Bill Text: CA SB492 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Amended
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Optometrist: practice: licensure.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2014-08-21 - Ordered to inactive file on request of Assembly Member V. Manuel PĂ©rez. [SB492 Detail]
Download: California-2013-SB492-Amended.html
Bill Title: Optometrist: practice: licensure.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2014-08-21 - Ordered to inactive file on request of Assembly Member V. Manuel PĂ©rez. [SB492 Detail]
Download: California-2013-SB492-Amended.html
BILL NUMBER: SB 492 AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 8, 2013 AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 24, 2013 AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 16, 2013 AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 1, 2013 INTRODUCED BY Senator Hernandez FEBRUARY 21, 2013 An act to amend Sections 3041 and 3041.1 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to optometry. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 492, as amended, Hernandez. Optometrist: practice: licensure. The Optometry Practice Act creates the State Board of Optometry, which licenses optometrists and regulates their practice. Existing law defines the practice of optometry to include, among other things, the prevention and diagnosis of disorders and dysfunctions of the visual system, and the treatment and management of certain disorders and dysfunctions of the visual system, as well as the provision of rehabilitative optometric services, and doing certain things, including, but not limited to, the examination of the human eyes, the determination of the powers or range of human vision, and the prescribing of contact and spectacle lenses. Existing law authorizes an optometrist certified to use therapeutic pharmaceutical agents to diagnose and treat specified conditions, use specified pharmaceutical agents, and order specified diagnostic tests. Any violation of the act is a crime. This bill would add the provision of habilitative optometric services to the definition of the practice of optometry. The bill would expand the practice parameters of optometrists who are certified to use therapeutic pharmaceutical agents by removing certain limitations on their practice and adding certain responsibilities, including, but not limited to, the ability to immunize and treat certain diseases, and deleting the specified drugs the optometrist would be authorized to use, and authorizing the optometrist to use all therapeutic pharmaceutical agents approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, as provided. The bill would also delete limitations onwhatcertain kinds of diagnostic tests an optometristcouldcan order andinsteadwould authorize an optometrist to order appropriate laboratory and diagnostic imaging tests , as provided . Existing law requires optometrists in diagnosing or treating eye disease to be held to the same standard of care as physicians and surgeons and osteopathic physicians and surgeons. This bill would expand this requirement to include diagnosing other diseases, and would require an optometrist to consult with and, if necessary, refer to a physician and surgeon or other appropriate health care provider if a situation or condition was beyond the optometrist'seducation and trainingscope of practice . Because this bill would change the definition of a crime, it would create a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 3041 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read: 3041. (a) The practice of optometry includes the prevention and diagnosis of disorders and dysfunctions of the visual system, and the treatment and management of certain disorders and dysfunctions of the visual system, as well as the provision of habilitative or rehabilitative optometric services, and is the doing of any or all of the following: (1) The examination of the human eye or eyes, or its or their appendages, and the analysis of the human vision system, either subjectively or objectively. (2) The determination of the powers or range of human vision and the accommodative and refractive states of the human eye or eyes, including the scope of its or their functions and general condition. (3) The prescribing or directing the use of, or using, any optical device in connection with ocular exercises, visual training, vision training, or orthoptics. (4) The prescribing of contact and spectacle lenses for, or the fitting or adaptation of contact and spectacle lenses to, the human eye, including lenses that may be classified as drugs or devices by any law of the United States or of this state. (5) The use of topical pharmaceutical agents for the purpose of the examination of the human eye or eyes for any disease or pathological condition. (b) (1) An optometrist who is certified to use therapeutic pharmaceutical agents, pursuant to Section 3041.3, may also diagnose and treat the human eye or eyes, or any of its or their appendages, for all of the following conditions: (A) Through medical treatment, infections of the anterior segment and adnexa. (B) Ocular allergies of the anterior segment and adnexa. (C) Ocular inflammation , nonsurgical in cause except when comanaged with the treating physician and surgeon . (D) Traumatic or recurrent conjunctival or corneal abrasions and erosions. (E) Corneal surface disease and dry eyes. (F) Ocular pain , nonsurgical in cause except when comanaged with the treating physician and surgeon . (G) Pursuant to subdivision(e)(f) , glaucoma in patients over 18 years of age, as described in subdivision(i)(j) . (H) Eyelid disorders , including hypotrichosis and blepharitis . (2) For purposes of this section, "treat" means the use of therapeutic pharmaceutical agents, as described in subdivision (c), and the procedures described in subdivision(d)(e) . (c) In diagnosing and treating the conditions listed in subdivision (b), an optometrist certified to use therapeutic pharmaceutical agents pursuant to Section 3041.3 may use all therapeutic pharmaceutical agents approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for use in treating eye conditions set forth in this chapter, includingnarcotic substances other than those listed in Schedule Icodeine with compounds and hydrocodone with compounds as listed in the California Uniform Controlled Substances Act (Division 10 (commencing with Section 11000) of the Health and Safety Code) and the United States Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. Sec. 801 et seq.). The use of these agents shall be limited to three days . (d) In any case that an optometrist consults with a physician and surgeon, the optometrist and the physician and surgeon shall both maintain a written record in the patient's file of the information provided to the physician and surgeon, the physician and surgeon's response, and any other relevant information. Upon the request of the optometrist or physician and surgeon and with the patient's consent, a copy of the record shall be furnished to the requesting party.(d)(e) An optometrist who is certified to use therapeutic pharmaceutical agents pursuant to Section 3041.3 may also perform all of the following: (1) Corneal scraping with cultures. (2) Debridement of corneal epithelia. (3) Mechanical epilation. (4) Venipuncture for testing patients suspected of having diabetes. (5) Suture removal , upon notification of the treating physician and surgeon . (6) Treatment or removal of sebaceous cysts by expression. (7) Administration of oral fluorescein . (8) Use of an auto-injector to counter anaphylaxis. (9) Ordering of appropriate laboratory and diagnostic imaging tests for conditions authorized to be treated pursuant to this section . (10) A clinical laboratory test or examination classified as waived under CLIA and designated as waived in paragraph (9) necessary for the diagnosis of conditions and diseases of the eye or adnexa, or if otherwise specifically authorized by this chapter.(10)(11) Punctal occlusion by plugs, excluding laser, diathermy, cryotherapy, or other means constituting surgery as defined in this chapter.(11)(12) The prescription of therapeutic contact lenses, including lenses or devices that incorporate a medication or therapy the optometrist is certified to prescribe or provide.(12)(13) Removal of foreign bodies from the cornea, eyelid, and conjunctiva with any appropriate instrument other than a scalpel . Corneal foreign bodies shall be nonperforating, be no deeper than the midstroma, and require no surgical repair upon removal.(13)(14) For patients over 12 years of age, lacrimal irrigation and dilation, excluding probing of the nasal lacrimal tract. The board shall certify any optometrist who graduated from an accredited school of optometry before May 1, 2000, to perform this procedure after submitting proof of satisfactory completion of 10 procedures under the supervision of an ophthalmologist as confirmed by the ophthalmologist. Any optometrist who graduated from an accredited school of optometry on or after May 1, 2000, shall be exempt from the certification requirement contained in this paragraph.(14)(15)ImmunizationsAdministration of immunizations for influenzaand shingles, Herpes Zoster Virus, and additional immunizations that may be necessary to protect public health during a declared disaster or public health emergency.(15)(16) In addition to diagnosing and treating conditions of the visual system pursuant tosubdivision (a)this section, testing for and , diagnoses of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, andhyperlipidemiahypercholesterolemia .(e)(f) The board shall grant a certificate to an optometrist certified pursuant to Section 3041.3 for the treatment of glaucoma, as described in subdivision(i)(j) , in patients over 18 years of age after the optometrist meets the following applicable requirements: (1) For licensees who graduated from an accredited school of optometry on or after May 1, 2008, submission of proof of graduation from that institution. (2) For licensees who were certified to treat glaucoma under this section prior to January 1, 2009, submission of proof of completion of that certification program. (3) For licensees who have substantially completed the certification requirements pursuant to this section in effect between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2008, submission of proof of completion of those requirements on or before December 31, 2009. "Substantially completed" means both of the following: (A) Satisfactory completion of a didactic course of not less than 24 hours in the diagnosis, pharmacological, and other treatment and management of glaucoma. (B) Treatment of 50 glaucoma patients with a collaborating ophthalmologist for a period of two years for each patient that will conclude on or before December 31, 2009. (4) For licensees who completed a didactic course of not less than 24 hours in the diagnosis, pharmacological, and other treatment and management of glaucoma, submission of proof of satisfactory completion of the case management requirements for certification established by the board pursuant to Section 3041.10. (5) For licensees who graduated from an accredited school of optometry on or before May 1, 2008, and not described in paragraph (2), (3), or (4), submission of proof of satisfactory completion of the requirements for certification established by the board pursuant to Section 3041.10.(f)(g) Other than for prescription ophthalmic devices described in subdivision (b) of Section 2541, any dispensing of a therapeutic pharmaceutical agent by an optometrist shall be without charge.(g)(h) The practice of optometry does not include performing surgery. "Surgery" means any procedure in which human tissue is cut, altered, or otherwise infiltrated by mechanical or laser means. "Surgery" does not include those procedures specified in subdivision(d)(e) . Nothing in this section shall limit an optometrist's authority to utilize diagnostic laser and ultrasound technology within his or her scope of practice.(h)(i) An optometrist licensed under this chapter is subject to the provisions of Section 2290.5 for purposes of practicing telehealth.(i)(j) For purposes of this chapter, "glaucoma" means either of the following: (1) All primary open-angle glaucoma. (2) Exfoliation and pigmentary glaucoma.(j)(k) For purposes of this chapter, "adnexa" means ocular adnexa.(k)(l) In an emergency, an optometrist shall stabilize, if possible, and immediately refer any patient who has an acute attack of angle closure to an ophthalmologist. SEC. 2. Section 3041.1 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read: 3041.1. With respect to the practices set forth in Section 3041, optometrists diagnosing or treating eye disease or diagnosing other diseases shall be held to the same standard of care to which physicians and surgeons and osteopathic physicians and surgeons are held. An optometrist shall consult with and, if necessary, refer to a physician and surgeon or other appropriate health care provider if a situation or condition occurs that is beyond the optometrist'seducation and trainingscope of practice . SEC. 3. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.