SB270 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mark Slade Blackwell

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Vision care, services provided by optometrists and ophthalmologists, contracts with insurers, restrictions on

Summary

SB270 limits how insurers can control vision care providers and requires fair fees and reimbursements for vision care services and materials in Alabama.

What This Bill Does

It prohibits insurers and vision care plans from limiting a provider's fees for services or materials, forcing participation in a specific plan, or restricting supplier sources. It also bans charging insurers more than the provider's usual rate for non-covered items and requires reimbursements for covered services and materials to be reasonable (not nominal). The act allows voluntary discount cards under certain conditions and gives the Department of Insurance rulemaking authority to implement the law; contracts are limited to two years, and providers must be notified about changes to provider manuals.

Who It Affects

• Vision care providers (licensed optometrists and ophthalmologists) who may not be forced to accept insurer-defined fees, specific plan participation, or restricted supplier choices, and must receive reasonable reimbursements.
• Insurers and vision care plans, which are restricted from enforcing fee controls, plan participation requirements, or supplier restrictions, and must provide reasonable reimbursements for covered items and services.
• Enrollees/patients, who should benefit from fair reimbursements and the option to use voluntary discount cards without affecting coverage terms.
• Some health care service plans that may be exempt from these requirements and thus not bound by the same provisions.

Key Provisions

• Insurers/vision care plans may not limit provider fees, require participation in a specific plan, or restrict suppliers for vision care services or materials.
• Reimbursements for covered services and materials must be reasonable and cannot be nominal; non-covered charges to enrollees cannot exceed the provider's usual and customary rates.
• Discount cards are allowed only if enrollment is voluntary and not tied to other plans or coverage, and the discount program does not provide coverage or payment.
• The Alabama Commissioner of Insurance may issue rules to implement these provisions; vision care contracts may not exceed two years, and changes to provider manuals must be communicated to individual providers.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Optometrists