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Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., have joined to introduce a bipartisan bill that could help independent optometrists resist restrictions imposed by vision benefit managers.
The Vision Lab Choice Act of 2024 bill would prohibit a VBM from interfering with an optometrist's choice of vision care laboratories or other vision care product suppliers.
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The bill would also limit the length of the initial term of a vision care provider agreement and the length of any renewal terms negotiated to two years.
The bill would preempt state law in connection with those two matters but leave other state laws governing vision care insurance and vision benefit plans in place.
Murphy and Cramer noted in the bill announcement that two big vision benefit managers account for about two-thirds of U.S. vision benefit plan enrollment and own many of the vision care products suppliers.
Today, Murphy said, VBMs use their vertical integration to drive up costs for doctors and patients.
"This bill would solve a small piece of that problem by making sure optometrists aren't forced to use a VBM's preferred vision lab," Murphy added.
What it means: The new VBM bill may be a sign that some of the same forces shaping the prescription drug market and the pharmacy benefit manager market may be shaping other benefits markets.
Related: New 'must pass' House package includes employer plan PBM section
The providers in those other markets may try to follow independent pharmacies' example and work with Congress and state legislators to curb the benefits managers that are active in their markets.
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Allison Bell
Allison Bell, a senior reporter at ThinkAdvisor and BenefitsPRO, previously was an associate editor at National Underwriter Life & Health. She has a bachelor's degree in economics from Washington University in St. Louis and a master's degree in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. She can be reached through X at @Think_Allison.
