MN SF1700

Prohibits vision care insurance contracts from requiring providers to offer services at insurance-set fees unless those services are covered, and prohibits requiring participation in one vision plan as a condition for participating in other plans, effective January 1, 2016.

Prohibits vision care providers from charging more for non-covered services than their usual and customary rate, and prevents insurance policies from limiting patient choice of materials suppliers.

Restricts prescription generation to licensed optometrists and physicians only, banning prescriptions based solely on telemedicine services, automated refractive data, or kiosk-generated information.

Establishes requirements for kiosk operation including FDA approval, ADA compliance, professional liability insurance, and provider interpretation of results; requires kiosk operators to register with the commissioner.

Subjects optometrists and physicians to disciplinary action by their respective licensing boards for violations, and subjects kiosk operators to commissioner-imposed regulatory sanctions for non-compliance.