FL S0856

Prohibits health insurers, prepaid limited health service organizations, and health maintenance organizations from requiring ophthalmologists, optometrists, or opticians to join a network solely for credentialing purposes for another organization's vision network.

Prevents these entities from restricting or limiting vision care providers to specific suppliers of materials or optical laboratories, though they may set different coverage or reimbursement amounts for network versus out-of-network providers.

Requires online vision care network provider directories for health insurers, prepaid limited health service organizations, and health maintenance organizations to be updated monthly to reflect current participating providers.

Establishes that knowing violations of the network joining or supplier restriction prohibitions constitute unfair insurance trade practices under Florida Statutes section 626.9541(1)(d).

Effective date is July 1, 2015.