S1716119th CongressWALLET

Vision Lab Choice Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Kevin Cramer

Introduced

Summary

Protect optometrists' contract rights and supplier choice. The bill would limit how long limited-scope vision plan contracts can bind a doctor of optometry and prevent plans from restricting choice of laboratories or suppliers.

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  • Doctors of optometry: It would cap initial and renewal agreements at 2 years and require the doctor's prior acceptance for each extension, allowing unlimited renewals only with that acceptance.
  • Patients and households: Plans could not, directly or indirectly, restrict an optometrist's choice of laboratories or sources of materials and services for an enrolled individual, which may preserve access to preferred lenses and repair or supply options.
  • States and insurers: The Secretary would annually ask each State if it will enforce these rules and treat a State as not substantially enforcing them if it fails to respond within 90 days or declines. The bill also says State law controls where it conflicts and leaves State jurisdiction over issuers and limited-scope vision plans.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Protections for optometrists and patients

If enacted, this bill would limit initial contracts between limited-scope vision plans and optometrists to no more than 2 years. Any extension would need the optometrist's prior acceptance and could be for up to 2 years, and extensions could repeat indefinitely if the doctor agrees. Plans could not stop an optometrist from choosing the labs or suppliers they use to serve enrolled patients. This would apply to group health plans or health insurance that offer limited-scope vision benefits.

State control over vision plan rules

If enacted, the bill would require the federal health official to notify each State yearly about enforcing the optometrist protections and ask if the State will enforce them. States would have 90 days to reply. If a State says it will not enforce or does not answer, the Secretary could treat the State as not enforcing the rule for certain legal steps. The bill also says State law that directly governs vision plans would keep exclusive authority when it conflicts with the federal changes.

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Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Kevin Cramer

ND • R

Cosponsors

  • Christopher Murphy

    CT • D

    Sponsored 5/12/2025

  • Markwayne Mullin

    OK • R

    Sponsored 5/12/2025

  • Peter Welch

    VT • D

    Sponsored 8/1/2025

  • Richard Blumenthal

    CT • D

    Sponsored 9/3/2025

  • Thomas Tillis

    NC • R

    Sponsored 9/3/2025

  • John Boozman

    AR • R

    Sponsored 9/30/2025

  • Cynthia Lummis

    WY • R

    Sponsored 9/30/2025

  • Ted Budd

    NC • R

    Sponsored 10/21/2025

  • Chuck Grassley

    IA • R

    Sponsored 10/23/2025

  • Shelley Capito

    WV • R

    Sponsored 10/29/2025

  • Tammy Duckworth

    IL • D

    Sponsored 12/17/2025

  • Kirsten Gillibrand

    NY • D

    Sponsored 1/28/2026

  • Maggie Hassan

    NH • D

    Sponsored 2/25/2026

  • Roger Marshall

    KS • R

    Sponsored 3/18/2026

  • Marsha Blackburn

    TN • R

    Sponsored 3/18/2026

  • John Hoeven

    ND • R

    Sponsored 3/18/2026

  • Christopher Coons

    DE • D

    Sponsored 3/24/2026

  • Timothy Kaine

    VA • D

    Sponsored 3/24/2026

  • Elizabeth Warren

    MA • D

    Sponsored 3/24/2026

  • Jeff Merkley

    OR • D

    Sponsored 4/15/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov

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