PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor                               H.B. 256

(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

(II) REPORT TO THE SECRETARY, AS THE SECRETARY REQUIRES,
ON THE RESULTS OF THE BOARD'S STUDY AND INVESTIGATION.

(3) THE BOARD'S STUDY AND INVESTIGATION SHALL INCLUDE:

(I) A PEER REVIEW PROGRAM; AND

(II) A REVIEW OF PATIENT OPTOMETRIC RECORDS THAT
INCLUDES THE COLLECTION AND EVALUATION OF DATA ON THE DRUGS BEING
PRESCRIBED AND ADMINISTERED AND THE APPROPRIATENESS OF TREATMENT BY
THERAPEUTICALLY CERTIFIED OPTOMETRISTS.

11-503.

AN OPTOMETRIST PRACTICING IN THE STATE MAY NOT:

(1) USE SURGICAL LASERS;

(2) PERFORM ANY SURGERY, INCLUDING CATARACT SURGERY OR
CRYOSURGERY;

(3) PERFORM A RADIAL KERATOTOMY;

(4) GIVE AN INJECTION, EXCEPT THAT AN OPTOMETRIST MAY GIVE AN
INJECTION OF EPINEPHRINE IN THE APPROPRIATE DOSE FOR THE TREATMENT OF
ACUTE ANAPHYLAXIS OR EMERGENCY RESUSCITATION; OR

(5) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED UNDER THIS TITLE, DISPENSE A
THERAPEUTIC PHARMACEUTICAL AGENT TO ANY PERSON.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, as of the effective date of
this Act, the only therapeutic pharmaceutical agents course that is approved by the
Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene is given by the State University of New York
(SUNY) College of Optometry.

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