All Roll Calls
Yes: 124 • No: 1
ArkansasHB13532025 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
TO REGULATE A VISION BENEFIT MANAGER; TO AMEND THE VISION CARE PLAN ACT OF 2015; TO AMEND THE HEALTHCARE CONTRACTING SIMPLIFICATION ACT.
Sponsored By: Dave Wallace (Republican), Jon S. Eubanks (Republican)
Enacted
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Lower cash prices for vision patients
Vision provider contracts cannot block cash payments that cost less than an enrollee's total out-of-pocket cost for the service or material. Providers cannot be audited solely because they offer a cash price. These protections include licensed opticians, but providers do not have to offer cash prices. The rules apply at the earliest of plan renewal, new plan issuance, a new or changed vision provider contract, or January 1, 2026.
More freedom to choose vision providers
Vision insurers, managers, and plans cannot steer patients toward one participating provider over another for covered or uncovered care. This includes favoring affiliated retail, online, or virtual providers; plans also cannot limit provider choice for uncovered care. Participating provider listings must be neutral, without distinctions based on uncovered-item discounts or incentives, purchase amounts, or covered-product brands and sources. These protections do not require coverage of uncovered care. The rules apply at the earliest of plan renewal, new plan issuance, a new or changed vision provider contract, or January 1, 2026.
Stronger protections for vision plan benefits
Contracts providing indemnity, health, dental, or vision benefits cannot cut payable benefits solely because an enrollee has other coverage. Reductions remain allowed when they follow coordination-of-benefits rules adopted by the Arkansas Insurance Commissioner. Vision insurers, managers, and plans cannot advertise care as covered with an added copay or coinsurance when they do not pay the participating provider. These rules apply at the earliest of plan renewal, new plan issuance, a new or changed vision provider contract, or January 1, 2026.
Fairer contracts for vision care providers
Vision provider contract limits also apply to vision benefit managers. Agreements cannot set fees or require discounts for uncovered care, including by using minimal payments to evade that ban. They cannot tie insurer network access to joining or being approved by a particular vision plan, or restrict lab and supplier choices. Changes to contract terms, discounts, or payment rates during the contract require the provider's written approval. These rules apply at the earliest of plan renewal, new plan issuance, a new or changed vision provider contract, or January 1, 2026.
Minimum payments for vision care providers
Vision insurers, managers, and plans must pay providers at least the current calendar-year Medicare rate for covered services and materials. Payments cannot be merely token amounts or differ because of a provider's listed business choices. Those choices include labs, suppliers, sources, equipment, retail ties, support or purchasing groups, alliances, trade associations, software, and billing services. Contracts cannot force providers to accept virtual credit cards or other payment methods that charge fees to receive payment. These rules apply at the earliest of plan renewal, new plan issuance, a new or changed vision provider contract, or January 1, 2026.
Stronger payment protections for vision providers
Payers cannot withhold or take back contracted payments for covered care when providers verify eligibility on the service date. Providers must use the payer's customary verification methods. Audits of participating vision providers cannot project errors from a sample onto other claims. Extra payments or refunds must reflect actual errors found through investigation, after providers receive and exhaust all available appeals. These rules apply at the earliest of plan renewal, new plan issuance, a new or changed vision provider contract, or January 1, 2026.
Vision and dental plans gain oversight
Arkansas brings vision and dental benefits, including standalone plans, under its Healthcare Contracting Simplification Act. It also includes nonfederal government plans, using the federal definition as of January 1, 2025. Vision benefit managers include insurers, third-party administrators, and subcontractors; materials include contact lenses, low-vision devices, and vision therapy devices. These definitions do not require plans to cover every listed item, and other listed limited-coverage exclusions remain. The changes apply at the earliest of plan renewal, new plan issuance, a new or changed vision provider contract, or January 1, 2026.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Dave Wallace
Republican • Senate
Jon S. Eubanks
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Brandon Achor
Republican • House
Ronald Caldwell
Republican • Senate
Carol Dalby
Republican • House
James Eaton
Republican • House
Les D. Eaves
Republican • House
Brian S. Evans
Republican • House
Fred Allen
Democratic • House
Zack Gramlich
Republican • House
Dolly Henley
Republican • House
Mike Holcomb
Republican • House
Steve Hollowell
Republican • House
Missy Irvin
Republican • Senate
Justin Boyd
Republican • Senate
Jane English
Republican • Senate
Jay Richardson
Democratic • House
Jamie Scott
Democratic • Senate
Kenneth B. Ferguson
Democratic • House
Jack Ladyman
Republican • House
Mark Johnson
Republican • Senate
John Maddox
Republican • House
Stephen Magie
Democratic • House
Richard McGrew
Republican • House
Jon Milligan
Republican • House
Jason Nazarenko
Republican • House
Mark Perry
Democratic • House
Terry Rice
Republican • Senate
Marcus E. Richmond
Republican • House
Trey Steimel
Republican • House
DeAnn Vaught
Republican • House
Les Warren
Republican • House
Carlton Wing
Republican • House
Jim Wooten
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 2/19/2025
Senate Vote - Wednesday, February 19, 2025 2:16:02 PM
Yes: 28 • No: 1
House vote • 2/10/2025
House Vote - Monday, February 10, 2025 2:00:21 PM
Yes: 96 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Notification that HB1353 is now Act 142
2/25/2025HouseCorrectly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's Office.
2/20/2025HouseTO BE ENROLLED
2/19/2025HouseReturned from the Senate as passed.
2/19/2025HouseReturned to the House as passed.
2/19/2025SenateRead the third time and passed.
2/19/2025SenateReturned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass
2/18/2025SenateRead first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to INSURANCE & COMMERCE - SENATE
2/10/2025SenateReceived from the House.
2/10/2025SenateRead the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
2/10/2025HouseReturned by the Committee Do Pass
2/5/2025HouseRead the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on INSURANCE & COMMERCE- HOUSE
2/3/2025HouseFiled
1/31/2025House
Bill Text
HB1353 - Introduced
1/31/2025
Act Version
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