Okla. Stat. tit. 74, § 74-1327

Authority — Optometrists to be permitted to provide services for

vision care or medical diagnosis and treatment for the eye.

A. All health benefit plans offered by the Oklahoma Health Care

Authority which provide for services for vision care or medical

diagnosis and treatment for the eye shall allow optometrists to be

providers of those services. All such health benefit plans shall

also require equal payment for the same services provided by an

optometrist if the services are within the scope of practice of

optometry.

B. With respect to optometric services, any health benefit plan

offered by the Authority which uses a gatekeeper or equivalent for

referrals for services for vision care or for medical diagnosis and

treatment of the eye shall require such covered services be provided

on a referral basis within the medical group or network at the

request of an enrollee who has a condition requiring vision care or

medical diagnosis and treatment of the eye if:

1. A referral is necessitated in the judgment of the primary

care physician; and

2. Treatment for the condition falls within the licensed scope

of practice of an optometrist.

C. All health benefit plans offered by the Authority shall have

a defined set of standards and procedures for selecting providers,

including specialists, to serve enrollees. The standards and

procedures shall be drafted in such a manner that they are

applicable to all categories of providers and shall be utilized by

the health maintenance organization in a manner that is without bias

for or discrimination against a particular category or categories of

providers.

D. No health benefit plan specified by this section shall

require a provider to have hospital privileges if hospital

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 74. State Government Page 828

privileges are not usual and customary for the services the provider

provides.

E. Nothing in this section shall be construed to:

1. Prohibit a health benefit plan offered by the Authority

which provides for services for vision care or medical diagnosis and

treatment for the eye from determining the adequacy of the size of

its network;

2. Prohibit an optometrist from agreeing to a fee schedule;

3. Limit, expand, or otherwise affect the scope of practice of

optometry; or

4. Alter, repeal, modify or affect the laws of this state

except where such laws are in conflict or are inconsistent with

express provisions of this section.

F. Existing health benefit plans offered by the Authority shall

comply with the requirements of this section upon issuance or

renewal on or after November 1, 2000.