ophthalmologists with respect to participation as preferred providers, coverage of benefits, or rate of reimbursement for eye care within the scope of the practice of optometry in this state under any preferred provider arrangement established under RSA 420-C or otherwise.

2 New Section; Choice of Eye Care Professional; Group. Amend RSA 415 by inserting after section 18-w the following new section:

415:18-x Choice of Eye Care Professional. Each insurer that issues or renews any policy of group or blanket accident or health insurance or vision insurance providing benefits for medical or hospital expenses for eye care that is within the scope of the practice of optometry in this state shall provide to persons covered by such insurance who are residents of this state, and their covered dependents, the choice of either an optometrist or an ophthalmologist to provide such eye care. Such benefits shall not be subject to any greater deductible, co-payment, or coinsurance than any other similar benefits provided under the policy or certificate and there shall be no discrimination as to the rate of reimbursement for the same or similar eye care services whether provided by an optometrist or an ophthalmologist licensed in this state. Notwithstanding any provision of law or rule to the contrary, the provisions of this section also shall apply to the medical assistance program pursuant to RSA 161 and RSA 167.

II. No insurer, person or entity described in paragraph I shall:

(a) Require that an optometrist licensed in this state participate in a separate vision plan, whether owned, operated, or administered by the insurer, a subsidiary, affiliate, third-party administrator, or other third party, or accept specified levels of payment for services or materials not covered by applicable policies or certificates issued or renewed by the insurer as a condition for the optometrist to be a participating provider with such insurer or to participate in such insurer’s participating or preferred provider panel, or

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of law or rule to the contrary, discriminate between optometrists and ophthalmologists with respect to participation as preferred providers, coverage of benefits, or rate of reimbursement for eye care within the scope of the practice of optometry in this state under any preferred provider arrangement established under RSA 420-C or otherwise.

3 Health Service Corporations; Choice of Eye Care Professional. Amend RSA 420-A:2 to read as follows:

420-A:2 Applicable Statutes. Every health service corporation shall be governed by this chapter and the relevant provisions of RSA 161-H, and shall be exempt from this title except for the provisions of RSA 400-A:39, RSA 401-B, RSA 402-C, RSA 404-F, RSA 415-A, RSA 415-F, RSA 415:6, II(4), RSA 415:6-g, RSA 415:6-k, RSA 415:6-m, RSA 415:6-o, RSA 415:6-r, RSA 415:6-s, RSA 415:18, V, RSA 415:18, VII(g), RSA 415:18, XVI and XVII, RSA 415:18, VII-a, RSA 415:18-a, RSA 415:18-j, RSA 415:18-o, RSA 415:18-r, RSA 415:18-t, RSA 415:18-u, RSA 415:18-v, RSA 415:18-w, RSA?415:18-x, RSA 415:22, RSA 417, RSA 417-E, RSA 420-J, and all applicable provisions of title XXXVII wherein such corporations are specifically included. Every health service corporation and its agents shall be subject to the fees prescribed for health service corporations under RSA 400-A:29, VII.

4 Health Maintenance Organizations; Choice of Eye Care Professional. Amend RSA 420-B:20, III to read as follows:

III. The requirements of RSA 400-A:39, RSA 401-B, RSA 402-C, RSA 404-F, RSA 415:6-g, RSA 415:6-m, RSA 415:6-o, RSA 415:6-r, RSA 415:6-s, RSA 415:18, VII(g), RSA 415:18, VII-a, RSA?415:18, XVI and XVII, RSA 415:18-j, RSA 415:18-r, RSA 415:18-t, RSA 415:18-u, RSA 415:18-v, RSA 415:18-w, RSA 415:18-x, RSA 415-A, RSA 415-F, RSA 420-G, and RSA 420-J shall apply to health maintenance organizations.

5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.