Optometrists; allowed to perform laser surgery if certified by Board of Optometry. (SB375)
Introduced By
Sen. Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax)
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✓ |
Passed Committee |
✓ |
Passed House |
✓ |
Passed Senate |
✓ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Optometrists; laser surgery. Allows an optometrist who has received a certification to perform laser surgery from the Board of Optometry (the Board) to perform certain types of laser surgery of the eye and directs the Board to issue a certification to perform laser surgery to any optometrist who submits evidence satisfactory to the Board that he (i) is certified by the Board to prescribe for and treat diseases or abnormal conditions of the human eye and its adnexa with therapeutic pharmaceutical agents pursuant to Code requirements and (ii) has satisfactorily completed such didactic and clinical training programs provided by an accredited school or college of optometry that includes training in the use of lasers for the medically appropriate and recognized treatment of the human eye as the Board may require. The bill also requires the Board to adopt regulations (a) establishing criteria for certification of an optometrist to perform permitted laser surgeries and (b) requiring optometrists to register annually with the Board and to report information regarding any disciplinary action, malpractice judgment, or malpractice settlement against the provider and any evidence that indicates the provider may be unable to engage safely in the practice of his profession. The bill also requires optometrists certified to perform laser surgery to report certain information regarding the number and types of laser surgeries performed and the conditions treated as well as any adverse treatment outcomes associated with the performance of such laser surgeries to the Board, and requires the Board to report such information to the Governor and the Secretary of Health and Human Resources annually. This bill is identical to HB 213. Read the Bill »
Outcome
History
Date | Action |
---|---|
01/11/2022 | Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/12/22 22103933D |
01/11/2022 | Referred to Committee on Education and Health |
01/13/2022 | Assigned Education sub: Health Professions |
01/21/2022 | Impact statement from DPB (SB375) |
02/03/2022 | Reported from Education and Health with amendments (11-Y 4-N) (see vote tally) |
02/03/2022 | Senate committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered |
02/03/2022 | Reported from Education and Health with amendment (11-Y 4-N) (see vote tally) |
02/04/2022 | Read first time |
02/07/2022 | Read second time |
02/07/2022 | Reading of amendment waived |
02/07/2022 | Committee amendment agreed to |
02/07/2022 | Amendment by Senator Petersen agreed to |
02/07/2022 | Engrossed by Senate as amended SB375E |
02/07/2022 | Printed as engrossed 22103933D-E |
02/08/2022 | Impact statement from DPB (SB375E) |
02/08/2022 | Passed by for the day |
02/09/2022 | Read third time and passed Senate (33-Y 3-N 1-A) (see vote tally) |
02/21/2022 | Placed on Calendar |
02/21/2022 | Read first time |
02/21/2022 | Referred to Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions |
02/22/2022 | Reported from Health, Welfare and Institutions (17-Y 3-N) (see vote tally) |
02/24/2022 | Read second time |
02/25/2022 | Read third time |
02/25/2022 | Passed House (88-Y 10-N) |
02/25/2022 | VOTE: Passage (88-Y 10-N) (see vote tally) |
03/01/2022 | Enrolled |
03/01/2022 | Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB375ER) |
03/01/2022 | Impact statement from DPB (SB375ER) |
03/01/2022 | Signed by President |
03/01/2022 | Signed by Speaker |
03/02/2022 | Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 2, 2022 |
03/02/2022 | G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 9, 2022 |
03/09/2022 | G Approved by Governor-Chapter 16 (effective 7/1/22) |
03/09/2022 | G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0016) |
Comments
I'm curious what the impetus is for this bill. If it's access or affordability, it seems there's another way to increase medical presence in the state. I would want a medical doctor to perform any of these surgeries and I think other residents of Virginia would want the same, regardless of their income or residence.
This looks like a good bill that will improve access to and affordability of healthcare, while maintaining the quality of healthcare.
This bill is open ended and permits all surgeries except those expressly excluded to be performed by optometrists who never went to medical school or completed a surgical residency on unknowing patients’ eyes.
Who woke up one day and thought I want my optometrist who fits my glasses and contacts to perform delicate eye surgery on my eyes?
The only persons who thought this were optometrists guaranteed! Virginians deserve and have access to top notch eye surgery performed by competent medical eye doctors and surgeons.
Why should anyone in Virginia be subjected to the least qualified professional performing eye surgery?
A recent survey conducted in January 2022 revealed unsurprisingly that 90% of all polled want medically trained eye physicians and surgeons performing their eye surgery.
This legislation puts all Virginians at risk.
Please contact your legislators and let them know you are entitled to having fully qualified eye surgeons perform your eye surgery! There is no shortage or access to care here in Virginia!
Patient safety is and should remain first and foremost here in Virginia!
This bill is about improving outcomes for patients. Anytime there is increased access to high quality care and increased choice this leads more prompt treatment and yes BETTER OUTCOMES. The record in 7 other states starting in the 1980s shows about 150,000 laser procedures by optometrists without any poor outcomes. In most other states optometrists have been performing other minimally invasive surgeries for decades and some of these may not even be allowed by this bill...go figure. Medicine always claims the sky is falling for these types of bills. The attempted maintanance of a monopoly by MD's is not altruistic. Falsely claiming potential harm when the facts bear just the opposite over the decades is just not in the best interest of society and is counter productive the providing the best care for all people.