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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
Regular Session, 2012 ENROLLED
SENATE BILL NO. 669
BY SENATOR WARD AND REPRESENTATIVES ADAMS, ANDERS, ARNOL D,
BADON, BARROW, BERTHELOT, BILLIOT, BROADWATER,
BROWN, TIM BURNS, BURRELL, CHAMPAGNE, CHANEY, COX,
DOVE, GAINES, GISCLAIR, GREENE, GUINN, HARRIS, HAZEL,
HENSGENS, HILL, HOFFMANN, HOLLIS, HONORE, HOWARD,
HUNTER, GIROD JACKSON, KATRINA JACKSON, NANCY
LANDRY, TERRY LANDRY, LEBAS, LEOPOLD, MILLER,
MONTOUCET, MORENO, JAY MORRIS, NORTON, ORTEGO,
PIERRE, POPE, PRICE, REYNOLDS, RICHARD, SCHEXNAYDER,
SEABAUGH, SHADOI N, THIERRY, WHITNEY, PATRICK
WILLIAMS AND WILLMOTT
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 22:997, relative to visual services and choice of practitioners; to2
provide with respect to vision care services performed by a licensed optometrist; and3
to provide for related matters.4
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:5
Section 1. R.S. 22:997 is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:6
ยง997. Visual services, choice of practitioners7
A. Whenever any medical eye care or vision care benefits are provided by8
or available through a health maintenance organization, preferred provider9
organization, managed care organization, accountable care organization, plan10
or contract of insurance or any medical or hospital service contract or hospital and11
medical service contract issued or delivered in this state provides for reimbursement12
of any visual services which that are within the lawful scope of practice of a duly13
licensed optometrist as defined in R.S. 37:1041(C)(5), there shall be no14
discrimination in the amount of either:15
(1) Medical eye care or vision care benefits available to an insured,16
participant, or other person entitled to such benefits, whether provided by an17
optometrist or physician, in instances where the services performed are within18
ACT No. 843 SB NO. 669 ENROLLED
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
the lawful scope of practice of both professions.1
(2) Reimbursements or payments to the provider of such medical eye2
care or vision care services, whether performed by an optometrist or physician,3
in instances where the services performed are within the lawful scope of4
practice of both professions. the insured or other person entitled to benefits under5
such contract shall be entitled to reimbursements for such services, whether such6
services are performed by a duly licensed physician or a duly licensed optometrist,7
not withstanding any provision of the law to the contrary or any provision in any8
such contract; duly licensed optometrist shall be entitled to participate in such9
contracts providing for visual services to the same extent as duly licensed physicians.10
There shall be no discrimination in the amount of reimbursement allowed for such11
visual services, whether performed by an optometrist or physician, in instances12
where the services performed are within the lawful scope of practice of both13
professions.14
B. A duly licensed optometrist shall be entitled to participate in15
contracts or plans providing for medical eye care or vision care services as a16
healthcare provider or otherwise, to the same extent as a duly licensed17
physician, and there shall be no discrimination against any provider, whether18
an optometrist or physician, who is located within the geographic area of the19
health maintenance organization, preferred provider organization, managed20
care organization, accountable care organization, or plan or contract of21
insurance. A health maintenance organization, preferred provider22
organization, managed care organization, accountable care organization, plan23
or contract of insurance, or any medical or hospital service contract shall not24
impose a co-payment, co-insurance amount, or any other fee on a covered25
participant or insured that is greater than the amount charged for the same26
service when provided by an allopathic physician or an osteopathic physician.27
C. It shall be unlawful for a health maintenance organization, preferred28
provider organization, managed care organization, accountable care29
organization, or plan or contract of insurance to require a duly licensed30 SB NO. 669 ENROLLED
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
optometrist to participate as a provider in another medical or vision care plan1
or contract as a condition of or requirement for participation by such duly2
licensed optometrist as a provider in any medical or vision care plan or3
contract.4
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED: