Vision Lab Choice Act: Optometrists Gain Freedom to Choose Suppliers and Limit Insurance Contracts to 2 Years

The Vision Lab Choice Act of 2025 is designed to shift power dynamics in the vision care industry, specifically targeting the relationship between optometrists and the vision insurance plans they contract with. Essentially, this bill creates new federal rules that give the eye doctor more control over their practice and who they buy supplies from, which could indirectly affect the quality and cost of your next pair of glasses or contacts.

Breaking Up the Contract Monotony

For anyone who has ever been stuck in a long-term contract they regret, this provision will make sense. The bill mandates that the initial contract term between a vision plan and a doctor of optometry can be no longer than two years (Sec. 2719B). While these contracts can be extended indefinitely, each extension must also be capped at two years and requires the optometrist’s agreement. This is a big deal because it forces vision plans to renegotiate more frequently. Instead of locking doctors into restrictive, multi-year deals, this two-year cap gives optometrists more leverage to adapt to market changes or walk away from a bad deal without waiting half a decade. For the average person, this increased flexibility for doctors could translate into better network coverage and more competitive pricing over time.

Who’s Picking the Lab?

Perhaps the most significant change for both doctors and patients is the new rule protecting the optometrist’s choice of supplies (Sec. 2719B). Currently, some vision plans force participating doctors to use specific labs or suppliers for lenses, frames, or testing services. This bill explicitly prohibits the plan from telling the doctor who they must use. Think of it like this: your mechanic can now choose the best quality parts for your car, rather than being forced to use the cheapest parts from the company the insurance requires. For a patient, this means the doctor can prioritize quality and service by choosing the best lab, not just the network-mandated one. This potentially improves the quality of your eyewear and services, as the doctor is no longer restricted by the plan’s vendor agreements.

The State Enforcement Question

While this is a federal bill, its implementation relies heavily on the states. The Secretary is tasked with notifying states annually that they have the authority to enforce these new rules against vision plans. If a state doesn’t confirm they will enforce the rules, or doesn’t reply within 90 days, the federal government considers that state as failing to enforce (Sec. 2719B). This creates a compliance check, but it also means the effectiveness of these protections will vary based on how quickly and seriously your state regulators take up the mantle. It’s also important to note that if your state already has laws on the books dealing with vision benefit plans, those state laws take priority if they conflict with this new federal amendment (Sec. 2722(c)(1)). This ensures that stronger state protections remain in place.

In short, the Vision Lab Choice Act aims to inject more professional autonomy and competition into the vision care supply chain. Optometrists gain freedom to choose their suppliers and negotiate contracts more frequently, potentially leading to better service quality for those of us enrolled in vision plans. The main challenge will be ensuring states follow through on enforcement, as the bill heavily delegates that responsibility.