TX HB3211

Vision care plan issuers must provide an online application method for licensed optometrists and therapeutic optometrists to apply for participating provider status, with applications limited to standardized credentialing information

Issuers must provide contract materials within 10 business days of receiving a complete application, complete credentialing determinations within 30 business days, and add approved providers to the plan within 20 business days of contract acceptance

Vision care plans cannot exclude optometrists or therapeutic optometrists based on the total number of providers already in a geographic area or based on patient access metrics like time, distance, or appointment availability

Plans must allow optometrists to participate as providers to the full extent of their license across all the issuer's vision care plans and vision panels serving Texas enrollees

Contracts must include electronic fee schedules identifying each covered product/service using standardized Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System codes, and plans are prohibited from using extrapolation in provider audits

Takes effect immediately with two-thirds legislative vote, otherwise September 1, 2025; applies to contracts entered into or renewed after the effective date