Rhode Island General Laws Title 5. Businesses and Professions § 5-35.2-6. Freedom of choice for eye care

Where the contracts call for the expenditure of public or private funds involving Medicaid and RIte Care, Medicare, or supplemental coverage for any purpose relating to eyewear, and as it pertains to opticianry, the distribution, dispensing, filling, duplication, and fabrication of eyeglasses or optical prosthesis by opticians as defined in § 535.2-1, those health plans or contracts are required to notify by publication in a public newspaper published within and circulated and distributed throughout the state of Rhode Island, to all providers, including, but not limited to, opticians, within the health plan's or contract's geographic service area, of the opportunity to apply for credentials, and there is no discrimination as to the rate or reimbursement for health care provided by an optician for similar services as rendered by other professions pursuant to this section. Nothing contained in the chapter shall require health plans to contract with any particular class of providers.