FL S0340

Health insurers, prepaid limited health service organizations, and health maintenance organizations may not require ophthalmologists or optometrists to join a network solely for credentialing purposes for another insurer's vision network.

These entities may not restrict ophthalmologists, optometrists, or opticians to specific suppliers of materials or optical laboratories, though they retain authority to set different coverage and reimbursement amounts for network versus out-of-network providers.

Online vision care network provider directories must be updated monthly by health insurers, prepaid limited health service organizations, and health maintenance organizations.

Knowing violations of the network credentialing prohibition or supplier restriction prohibition constitute unfair insurance trade practices under Florida Statutes section 626.9541(1)(d).

The act takes effect July 1, 2016.