Bills · S 1716
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
Senate BillS 1716Health
Vision Lab Choice Act of 2025
INTRO MAY 12· LAST ACTION MAY 12
READING
3MIN
COSPONSORS
23BIPARTISAN
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because it tackles a common frustration among healthcare providers: the feeling that insurance companies dictate too many aspects of their practice. Many optometrists feel constrained by long-term contracts and limited supplier choices imposed by vision plans, which can impact their ability to provide the best care or offer a diverse range of products to their patients. By limiting contract terms and removing supplier restrictions, the bill aims to restore more professional independence to optometrists.
If this bill becomes law, optometrists could have greater freedom to select labs and suppliers based on quality, cost, or innovation, potentially leading to more competitive options for patients and more responsive business practices for the doctors. If it doesn't pass, the current system of potentially restrictive contracts and supplier limitations by vision plans would continue, leaving optometrists with less control over their practice decisions and potentially limiting patient choices based on plan agreements rather than medical or personal preference.
KEY PROVISIONS
4AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Limits initial and extended contracts between optometrists and vision plans to a maximum duration of two years.
Gives optometrists more frequent opportunities to review and renegotiate their terms with vision plans, potentially improving their negotiating position.
PROVISION 02
Prohibits vision plans from restricting an optometrist's choice of laboratories or suppliers for vision care services and materials.
Allows optometrists to select the best or most cost-effective suppliers for their patients without insurance company interference, potentially leading to better patient options.
PROVISION 03
Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to annually notify states about their authority to enforce these provisions and to intervene if a state fails to do so.
Ensures that these new protections for optometrists and potential choices for patients are actively overseen and enforced across the country.
PROVISION 04
Specifies that existing state laws directly affecting vision benefit plans will take precedence over these federal amendments if there is a conflict.
Preserves state authority and prevents federal overreach where states already have similar or stronger protections in place, maintaining state control.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 23
R· North Dakota
YRS IN OFFICE
13
BILLS LED
31
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 96%
DEM 12 REP 11 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSMAY 12
Introduced in Senate
MAY 12
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
BILL INFO
TypeSenate Bill
NumberS 1716
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedMay 12, 2025
Last actionMay 12, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR, AND PENSIONS COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED MAY 12, 2025
Senate BillS 1716Health
Vision Lab Choice Act of 2025
INTRODUCED MAY 12, 2025· LAST ACTION MAY 12, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
3 min
COSPONSORS
23
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
