Arkansas' passage of HB 1353 received well by optometrists in the state

A significant change is coming through new legislation that grants the Department of Insurance expanded authority to regulate vision benefit managers (VBMs). HB 1353 brings VBMs under the health benefit plan definition, providing regulators with more oversight capabilities that weren't previously available. Arkansas Optometric Association legislative cochairs Matt Jones, OD, and Joe Sugg, OD, and executive director Matt Burns detailed what optometrists can expect to change when the new regulations are enacted later this year.

Implementation and compliance

The association will be implementing educational resources to help doctors with this transition, ensuring companies follow the law in coordination with the Department of Insurance. Doctors will need to be proactive in filing complaints with the Arkansas Insurance Department when violations occur.

Key protections and requirements

The bill addresses several crucial areas:

• Prevents discriminatory reimbursement based on buying groups or business models
• Eliminates mandatory product routing to specific labs
• Prevents patient steering to distant offices
• Requires proper coordination of benefits
• Prevents reimbursement through credit cards
• Protects against retroactive payment reversals when eligibility was confirmed

Industry response and support

The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive concerning HB 1353 from legislators, optometrists, and ophthalmologists. Sugg, Jones, and Burns cited that optometrists feel the playing field has been leveled, allowing them to prioritize the doctor-patient relationship. The bill has also received support from across the medical community.

Expected benefits

The legislation aims to level the playing field between VBMs and optometrists, make it more attractive for optometrists to accept these plans, improve patient access to care, enhance patient choice, and create better conditions for optometrists contracting with these plans to practice.

Call to action

The success of such initiatives relies on professional unity and participation. Jones said he encourages other optometrists in and outside the state to join their state and national associations, support their state leaders working behind the scenes, get involved in grassroots efforts, and contact state association executive directors for involvement opportunities