PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor                            H.B. 256

(A)     If, while providing optometric services to a patient, an optometrist OR
DIAGNOSTICALLY CERTIFIED OPTOMETRIST detects OR DIAGNOSES an active eye
pathology WHICH THE OPTOMETRIST IS NOT LICENSED OR CERTIFIED TO TREAT
UNDER § 11-404.1 § 11-404 OR § 11-404.2 OF THIS SUBTITLE, the optometrist shall refer
the patient to a physician OR ANOTHER APPROPRIATELY LICENSED HEALTH CARE
PROVIDER:

(I) AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST OR A THERAPEUTICALLY CERTIFIED
OPTOMETRIST, AS APPROPRIATE;

(II)    THE PATIENT'S PHYSICIAN;

(III)   A PHYSICIAN IF REQUIRED UNDER A MANAGED CARE
CONTRACT; OR

(IV)   A HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM OR AMBULATORY SURGICAL
CENTER IF NECESSARY.

(B)     IF, WHILE PROVIDING OPTOMETRIC SERVICES TO A PATIENT, A
THERAPEUTICALLY CERTIFIED OPTOMETRIST DIAGNOSES AN ACTIVE EYE
PATHOLOGY THAT THE OPTOMETRIST IS NOT CERTIFIED TO TREAT UNDER § 11-404.2
OF THIS SUBTITLE, THE OPTOMETRIST SHALL REFER THE PATIENT TO:

(I) AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST;

(II)    THE PATIENT'S PHYSICIAN;

(III)   A PHYSICIAN IF REQUIRED UNDER A MANAGED CARE
CONTRACT; OR

(IV)   A HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM IF NECESSARY.
11-403.

(a)     A licensed optometrist may:

(1)     Use the title "optometrist"; [and]

(2)     If the optometrist holds the degree of doctor of optics or doctor of
optometry from a college or university authorized to give the degree, use the title
"Doctor" or the abbreviations "Dr." or "O.D." with the optometrist's name[.]; AND

(3)     IF THE OPTOMETRIST IS CERTIFIED UNDER § 11-404 OF THIS
SUBTITLE, USE THE TITLE "DIAGNOSTICALLY CERTIFIED OPTOMETRIST"; AND

(3) (4) IF THE OPTOMETRIST IS CERTIFIED UNDER § 11-404.1 OF THIS
SUBTITLE, USE THE TITLE "THERAPEUTICALLY CERTIFIED OPTOMETRIST".

(b)     Except as otherwise provided in this section, a licensed optometrist may not
attach to the optometrist's name or use as a title:

(1) The words or abbreviations "Doctor", "Dr.", "M.D.", "physician", or
"surgeon", or any other word or abbreviation that suggests that the optometrist practices
medicine; or

- 4095 -