They're at it again, folks. Here there is Senate Bill 230, which seeks to expand the scope of Optometry here. Of course, any new procedures will have to have it's practitioners certified in their abilities before performing any of them. Years ago, the ODs wanted to use TPA durgs to dilate, etc. At that time several OMDs took to the floor of the Legislature, one said that because of the new laws, ODs would be treating diabetes and "people would be dying in the streets!" It passed and no one died in the streets.
Now they want to perform a few more procedures, involving injections, foreign body removal and a few of the simpler laser procedures. Once again the OMDs are using the tactic of fear, their ads stating Lasers Burn and Vaporize Tissue That Can Never Grow Back type of ads.
Here's the critical part of Scope of Practice.
Any comments?
§30-8-9. Scope of Practice.
(a) An licensee may:
(1) Examine, diagnosis and treat diseases and conditions of the human eye and its appendages;
(2) Administer or prescribe any drug for topical application to the anterior segment of the human eye for use in the examination, diagnosis or treatment of diseases and conditions of the human eye and its appendages: Provided, That the licensee has first obtained a certificate;
(3) Administer or prescribe any drug from the drug formulary, as established by the board pursuant to section six of this article, for use in the examination, diagnosis or treatment of diseases and conditions of the human eye and its appendages: Provided, That the licensee has first obtained a certificate;
(4) Administer epinephrine by injection to treat emergency cases of anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock;
(5) Prescribe and dispense contact lenses that contain and deliver pharmaceutical agents and that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a drug: Provided, That the licensee has first obtained a certificate and satisfied all requirements as set out in legislative rule;
(6) Prescribe, fit, apply, replace, duplicate or alter lenses, prisms, contact lenses, orthoptics, vision training, vision rehabilitation;
(7) Perform the following procedures:
(A) Remove a foreign body from the ocular surface and adnexa utilizing a non-intrusive method;
(B) Remove a foreign body, external eye, conjunctival, superficial, using topical anesthesia;
(C) Remove embedded foreign bodies or concretions from conjunctiva, using topical anesthesia, not involving sclera;
(D) Remove corneal foreign body not through to the second layer of the cornea using topical anesthesia;
(E) Epilation of lashes by forceps;
(F) Closure of punctum by plug; and
(G) Dilation of the lacrimal puncta with or without irrigation;
(8) Furnish or provide any prosthetic device to correct or relieve any defects or abnormal conditions of the human eye and its appendages;
(9) Order laboratory tests rational to the examination, diagnosis, and treatment of a disease or condition of the human eye and its appendages;
(10) Use a diagnostic laser; and
(11) A licensee is also permitted to perform those procedures authorized by the board prior to January 1, 2010.
(b) An licensee may not:
(1) Perform surgery: Provided, That a licensee may perform a procedure approved pursuant to section ten of this article if the licensee meets the requirements therein;
(2) Use a therapeutic laser: Provided, That a licensee, who has the proper training as determined by the board, may perform the following procedures using therapeutic lasers when such licensee is working in a collaborative arrangement with a licensed opthamologist to provide care to a patient:
(A) An Argon Laser Trabeculoplasty procedure in the treatment of glaucoma;
(B) A Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty procedure in the treatment of glaucoma;
(C) A Peripheral Iridotomy procedure in the treatment of glaucoma; and
(D) A YAG Capsulotomy procedure following a cataract surgery;
(3) Use Schedule I and Schedule II controlled substances;
(4) Treat systemic disease; or
(5) Present to the public that he or she is a specialist in surgery of the eye.
<b>§30-8-10. Expanded authority for the use of therapeutic lasers and minor procedures.</b>(a) A licensee may not use a therapeutic laser or perform any minor procedure, other than those therapeutic lasers and minor procedures specifically identified in this article, unless the provisions of this section, along with any legislative rule promulgated pursuant to this section, have been met.
(b) The board with the advice of the Board of Medicine may propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of article three, [§ § 29A-3-1 et seq.] chapter twenty- nine-a of this code to permit licensees to use other therapeutic lasers and perform other minor procedures. These rules shall state specifically what therapeutic laser is being approved for use by a licensee, or specifically what additional minor procedure(s) a licensee will be permitted to perform, and provide, at a minimum, for the following:
(1) Provide a list of approved and required courses in the use of the therapeutic laser or performance of the minor procedure(s);
(2) Definitive treatment guidelines which shall include, but not be limited to, appropriate observation for an adverse reaction of an individual following the use of the therapeutic laser or performance of the minor procedure(s);
(3) Continuing education requirements for these areas of practice;
(4) Reporting requirements for licensees using the therapeutic laser or performing the minor procedure(s) to report to the appropriate entities;
(5) That a licensee may not delegate the authority to use the therapeutic laser or perform the minor procedure(s) to any other person;
(6) In the case of a therapeutic laser, a licensee may only use a therapeutic laser when the licensee is working in a collaborative arrangement with a licensed opthamologist to provide care to a patient ; and
(7) Any other provisions necessary to implement the provisions of this section.
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