Ch. 521                                        1995 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(2) THE FOREIGN BODY HAS NOT PENETRATED BEYOND THE
BOWMAN'S MEMBRANE OF THE CORNEA AND IS NOT WITHIN 2.5 .MILLIMETERS OF
THE VISUAL AXIS.

(G) (I) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION, A
THERAPEUTICALLY CERTIFIED OPTOMETRIST MAY NOT ORDER LABORATORY
TESTS FOR A PATIENT.

(2) A THERAPEUTICALLY CERTIFIED OPTOMETRIST MAY ORDER A
CONJUNCTIVAL CULTURE.

(H) A THERAPEUTICALLY CERTIFIED OPTOMETRIST MAY NOT PROVIDE ANY
THERAPEUTIC TREATMENT LISTED IN THIS SECTION FOR A CHILD UNDER THE AGE
OF 1 YEAR.

(I) UNLESS THE STANDARD OF CARE REQUIRES AN EARLIER REFERRAL, IF A
THERAPEUTICALLY CERTIFIED OPTOMETRIST DIAGNOSES A CORNEAL ULCER OR
INFILTRATE, AND THE PATIENT DOES NOT HAVE THE EXPECTED RESPONSE WITHIN
48 HOURS, THE OPTOMETRIST IMMEDIATELY SHALL REFER THE PATIENT TO AN
OPHTHALMOLOGIST.

(J) A THERAPEUTICALLY CERTIFIED OPTOMETRIST SHALL BE HELD TO THE
SAME STANDARD OF CARE AS AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST WHO IS LICENSED UNDER
TITLE 14 OF THIS ARTICLE AND WHO IS PROVIDING SIMILAR SERVICES.

11-404.3.

(A)     THE MARYLAND OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION AND THE MARYLAND
SOCIETY OF EYE PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS SHALL RECOMMEND TO THE
SECRETARY QUALITY ASSURANCE GUIDELINES FOR THERAPEUTICALLY CERTIFIED
OPTOMETRISTS AND OPTOMETRIC CARE.

(B)     (1) AFTER CONSIDERING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE MARYLAND
OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION AND THE MARYLAND SOCIETY OF EYE PHYSICIANS AND
SURGEONS, THE SECRETARY SHALL ADOPT REGULATIONS THAT ESTABLISH:

(I) STANDARDS OF QUALITY FOR THERAPEUTICALLY CERTIFIED
OPTOMETRISTS AND OPTOMETRIC CARE;

(II)     AN ONGOING QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM THAT
INCLUDES THE MONITORING AND STUDY OF THE JOINT MANAGEMENT OF PRIMARY
OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA PATIENTS UNDER § 11-404.2(C) OF THIS SUBTITLE;

(III)    A PROGRAM TO EVALUATE THE COST OF OPTOMETRIC CARE;
AND

(IV)    A PLAN TO MONITOR COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION.

(2) THE REGULATIONS SHALL REQUIRE THE BOARD TO:

(I) CONDUCT A CONTINUING STUDY AND INVESTIGATION , OF
THERAPEUTICALLY CERTIFIED OPTOMETRISTS TO ENSURE THE QUALITY OF CARE
THEY PROVIDE; AND

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