H.B. 256                                                 VETOES

PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS COURSE AND SUCCESSFULLY PASS A PHARMACOLOGY
EXAM UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION BEFORE THE BOARD MAY
CERTIFY THE OPTOMETRIST.

(C) IN ADDITION TO THE REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN § 11-309 OF THIS
TITLE, A THERAPEUTICALLY CERTIFIED OPTOMETRIST SHALL COMPLETE A
MINIMUM OF 6 HOURS OF BOARD APPROVED CONTINUING EDUCATION IN THE
FIELD OF PHARMACOLOGY RELATING TO THE TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF
OCULAR DISEASE DURING EACH LICENSING PERIOD.

(D) CERTIFICATION UNDER THIS SECTION AUTHORIZES THE

THERAPEUTICALLY CERTIFIED OPTOMETRIST TO:

(1) ADMINISTER AND PRESCRIBE TOPICAL AND ORAL

PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS RATIONAL TO THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF
CONDITIONS AND DISEASES OF THE HUMAN EYE AND ADNEXA;

(2)     REMOVE SUPERFICIAL FOREIGN BODIES FROM THE HUMAN EYE
AND ADNEXA;

(3) PERFORM PROCEDURES RATIONAL TO THE TREATMENT OF
CONDITIONS AND DISEASES OF THE HUMAN EYE AND ADNEXA AS DETERMINED BY
THE BOARD;

(4) PERFORM OR ORDER PROCEDURES AND LABORATORY TESTS
RATIONAL TO THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF CONDITIONS AND DISEASES OF
THE HUMAN EYE AND ADNEXA; AND

(5) DISPENSE A THERAPEUTIC PHARMACEUTICAL AGENT TO A PATIENT

IF:

(I) NO CHARGE IS IMPOSED FOR THE THERAPEUTIC

PHARMACEUTICAL AGENT OR FOR DISPENSING THE AGENT; AND

(II) THE AMOUNT DISPENSED DOES NOT EXCEED A 72-HOUR
SUPPLY, EXCEPT THAT IF THE MINIMUM AVAILABLE QUANTITY FOR DISPENSING IS
GREATER THAN A 72-HOUR SUPPLY, THE MINIMUM AVAILABLE QUANTITY MAY BE
DISPENSED.

(E) UNLESS OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED UNDER THIS TITLE, AN OPTOMETRIST
PRACTICING IN THE STATE MAY NOT;

(1) USE SURGICAL OPHTHALMIC LASERS;

(2) PERFORM CATARACT SURGERY OR ANY OTHER SURGERY;

(3)     PERFORM RADIAL KERATOTOMY; OR

(4) DISPENSE A THERAPEUTIC PHARMACEUTICAL AGENT TO ANY
PERSON.

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