Georgia Supreme Court Affirms That Spectera Can’t Require Optometrists to Use Their Labs

ATLANTA—In a decision that could set a precedent for other states with similar laws, the Georgia Supreme Court has affirmed a lower court's ruling that Spectera violated Georgia's Patient Access to Eye Care Act when the managed vision care company required independent providers to use Spectera's lab network for eyeglasses and/or contact lenses.   While the full impact of the court's Nov. 4, 2013 decision in the case of Spectera, Inc., v. Wilson, et. al. has yet to unfold, some industry observers feel that because there are laws with similar language in other states that it possibly could set a precedent for similar lawsuits elsewhere. Another scenario suggested to VMail by those representing managed vision care companies is that there could be efforts by providers to try to move toward this type of legislation in other states, as has been attempted unsuccessfully in Pennsylvania over the past few years.    See more