By: Taylor of Galveston, Hall  S.B. No. 684
         (In the Senate - Filed February 23, 2015; February 24, 2015,
  read first time and referred to Committee on Business and Commerce;
  April 21, 2015, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 7,
  Nays 0; April 21, 2015, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the designation of certain optometrists, therapeutic
  optometrists, and ophthalmologists as preferred providers.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 1301.051(e), Insurance Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (e)  An insurer may not withhold a designation to:
               (1)  a podiatrist described by Section 1301.0521; or
               (2)  an optometrist, therapeutic optometrist, or
  ophthalmologist described by Section 1301.0522.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 1301, Insurance Code, is
  amended by adding Section 1301.0522 to read as follows:
         Sec. 1301.0522.  DESIGNATION OF CERTAIN OPTOMETRISTS,
  THERAPEUTIC OPTOMETRISTS, AND OPHTHALMOLOGISTS AS PREFERRED
  PROVIDERS. (a)  Notwithstanding Section 1301.051, an insurer may
  not withhold the designation of preferred provider to an
  optometrist or therapeutic optometrist licensed by the Texas
  Optometry Board or an ophthalmologist licensed by the Texas Medical
  Board who:
               (1)  joins the professional practice of a contracted
  preferred provider;
               (2)  applies to the insurer for designation as a
  preferred provider; and
               (3)  complies with the terms and conditions of
  eligibility to be a preferred provider.
         (b)  An optometrist, therapeutic optometrist, or
  ophthalmologist designated as a preferred provider under this
  section must comply with the terms of the preferred provider
  contract used by the insurer or the insurer's network provider.
         SECTION 3.  Section 1301.0522, Insurance Code, as added by
  this Act, applies only to a contract between a preferred provider
  and an insurer that is entered into or renewed on or after September
  1, 2015.  A contract between a preferred provider and an insurer
  that is entered into or renewed before September 1, 2015, is
  governed by the law as it existed immediately before the effective
  date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that
  purpose.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
 
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