With one victory and four losses charted in the last few months, it’s already been a busy year for scope expansion. Here’s the latest on where efforts stand.
The current law on the books does not require explicit enumeration of every privilege and procedure, giving optometrists there more autonomy to evolve their skillsets and offerings as the profession grows.
Just prior to a scheduled public hearing, Healthcare Committee members nixed the effort with no further explanation. Undaunted, the ALOA vows to reintroduce in 2024.
The new law, enacted yesterday, will allow qualified ODs in the state to perform chalazion removal, certain injections and non-cosmetic eyelid surgery, as well as use topical and injectable anesthesia and prescribe oral steroids.
The state’s Office of Professional Regulation has come around to supporting the expansion of optometry’s practice scope after opposing it back in 2020.