employing optometrists in ontario

[stf]

Does anyone know the rules about employing Optometrists in Ontario? I've heard that Opticians can't employ Optometrists but can a company like Iris do it?
Thx

[Ory]

The short answer is, no. Optometrists can be employed by other ODs but not opticians, corporations, etc.

Now IRIS has fought against this and the College backed down. Regulations are being changed, but what the final outcome will be is still up in the air.

[optical maven]

A question about employing an optometrist:

If an optometrist is employed by a retail chain, OHIP is not transferrable to that chain. Does the chain just pay the optometrist a salary and OHIP is never billed?

[Oedema]

A question about employing an optometrist:

If an optometrist is employed by a retail chain, OHIP is not transferrable to that chain. Does the chain just pay the optometrist a salary and OHIP is never billed?

It's professional misconduct for an OD to be employed by either a chain/store or optician. Iris gets away with it b/c their OD's are not not employed, they either own part of the practice or work for the OD owner as an independent contractor (in which case they're really self-employed). Thats how it works in all other store/optician relationships BTW (Self-employed).

So no, OHIP should be billed if appropriate, and the fees collected by the optometrists.