HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2190 FILED ON: 1/17/2019
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1924
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Bradley H. Jones, Jr.
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to the treatment of glaucoma.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
Bradley H. Jones, Jr. | 20th Middlesex | 1/17/2019 |
Bradford Hill | 4th Essex | 1/24/2019 |
Elizabeth A. Poirier | 14th Bristol | 1/17/2019 |
Susan Williams Gifford | 2nd Plymouth | 1/17/2019 |
Paul K. Frost | 7th Worcester | 1/30/2019 |
Todd M. Smola | 1st Hampden | 1/31/2019 |
Randy Hunt | 5th Barnstable | 1/28/2019 |
Steven S. Howitt | 4th Bristol | 1/30/2019 |
Michael J. Soter | 8th Worcester | 1/31/2019 |
Jason M. Lewis | Fifth Middlesex | 1/31/2019 |
Kimberly N. Ferguson | 1st Worcester | 1/31/2019 |
Patrick Joseph Kearney | 4th Plymouth | 2/1/2019 |
Hannah Kane | 11th Worcester | 2/1/2019 |
Angelo L. D'Emilia | 8th Plymouth | 2/1/2019 |
Bruce E. Tarr | First Essex and Middlesex | 2/1/2019 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2190 FILED ON: 1/17/2019
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1924
By Mr. Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1924) of Bradley H. Jones, Jr., and others relative to optometrists and treatment of eye disorders. Public Health. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)
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An Act relative to the treatment of glaucoma.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general laws to the contrary, Massachusetts optometrists licensed under chapter 94C shall have the authority to treat glaucoma and ocular abnormalities of the human eye and the adjoining and adjacent tissue, as well as prescribe all necessary eye related medications including all oral anti-infective medications.
Nothing in this section shall permit optometric utilization of or prescription of (i) therapeutic pharmaceutical agents for the treatment of systematic diseases; (ii) invasive surgical procedures, (iii) pharmaceutical agents administered by sub dermal injection, intramuscular injection, intravenous injection, subcutaneous injection or retro bulbar injection, (iv) opioid injections.
Within 90 days of the effective date of this act, the Board of Registration in Optometry is hereby directed to determine all professional and education requirements necessary to provide optometric treatment of glaucoma and the prescription of all oral anti-infective medications.
Prior to any Massachusetts licensed optometrists utilizing said glaucoma medications and all oral anti-infective medications, an optometrist must complete an educational program administered by the Massachusetts Society of Optometrists which shall be approved by an accredited college of optometry or medicine or shall otherwise meet the guidelines and requirements of the board of registration of optometry. The Board of Registration in Optometry shall provide, to the Department of Public Health and to each successful applicant, a certificate of qualification in the utilization and prescription of all therapeutic pharmaceutical agents necessary to treat glaucoma and all oral anti-infective medications.
Within 90 days after the effective date of this act, the Department of Public Health and the Board of Registration in Optometry shall promulgate the rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the purpose of this act.