(a) To the extent permitted by federal law, no payment shall be provided by the Department of Social Services under the Medicaid program for more than one pair of eyeglasses every two years, except payment may be provided under the Medicaid program for an additional pair of eyeglasses during the two-year period when a Medicaid recipient’s health care provider determines that such eyeglasses are necessary because of a change in the recipient’s medical condition. Said department shall administer the payment for eyeglasses and contact lenses as cost effectively as possible.

(b) The Commissioner of Social Services, pursuant to § 17b-10, may implement policies and procedures to administer the provisions of subsection (a) of this section while in the process of adopting such policies and procedures in regulation form, provided the commissioner prints notice of intent to adopt regulations in the Connecticut Law Journal not later than twenty days after the date of implementation of such policies and procedures. Policies and procedures implemented pursuant to this section shall be valid until the time final regulations are adopted.