Revision: March 8, 2016, midnight
\t \t\tSB 178 - AS INTRODUCED
2015 SESSION
\t15-0903
\t01/05
SENATE BILL\t\t178
AN ACT\trelative to optometrist participation in vision insurance plans.
COMMITTEE:\tCommerce
\tThis bill prohibits insurers providing benefits for medical or hospital expenses for eye care from requiring an optometrist to participate in a separate vision plan as a condition to be a participating provider in the insurer’s network.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Explanation:\tMatter added to current law appears in bold italics.
\t\tMatter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
\t\tMatter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
\t15-0903
\t01/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fifteen
AN ACT\trelative to optometrist participation in vision insurance plans.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
\t1 New Section; Prohibition on Required Vision Plan; Individual. Amend RSA 415 by inserting after section 6-s the following new section:
\t415:6-t Prohibition on Required Vision Plan; Optometrists. No insurer that issues or renews any individual policy, plan, or contract of accident or health insurance providing benefits for medical or hospital expenses for eye care shall require an optometrist licensed in this state to participate in a separate vision plan, whether owned, operated, or administered by the insurer, a subsidiary, affiliate, third-party administrator, or other third party 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.
\t2 New Section; Prohibition on Required Vision Plan; Group. Amend RSA 415 by inserting after section 18-x the following new section:
\t415:18-y Prohibition on Required Vision Plan; Optometrists. No insurer that issues or renews any policy of group or blanket accident or health insurance providing benefits for medical or hospital expenses for eye care shall require an optometrist licensed in this state to participate in a separate vision plan, whether owned, operated, or administered by the insurer, a subsidiary, affiliate, third-party administrator, or other third party 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.
\t3 Health Service Corporations; Prohibition on Required Vision Plan; Effective Until October 1, 2017. Amend RSA 420-A:2 to read as follows:
\t420-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 415:6-t, 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 415:18-y, 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.
\t4 Health Service Corporations; Prohibition on Required Vision Plan; Effective October 1, 2017. RSA 420-A:2 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
\t420-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-t, 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-y, 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.
\t5 Health Maintenance Organizations; Prohibition on Required Vision Plan; Effective Until October 1, 2017. 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 415:6-t, 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 415:18-y, RSA 415-A, RSA 415-F, RSA 420-G, and RSA 420-J shall apply to health maintenance organizations.
\t6 Health Maintenance Organizations; Prohibition on Required Vision Plan; Effective October 1, 2017. RSA 420-B:20, III is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
\t\tIII. 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-t, 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-y, RSA 415-A, RSA 415-F, RSA 420-G, and RSA 420-J shall apply to health maintenance organizations.
\t7 Effective Date.
\t\tI. Sections 4 and 6 shall take effect October 1, 2017 at 12:01 am.
\t\tII. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.