Arkansas Code Title 23. Public Utilities and Regulated Industries § 23-99-303. Health benefit plan requirements

(1) Include all primary eye care providers who are selected by covered persons of the health benefit plan for the provision of all eye and/or vision care benefits provided by the health benefit plan;

(2) Permit any licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist who agrees to abide by the terms, conditions, reimbursement rates, and standards of quality of the health benefit plan to serve as a primary eye care provider to any person covered by that health benefit plan;

(3) Guarantee that all covered persons who are eligible for eye and/or vision care benefits under a health benefit plan shall have direct access to the primary eye care provider of their choice independent of, and without referral from, any other provider or entity;

(5) Not discriminate between individual providers or classes of providers in the amount of reimbursement, copayment, or other financial compensation for the same or essentially similar services provided by the health benefit plan;

(6) Not promote or recommend any individual provider or class of providers to a covered person by any method or means;

(7) Assure that all primary eye care providers selected by persons covered by a health benefit plan are included on the list of participating providers of the health benefit plan;

(8) Assure that an adequate number of primary eye care providers are included to guarantee reasonable accessibility, timeliness of care, convenience, and continuity of care to covered persons; and

(9) Make available to covered persons a listing of all primary eye care providers, their practice locations, and telephone numbers on a regular, timely basis.