HB323 Summary

• Amends Section 27-56-4 of the Code of Alabama (Access to Eye Care Act) to regulate health insurance policies, plans, or contracts that provide payments for eye care services.

• Prohibits insurance plans from imposing practice restrictions on optometrists that are more restrictive than provided by state law.

• Prohibits insurance plans from discriminating between classes of eye care providers regarding covered services within their scope of practice or from requiring providers to hold hospital privileges.

• Prohibits insurance plans from requiring eye care providers to purchase or maintain minimum quantities or dollar amounts of specified brand ophthalmic materials as a condition of participation or payment.

• The act became effective on the first day of the third month following passage and does not apply to insurance policies in effect on the effective date.