Senate committee advances HB1353 to curb vision‑plan steering, set Medicare floor for reimbursements

The Senate Insurance & Commerce Committee advanced House Bill 1353, which would restrict certain practices by vision benefit managers, require a Medicare‑rate floor for some reimbursements and limit some directory and marketing disclosures, after more than an hour of testimony from optometrists, industry trade representatives and the Arkansas Insurance Department.

Supporters said the bill aims to protect patient choice and local eye‑care providers from vertical integration in the vision market. "This bill will present measures to ensure the patient's choice and for access to eye care while leveling the playing field between the large vertically integrated vision benefit managers and our small business owners," Senator Wallace said in opening remarks.

The bill’s backers told the committee they are responding to what they described as a consolidation of the vision market. "There’s been massive vertical integration in the vision care market with two VBMs controlling more than 80% of all vision plans sold," Joe Sugg, an optometrist and representative of the Arkansas Optometric Association, said. Sugg told senators the combined ownership of labs, retail outlets, manufacturers and claim services allows some plans…