Chapter
303
2005 -- H 5508
Enacted 07/15/05
A N A C T
RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- OPTOMETRISTS
Introduced By: Representatives Lewiss, Schadone, Anguilla, Carter, and San Bento
Date
Introduced: February 15, 2005
It is enacted
by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION
1. Section 5-35-21.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-35 entitled
"Optometrists"
is hereby amended to read as follows:
5-35-21.1.
Freedom of choice for eye care. -- (a) Any contract providing for
health care
benefits,
which calls for the expenditure of private or public funds, for any purpose
involving eye
care,
which is within the scope of the practice of optometry, shall provide the
recipients and/or
beneficiaries
the freedom to choose within the participating provider panel either an
optometrist
or
physician to provide the eye care. This provision shall be applicable whether
or not the
contract
is executed and/or delivered in or outside of the state, or for use within or
outside of the
state by
or for any individuals who reside or are employed in the state.
(b) Where the contracts call for the expenditure of public or private
funds, for any
purpose
involving eye expenditure of public or private funds, for any purpose involving
eye care,
there
shall be no discrimination as to the rate of reimbursement for the health care,
whether
provided
by a doctor of optometry or physician providing similar services.
(c) Where the contracts call for the expenditure of public or private
funds involving
Medicaid
and RIte Care, Medicare, or supplemental coverage for any purpose relating to
eyewear,
and as it pertains to opticianry, the distribution, dispensing, filling,
duplication and
fabrication
of eyeglasses or optical prosthesis by opticians as defined in section 5-35-1,
those
health
plans or contracts are required to notify by publication in a public newspaper
published
within
and circulated and distributed throughout the state of Rhode Island, to all
providers,
including,
but not limited to, opticians, within the health plan's or contract's
geographic service
area, of
the opportunity to apply for credentials, and there is no discrimination as to
the rate of
reimbursement
for health care provided by an optician for similar services as rendered by
other
professions
pursuant to this section. Nothing contained in this chapter shall require
health plans to
contract
with any particular class of providers.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC02030
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