Pending Bills - 2015 Session
of the General Assembly

 

ISEPS is following these bills in the current session of the Illinois General Assembly . . .

  • HB 3137 (Brady)
    • Requires health insurers that provide prescription drug coverage to permit "early" refills of eye drops used to treat chronic eye diseases
    • ISEPS SUPPORTS
    • Approved by the House Insurance Committee on 3/17/2015
  • HB 499 (Brady)
    • Requires health insurers that provide prescription drug coverage to permit "early" refills of eye drops used to treat chronic eye diseases
    • This bill has intent similar to HB 3137.  ISEPS recommends passage of HB 3137
  • HB 4140 (Fine)
    • Mandates insurance coverage for vision therapy services provided by optometrists.
    • ISEPS OPPOSES due to lack of valid studies proving vision therapy is effective
    • Read the Joint Policy Statement of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, and the American Association of Certified Orthoptists
    • No action taken in committee
  • SB 802 (Haine)
    • Requires health care plans to pay optometrists at the same rate as other providers.  Mandates that health insurance plans tell an insured person that they have the right to choose an optometrist as his or her medical eye care provider.
    • ISEPS is NEUTRAL if amended
      • Insurance plans should not be required to promote one type of practitioner to the exclusion of others
      • Optometrists are not "medical" eye care providers.  The term "medical" should be removed.
    • Referred to subcommittee
  • SB 1292 (McGuire)
    • Adds optometrists to  to the definition of a "medical examiner" or "medical practitioner" to include a licensed optometrist for the purpose of certifying vision fitness to operate a motor vehicle.
    • ISEPS is NEUTRAL if amended
      • Optometrists certainly may certify vision fitness to operate a motor vehicle.  However, they are not licensed under the Medical Practice Act and, therefore, cannot be a "medical" examiner or a "medical" practitioner.  The references to "medical" need to be changed.
    • No action taken in committee
  • SB 1259 (Clayborne) and HB 2450 (Burke)
    • Prohibits a manufacturer or distributor of prescription contact lenses to prevent a retailer from selling or advertising contact lenses below any specified price; and removes certain restrictions on who can sell contact lenses.
    • ISEPS is OPPOSED
    • No action taken on either bill in committee
  • SB 1504 (Bertino-Tarrant)
    • Makes certain technical changes to the Optometric Practice Act; permits use of testimonials in advertising.
    • ISEPS - no position
    • Approved by Senate Licensed Activities & Pensions Committee (3/19/2015)
Last Updated on Sunday, April 05, 2015 01:48 PM