H.B. 1794 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 1794
By: Wohlgemuth
Public Health
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 
Currently, many managed care plans have two panels of doctors, one panel
who provides routine eye exams, and another who handles medical problems.
Some of the medical issues on the medical panel include medical eye
problems, such as red eye or dry eyes, which are in the scope of practice
of therapeutic optometrists on the vision panel. Often patients, with such
medical eye problems, go first to their therapeutic optometrist for
treatment, and are then directed to a doctor on the medical panel for
treatment. This means the patient must go for a second visit to a new
doctor to begin treatment. Insurance companies, patients, and employers
can save money if therapeutic optometrists who are on managed care plans,
are also on the medical plans. The patient does not have to make another
doctor visit, pay additional co-payments, and take more time off work.
Insurance companies save by paying for one visit, keeping people out of
emergency rooms and paying less for optometrist than for ophthalmological
care. HB 1794 allows those therapeutic optometrist on the vision plan to
also be allowed to join the managed care medical plan, on the condition
that the optometrist abide by conditions of the plan.   
   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 

ANALYSIS
House Bill 1794 amends Article 21.52D, Insurance Code, by amending
Subsection (a), incorporating definitions of a medical panel and a vision
panel, and adding Subsections (d), allowing a therapeutic optometrist, who
is on one or more vison panels, to serve on the medical panel as well,
Subsection (e), providing mandates on the provisions a therapeutic
optometrist must abide by to serve on both panels, and Subsection (f),
which adds a section on any associated costs that an optometrist may pay
to serve on both panels.   


EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2003.