PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor                               H.B. 256

(F) A THERAPEUTICALLY CERTIFIED OPTOMETRIST SHALL BE HELD TO THE
SAME STANDARD OF CARE APPLIED TO A PHYSICIAN LICENSED UNDER TITLE 14 OF
THIS ARTICLE PROVIDING SIMILAR SERVICES.

11-404.2.

(A)     IN THIS SECTION, "REFER" MEANS THAT A THERAPEUTICALLY CERTIFIED
OPTOMETRIST:

(1) INFORMS THE PATIENT THAT THE PATIENT SHOULD SEE AN
OPHTHALMOLOGIST AND GIVE THE OPHTHALMOLOGIST AN OPPORTUNITY TO
PHYSICALLY EXAMINE THE PATIENT; AND

(2) REFRAINS FROM RENDERING FURTHER TREATMENT FOR THE
SPECIFIC CONDITION THAT IS THE BASIS FOR THE REFERRAL UNTIL THE PATIENT
HAS BEEN PHYSICALLY EXAMINED BY AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST.

(B)     (1) A THERAPEUTICALLY CERTIFIED OPTOMETRIST MAY ADMINISTER
AND PRESCRIBE TOPICAL THERAPEUTIC PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS LIMITED TO:

(I) OCULAR ANTIHISTAMINES, DECONGESTANTS, AND
COMBINATIONS THEREOF, EXCLUDING STEROIDS;

(II) OCULAR ANTIALLERGY PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS;

(III) OCULAR ANTIBIOTICS AND COMBINATIONS OF OCULAR
ANTIBIOTICS, EXCLUDING SPECIALLY FORMULATED OR FORTIFIED ANTIBIOTICS;

(IV)    ANTIINFLAMMATORY AGENTS, EXCLUDING STEROIDS;

(V)     OCULAR LUBRICANTS AND ARTIFICIAL TEARS;

(VI)    TROPICAMIDE;

(VII)  HOMATROPINE;

(VIII) NONPRESCRIPTION DRUGS THAT ARE COMMERCIALLY
AVAILABLE; AND

(IX)    PRIMARY OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA MEDICATIONS, IN
ACCORDANCE WITH SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION.

(2) IF A THERAPEUTICALLY CERTIFIED OPTOMETRIST ADMINISTERS
OR PRESCRIBES A TOPICAL THERAPEUTIC PHARMACEUTICAL AGENT LISTED IN
PARAGRAPH (1)(I) THROUGH (VII) OF THIS SUBSECTION, AND THE PATIENT DOES
NOT HAVE THE EXPECTED RESPONSE WITHIN 72 HOURS:

(I) THE THERAPEUTICALLY CERTIFIED OPTOMETRIST SHALL
CONSULT WITH AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST; AND

(II) THE OPHTHALMOLOGIST MAY DETERMINE THAT THE
OPHTHALMOLOGIST NEEDS TO PHYSICALLY EXAMINE THE PATIENT.

- 4099 -