OD Scope Expansion
November 19, 2008
The Nebraska Optometric Association has announced their intent to attain scope of practice expansion in our state. They have recently submitted a Letter of Intent application for credentialing review to the State of Nebraska Regulation and Licensure Program for the 2009 Legislative Session.
Their proposed changes would:
(1.) Allow prescribing of any pharmaceutical agent rational to diagnosing or treating conditions of the eye, adnexa or visual system and remove present exclusions and lists of permitted conditions and drugs now contained in the state law
(2.) Allow pharmaceutical agents to be administered by injection, as well as topically or orally, by therapeutically-certified licensees
(3.) Clarify that the practice of optometry includes prescribing and dispensing cosmetic or plano contact lens classified by the FDA as a drug
(4.) Create a new level of certification for licensees which would authorize those doctors qualifying for such certification to perform surgical and non-surgical procedures including employment of laser procedures of the anterior segment of the human eye and adnexa
(5.) Authorize the Board of Optometry to establish additional requirements and qualifications for the proposed new level of certification.
Membership in the Nebraska Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons (NAEPS) is more critical now than ever.
As you probably are aware, organized optometry is becoming very aggressive at the state level across the country. There are signs that an organized national effort to increase scope of practice is underway. The most recent example was in California. SB 1406 would have allowed optometrists to perform any eye surgery that does not require general anesthesia. Fortunately thorough the hard work of the California Academy of Ophthalmology and the California Medical Society, this initiative was defeated.
Funds for legislative battles in California, Florida and other states have come from the Academy’s Surgical Scope Fund. In addition to renewing your membership in NAEPS, we hope you will consider a generous contribution to this fund as well as our state and national political action committees. (NAEPS PAC and OPHTHPAC respectively.) Unlike PAC money, the Surgical Scope Fund is used to pay for media purchases (advertising), public education and lobbying through grants to state ophthalmology societies. Because no money goes directly to politicians, contributions are entirely CONFIDENTIAL and CORPORATE (practice) funds may be used. (PAC contributions, however, are public knowledge and only personal, after tax funds may be given.) Please contribute today! Surgical Scope Fund contributions may also be given online at: www.aao.org/ssf
Contact Jina Ragland, NAEPS Executive Director at 402-474-4472 if you have questions.
