VSP delisting some independent labs
Vision Monday reported some new actions from the VSP recently. VSP has long been the largest managed vision care provider in both Washington and nationwide in the United States. VSP has maintained contractual cooperation with many independent labs across the country. However, the firm announced that it would take away contracts from certain labs.
This action from VSP has scared many labs that they are likely to be forced out of business. However, it is unclear that which and how many independent labs will lose their VSP contracts. Officials from VSP’s Lab operations only stated that some factors of an independent lab will be considered, including the amount of jobs processes, technical capabilities and geographic locations.
Among independent VSP labs, Nouveau Vision is a typical one that voices its complaints towards the action from VSP. As a family-owned optical lens laboratory in Redmond, Nouveau Vision is at the risk of being kicked out by VSP. Unlike other independent labs, Nouveau Vision has taken some actions that it has filled a lawsuit claiming “insurance code and potential antitrust violations”.
During the long cooperation with VSP, Nouveau Vision as a small lab has always been very responsive to customers. With the information of being delisted by VSP, the owner of Nouveau Vision filled the complaint. According to Vision Monday, VSP respectfully disagrees with the allegations with the state of Washington Commissioner of Insurance raised by Nouveau Vision. But VSP is willing to maintain proper exchanges with the lab of this matter.
Actually the resistance from Nouveau Vision has more significance according to Vision Monday. The optical industry has now been dominated by several giants. Just in this year, the France-based company Essilor partnered with VSP and bought McCleod. Essilor has become a dominant player in the United States, being expected to gain nearly complete market control in many states including Washington. This control of the vision care industry by 2-3 greedy companies and their collaboration are believed to affect the interest of customers.