Vision Lab Choice Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Cramer, Kevin [R-ND]
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.
Show full summary
- 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.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Cramer, Kevin [R-ND]
ND • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
CT • D
Sponsored 5/12/2025
Markwayne Mullin
OK • R
Sponsored 5/12/2025
Peter Welch
VT • D
Sponsored 8/1/2025
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
CT • D
Sponsored 9/3/2025
Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]
NC • R
Sponsored 9/3/2025
John Boozman
AR • R
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY]
WY • R
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC]
NC • R
Sponsored 10/21/2025
Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
IA • R
Sponsored 10/23/2025
Shelley Capito
WV • R
Sponsored 10/29/2025
Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
IL • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
NY • D
Sponsored 1/28/2026
Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
NH • D
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS]
KS • R
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
TN • R
Sponsored 3/18/2026
John Hoeven
ND • R
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
DE • D
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
VA • D
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
MA • D
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
NH • D
Sponsored 4/27/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov