,,ii #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #agaf ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #ab1 #bjbe ,mr4 ,cramer 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,murphy1 and ,mr4 ,mullin7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to amend title ,,xxvii of the ,public ,health ,service ,act to improve health care coverage under vision plans1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,vision ,lab ,choice ,act of #bjbe4 #b4 ,improving health care coverage under vision plans 7a7 ,in general ,title ,,xxvii of the ,public ,health ,service ,act is amended by inserting after section #bgai;,a 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;gg-#ai;a7 the following new section3 #bgai;,b4 ,improving coverage under vision plans 7a7 ,in general ,with respect to a group health plan or individual or group health insurance coverage that provides benefits for items and services relating to vision care 7including such a plan or coverage that offers limited scope vision benefits71 the following shall apply3 7#a7 ,duration of limited scope vision plans ,in the case of a doctor of optometry who has an agreement or is the beneficiary of an agreement with respect to a group health plan or health insurance coverage that offers limited scope vision benefits-- 7,a7 the term of the initial agreement shall be not longer than #b years2 7,b7 the agreement may be extended with the prior acceptance by such doctor for each such term extension1 and any such extension may be for a term not longer than #b years2 and 7,c7 the agreement may be extended for unlimited terms1 subject to subparagraph 7,b74 7#b7 ,no restrictions on choice of laboratories and sources and suppliers ,a group health plan or health insurance issuer offering such coverage may not1 directly or indirectly1 restrict or limit a doctor of optometry described in paragraph 7#a7 with respect to choice of laboratories1 or choice of source or supplier of services or materials provided by the doctor to an individual who is enrolled under the plan or coverage4 7b7 ,notification ,the ,secretary shall on an annual basis notify each ,state of the ,state's authority to enforce the provisions of subsection 7a7 against a group health plan or a health insurance issuer offering health insurance coverage described in subsection 7a7 pursuant to section #bgbc7;a77#a7 and request confirmation from the ,state whether or not the ,state will enforce the provisions of subsection 7a74 ,if a ,state notifies the ,secretary that the ,state will not enforce the provisions of subsection 7a7 or fails to respond within #ij days of the ,secretary's request1 the ,secretary shall treat such ,state as failing to substantially enforce such provisions for purposes of subsections 7a77#b7 and 7b7 of section #bgbc4 7c7 ,definition ,in this section1 the term doctor of optometry means a doctor of optometry who is legally authorized to practice optometry by the ,state in which the doctor so practices4 4 7b7 ,conforming amendment ,section #bgbb7;c77#a7 of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;gg-#ba7;c77#a77 is amended by inserting 7other than the requirements under section #bgai;,b7 after section #bgia7;c77#b74 7c7 ,exclusive applicability of ,state law ,notwithstanding any amendment made by this ,act1 ,state law that directly affects any standard or requirement relating to health insurance issuers and vision benefit plans1 shall have exclusive application and the amendments made by this ,act shall not apply to the extent that such ,state law conflicts with such amendments4 ,the ,state shall retain exclusive jurisdiction over health insurance issuers and limited scope vision benefit plans that are directly governed by such ,state4