Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Health Care Committee

 

 

HB 2034

 

Brief Description:  Authorizing optometrists to use and prescribe approved drugs for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes without limitation upon the methods of delivery in the practice of optometry.

 

Sponsors:  Representatives Campbell, Hankins, O'Brien, Kagi, Reardon, Lambert, Boldt, Schoesler, Linville, Van Luven, Morris, Mastin, Murray, Santos, Talcott, Grant, Morell, Lisk, Dickerson, Carrell, Quall, Delvin, Miloscia, Conway, Buck, Kenney, Esser, Mulliken, G. Chandler, Bush, Ruderman, Benson, Haigh, Rockefeller, McDermott, Tokuda, Lovick, B. Chandler, Veloria, Dunn, Casada, Mielke, Pearson, Roach, Cooper, Simpson, Jackley, Ogden, Kessler, Anderson, DeBolt, Crouse, Pennington, Mitchell, Cairnes, D. Schmidt, Ericksen, Barlean, Pflug, Ahern, Cox, Hatfield, Doumit, Dunshee, Eickmeyer, Keiser, Poulsen, Gombosky, Romero, Fisher, Kirby and Hurst.

 

Brief Summary of Bill

 

$Optometrists may be certified by the Board of Optometry for the use of legend (prescription) drugs and controlled substances for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes related to the practice of optometry, after completing specified hours of didactic and clinical instruction.

 

$Optometrists may be certified by the board for using or prescribing drugs administered orally, by injection, or by any other method for therapeutic purposes, after completing additional specified hours of instruction.

 

 

Hearing Date:  2/20/01

 

Staff:  John Welsh (786‑7133).

 

Background: 

 

The practice of optometry is licensed by the Department of Health and involves the examination of the human eye, the examination and ascertaining of any defects of the human vision system, and the analysis of the process of vision.  The Board of Optometry examines applicants for licensing and acts as the disciplinary authority, and otherwise governs the practice of optometry.

 

The scope of practice of optometry includes the use of topically applied drugs for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.  Optometrists certified by the board for using topically applied drugs for diagnostic purposes must have a minimum of 60 hours of didactic and clinical instruction in general and ocular pharmacology as applied to optometry.  Optometrists administering topically applied drugs for therapeutic purposes must have an additional 75 hours of didactic and clinical instruction.  The board must establish a schedule of drugs limited to the practice of optometry for optometric practice.

 

Summary of Bill: 

 

The practice of optometry includes treatment of the eye and the human vision system.

 

An optometrist certified by the Board of Optometry may use legend (prescription) drugs and controlled substances for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

 

An optometrist using topical drugs for diagnostic purposes must have a minimum of 60 hours of didactic and clinical instruction in general and ocular pharmacology as applied to optometry, and  be certified by the board.

 

An optometrist using or prescribing topical drugs administered orally, by injection, or by any other method of delivery for therapeutic purposes must complete an additional 20 hours of didactic and clinical instruction, and be certified by the board.

 

The board must establish by rule specific guidelines for the prescription and administration of drugs.  The use of drugs in optometry must be specifically limited to those related to the practice of optometry, and the use of Schedule II through V controlled substances is restricted to no more than seven days for a single condition.

 

Appropriation:  None.

 

Fiscal Note:  Requested February 19, 2001.

 

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.