HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2197        FILED ON: 1/17/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1925

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Bradley H. Jones, Jr.

_________________

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 studying the impacts of the diagnosis restrictions on optometrists.

_______________

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

William L. Crocker, Jr.

2nd Barnstable

1/28/2019

Steven S. Howitt

4th Bristol

1/30/2019

Michael J. Soter

8th Worcester

1/31/2019

Hannah Kane

11th Worcester

2/1/2019

David T. Vieira

3rd Barnstable

2/1/2019

Bruce E. Tarr

First Essex and Middlesex

2/1/2019


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2197        FILED ON: 1/17/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1925

By Mr. Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1925) of Bradley H. Jones, Jr., and others that the Department of Public Health and the Department of Professional Licensure produce a report on costs of the current restriction preventing optometrists from treating glaucoma.  Public Health.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

_______________

 

An Act studying the impacts of the diagnosis restrictions on optometrists.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Notwithstanding any special or general law to the contrary, the Department of Public Health and the Department of Professional Licensure, in conjunction with the Board of Registration in Optometry, shall produce a report on costs imposed on Massachusetts residents from the current restriction that prevents optometrists from treating glaucoma. The consumer cost analysis shall include average fees imposed from referrals to ophthalmologists for treatment; average wait times for an appointment for an ophthalmologist; ratio of licensed optometrists to ophthalmologists in the Commonwealth; percentage of optometrists students, whom upon graduation, seek employment outside of the state; and availability of access to an ophthalmologist for underserved populations including low income groups and residents in rural areas. The report shall also include a comparison of treatment provided in Massachusetts to similar care provided throughout the rest of the nation. The Commissioner of the Department of Public Health shall include recommendations on whether the scope of practice for optometrists should be expanded and what restrictions should be in place if optometrists are permitted to treat glaucoma.

Upon completion of the cost analysis report, the Department of Public Health and Board of Registration in Optometry shall first hold a public hearing for state officials, stakeholders and members of the public to testify. Following the public hearing, the Commissioner of Public Health shall be authorized to broaden the scope of practice for optometrists to treat glaucoma with limitations to be determined by the Department of Public Health and Division of Professional Licensure consistent with the report.