SB453 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Rodger SmithermanSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Eye care providers including optometrists and ophthalmologists, health insurance policies or plans, prohibited from requiring provider to purchase certain supplies, Access to Eye Care Act, Sec. 27-56-4 am'd.

Summary

SB453 would bar insurance plans from requiring eye care providers to purchase minimum quantities or dollar amounts of ophthalmic materials to participate in the plan.

What This Bill Does

It amends the Access to Eye Care Act to prohibit an insurance policy, plan, or contract from forcing an eye care provider to buy a minimum quantity or dollar amount of ophthalmic materials as a condition of participation or payment. It retains existing protections against practice restrictions, discrimination between provider classes, hospital-privileges requirements, restrictions based on professional degree, and reimbursement discrimination. It also notes that the prohibition does not apply to policies already in effect on the act’s effective date, and it sets an effective date for the act after governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Eye care providers (optometrists and ophthalmologists) who participate in or receive payment from eye care plans, who would no longer be required to purchase minimum ophthalmic materials to participate.
• Health insurance policies, plans, or contracts that provide third-party payment for eye care services, which would need to avoid imposing minimum purchase requirements on providers.

Key Provisions

• Adds a prohibition: insurers cannot require eye care providers to purchase or maintain a minimum quantity or minimum dollar amount of ophthalmic materials as a condition of participation or payment.
• Prohibits practice restrictions on optometrists that are inconsistent with or more restrictive than existing law.
• Prohibits discrimination between classes of eye care providers for covered services within the scope of the license.
• Prohibits requiring eye care providers to hold hospital privileges as a condition of participation or payment.
• Prohibits restrictions not required by law based on the provider’s professional degree.
• Prohibits discrimination between eye care providers regarding the amount of reimbursement for the same services.
• Specifies that the act does not apply to policies in effect on the act’s effective date.
• States the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month following its passage and governor’s approval (or when it otherwise becomes law).

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Health