Vision plans

Federal legislation

The Dental and Optometric Care Access Act (DOC Access Act)—H.R. 3462 in the House of Representatives and S. 1793 in the Senate—would eliminate plan mandates being forced on patients and their doctors, and complement state-level vision plan laws by disallowing detrimental policies by ERISA and other federally regulated plans. Reps. Yvette Clarke, R-N.Y.; Buddy Carter, R-Ga.; Darren Soto, D-Fla.; and David McKinley, R-W.Va., are the bill’s lead sponsors in the House and Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va and Kevin Cramer, R-N.D. are leading the charge in the Senate. If enacted, the legislation would:

• Ensure the doctor has a choice of labs.
• Prevent plans from setting prices for non-covered services and materials.
• Limit plan contracts to two years, unless the doctor chooses to extend the contract for another term.
• Provide a private right of action provision for individual doctors to take offending plans to court.

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State-level legislation

For information on current and pending state-level legislation, please visit the AOA State Government Relations Center.