Senate File 437 - Introduced




                                 SENATE FILE       
                                 BY  COMMITTEE ON HUMAN
                                     RESOURCES

                                 (SUCCESSOR TO SSB
                                     1032)

                                      A BILL FOR

  1 An Act relating to injectable authority for optometrists.
  2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
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PAG LIN



  1  1    Section 1.  Section 154.1, subsection 3, paragraph a, Code
  1  2 2017, is amended to read as follows:
  1  3    a.   An optometrist licensed under this chapter may employ
  1  4 all diagnostic and therapeutic pharmaceutical agents for the
  1  5 purpose of diagnosis and treatment of conditions of the human
  1  6 eye and adnexa pursuant to this subsection, excluding the use
  1  7 of sub=Tenon, botulinum toxin, and retrobulbar injections or
  1  8  injections other than to counteract an anaphylactic reaction
  1  9  which penetrate the globe, and notwithstanding section 147.107,
  1 10 may without charge supply any of the above pharmaceuticals
  1 11 to commence a course of therapy. A licensed optometrist may
  1 12 perform minor surgical procedures and use medications for the
  1 13 diagnosis and treatment of diseases, disorders, and conditions
  1 14 of the eye and adnexa. A license to practice optometry under
  1 15 this chapter does not authorize the performance of surgical
  1 16 procedures which require the use of injectable or general
  1 17 anesthesia, moderate sedation, penetration of the globe, or
  1 18 the use of ophthalmic lasers for the purpose of ophthalmic
  1 19 surgery within or upon the globe. Injectable anesthesia
  1 20 may only be used for eyelid procedures used to treat eyelid
  1 21 cysts, chalazia, and papillomas. The removal of pterygia and
  1 22 Salzmann's nodules, incisional corneal refractive surgery, and
  1 23 strabismus surgery are prohibited.
  1 24                           EXPLANATION
  1 25 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
  1 26 the explanation's substance by the members of the general assembly.
  1 27    This bill makes changes to the types of actions which may be
  1 28 performed by an optometrist. Previously, an optometrist could
  1 29 not use injections other than to counteract an anaphylactic
  1 30 reaction. Under the bill, an optometrist cannot use sub=Tenon,
  1 31 botulinum toxin, and retrobulbar injections or injections which
  1 32 penetrate the globe. The bill also removes a prohibition on
  1 33 the performance of surgical procedures which require the use
  1 34 of injectable anesthesia by licensed optometrists but limits
  1 35 such use to eyelid procedures to treat eyelid cysts, chalazia,
  2  1 and papillomas.
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