1. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, the commission shall ensure that a Medicaid managed care plan offered by a Medicaid managed care organization and any other Medicaid managed care model or arrangement implemented under this chapter allow a recipient receiving services through the plan or other model or arrangement to, in the manner and to the extent required by Section 32.072, Human Resources Code:

   1. (1) select an in-network ophthalmologist or therapeutic optometrist in the managed care network to provide eye health care services other than surgery; and
   2. (2) have direct access to the selected in-network ophthalmologist or therapeutic optometrist for the nonsurgical services.
2. (b) This section does not affect the obligation of an ophthalmologist or therapeutic optometrist in a managed care network to comply with the terms of the Medicaid managed care plan.

Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 769 (H.B. 4611), Sec. 1.01, eff. April 1, 2025.