Bill Caption

Relating to the provision of eye health care by certain professionals and institutions as providers in the Medicaid managed care program.

Fiscal Notes

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. 

Bill Analysis

This bill clarifies that a patient under the Medicaid program should have access to an ophthalmologist or therapeutic optometrist without a referral from a primary care physician. The bill also would prohibit the Health and Human Services Commission from preventing an eye health care provider or institution of higher education from enrolling as a Medicaid provider if they are eligible to be one. The bill lastly would require a Medicaid managed care program to include in their provider network each optometrist, therapeutic optometrist, ophthalmologist, or institute of higher education that complies with the managed care provider network requirements. 

Vote Recommendation Notes

This bill would further personal responsibility and individual liberty by allowing a Medicaid patient to see an eye doctor without a referral from their primary care physician, removing a hurdle to access to care, as well as mandating that a managed care organization accept all eligible eye doctors into their provider network. This would help to remedy the access problem many people have, especially under Medicaid, which many doctors do not accept. Additionally, gaining access to specialists allows patients to catch problems before they become problems that a patient would need to go to the hospital for, saving the state money and keeping the patient healthier. This furthers our limited government principles, therefore we support this bill.