S 1716
Vision Lab Choice Act of 2025
Take action
Record your position on this measure.
Sign in to record your position, submit testimony, or contact your legislator.
Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To President
- Became Law
Bill overview
The Vision Lab Choice Act of 2025 aims to improve health care coverage for vision care by addressing limitations in existing vision plans. Specifically, it seeks to limit the duration of initial agreements between doctors of optometry and group health plans to a maximum of two years, with potential extensions up to two years each. The bill also prohibits group health plans or insurers from restricting a doctor of optometry’s choice of laboratories or suppliers of services and materials. It also establishes a process for states to confirm their enforcement of these provisions.
Key provisions
- Limits initial agreements between doctors of optometry and group health plans to a maximum of two years with potential extensions.
- Prohibits group health plans and insurers from restricting a doctor of optometry’s choice of laboratories or suppliers.
- Requires the Secretary to annually notify states of their authority to enforce the provisions and request confirmation of enforcement.
- Defines ‘doctor of optometry’ as a legally authorized practitioner.
- Addresses conforming amendments to existing sections of the Public Health Service Act.
- Establishes that state law will have exclusive application regarding health insurance issuers and vision benefit plans.
Who is affected
- Individuals with vision care coverage through group health plans or individual health insurance.
- Doctors of optometry.
- Group health plans.
- Health insurance issuers.
- State governments
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
No arguments in favor have been submitted.
Submit yoursArguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
No arguments opposed have been submitted.
Submit yoursRead the latest version inline or switch to a previous version.
119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
S. 1716
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
A BILL
To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to improve health care coverage under vision plans, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the Vision Lab Choice Act of 2025
.
Title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting after section 2719A (42 U.S.C. 300gg–19a) the following new section:
With respect to a group health plan or individual or group health insurance coverage that provides benefits for items and services relating to vision care (including such a plan or coverage that offers limited scope vision benefits), the following shall apply:
In the case of a doctor of optometry who has an agreement or is the beneficiary of an agreement with respect to a group health plan or health insurance coverage that offers limited scope vision benefits—
the term of the initial agreement shall be not longer than 2 years;
the agreement may be extended for unlimited terms, subject to subparagraph (B).
A group health plan or health insurance issuer offering such coverage may not, directly or indirectly, restrict or limit a doctor of optometry described in paragraph (1) with respect to choice of laboratories, or choice of source or supplier of services or materials provided by the doctor to an individual who is enrolled under the plan or coverage.
In this section, the term doctor of optometry means a doctor of optometry who is legally authorized to practice optometry by the State in which the doctor so practices.
Section 2722(c)(1) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–21(c)(1)) is amended by inserting (other than the requirements under section 2719B)
after section 2791(c)(2)
.
Notwithstanding any amendment made by this Act, State law that directly affects any standard or requirement relating to health insurance issuers and vision benefit plans, shall have exclusive application and the amendments made by this Act shall not apply to the extent that such State law conflicts with such amendments. The State shall retain exclusive jurisdiction over health insurance issuers and limited scope vision benefit plans that are directly governed by such State.