OFFICE OF

INSURANCE COMMISSIONER

A health benefit plan must include "pediatric vision services" in its essential health benefits package. The base-benchmark plan covers pediatric services for the categories set forth in WAC 284-43-878 (1) through (9), but does not include pediatric vision services. Pediatric vision services are vision services delivered to enrollees under age nineteen.

(1) A health benefit plan must cover pediatric vision services as an embedded set of services.

(2) Supplementation: The state EHB-benchmark plan requirements for pediatric vision benefits must be offered at a substantially equal level and classified consistent with the designated supplemental base-benchmark plan for pediatric vision services, the Federal Employees Vision Plan with the largest enrollment and published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at www.cciioo.cms.gov on July 2, 2012.

(a) The vision services included in the pediatric vision services category are:

(i) Routine vision screening; and

(ii) A comprehensive eye exam for children, including dilation as professionally indicated((,)) and with refraction every calendar year;

(((ii))) (iii) One pair of prescription lenses or contacts every calendar year, including polycarbonate lenses and scratch resistant coating. Lenses may include single vision, conventional lined bifocal or conventional lined trifocal, or lenticular lenses;

(((iii))) (iv) One pair of frames every calendar year. An issuer may establish networks or tiers of frames within their plan design as long as there is a base set of frames to choose from available without cost sharing;

(((iv))) (v) Contact lenses covered once every calendar year in lieu of the lenses and frame benefits. Issuers must apply this limitation based on the manner in which the lenses must be dispensed. If disposable lenses are prescribed, a sufficient number and amount for one calendar year's equivalent must be covered. The benefit includes the evaluation, fitting and follow-up care relating to contact lenses. If determined to be medically necessary, contact lenses must be covered in lieu of eyeglasses at a minimum for the treatment of the following conditions: Keratoconus, pathological myopia, aphakia, anisometropia, aniseikonia, aniridia, corneal disorders, post-traumatic disorders, and irregular astigmatism;

(((v))) (vi) Low vision optical devices including low vision services, training and instruction to maximize remaining usable vision as follows:

(A) One comprehensive low vision evaluation every five years;

(B) High power spectacles, magnifiers and telescopes as medically necessary, with reasonable limitations permitted; and

(C) Follow-up care of four visits in any five year period, with prior approval.

(b) The pediatric vision supplemental base-benchmark specifically excludes, and issuer must not include in its actuarial value for the category:

(i) Visual therapy, which is otherwise covered under the medical/surgical benefits of the plan;

(ii) Two pairs of glasses may not be ordered in lieu of bifocals;

(iii) Medical treatment of eye disease or injury, which is otherwise covered under the medical/surgical benefits of the plan;

(iv) Nonprescription (Plano) lenses; and

(v) Prosthetic devices and services, which are otherwise covered under the rehabilitative and habilitative benefit category.