NJ ODs Step Closer to Avoid Vision Care Contracts

“A bill sponsored by Assembly Republicans Dave Rible and Anthony M. Bucco was approved today by the General Assembly that provides vision patients more freedom to choose the in-network eye doctor of their choice. The bill, A-1035, prohibits health insurance carriers from requiring optometrists to accept a vision care plan contract before becoming part of their network…,” according to PolitickerNJ. “Currently, health insurance carriers may require optometrists to accept a contract with a Vision Care Plan as a condition for participation in the carrier’s provider networks for the provision of medically necessary physician services.” Read more.

Court Rules Jury Erred in Award Penalties against Wal-Mart

“A Texas jury erred in levying $3.95 million in civil penalties against Wal-Mart because the in-store optometrists pressed to stay open longer by the retail giant could not prove they suffered economic damages, the 5th Circuit ruled,” according to a post on Courthouse News Service. “Lead plaintiff Doris Forte filed a class action against the retailer in the Houston Federal Court in 2012, after years of discussion between the Texas Optometry Board and Wal-Mart over alleged violations of the Texas Optometry Act.” Read more.

Broussard Receive the First VSP Poston Leadership Award

The first-ever recipient of the VSP Marvin R. Poston Leadership Award is Alexis Broussard, a second year optometry student and president of the National Optometric Student Association (NOSA) chapter at Nova Southeastern University, College of Optometry in Ft. Lauderdale. Broussard was presented with the Award during the National Optometric Association’s  46^th annual conference in Washington, D.C. on July 26, 2014. VSP Global created the award in honor of Dr. Marvin Poston who helped found VSP. Read more.

British Courts Fine Man after Row with OD about CLs

“A dad has been fined in court after shouting abuse at Vision Express staff in a row over contact lenses,” according to a post from the Warrington Guardian. “Barry Dilworth, of Brambling Way, Lowton, screamed at an optometrist at the store in Golden Square as he was unhappy at the service. The 52-year-old then burst into a consultation room to confront the optometrist, who had gone to see another customer, and demanded an apology.” Read more.

Poser OD Closes Shop in NY

"A Tonawanda man has been sentenced for running an unlicensed optometrist practice near Rochester," according to WIVB. "Shamil Tadros, 45, attended optometry school but [reportedly] did not pass state exams. He was operating the practice from his store, Pittsford Optical in Pittsford, NY, which is outside of Rochester, when he was caught. Tadros was given a conditional discharge Monday on the conditions he pay back $116,821 in criminal restitution, complete 150 hours of community service, and consent to random practice checks of his optical shop." Read more.

Louisiana Considers Allowing ODs to Operate

“The medical community strongly opposes the optometry bills [before the Louisiana legislature]. Optometrists write that Senate 568 and House Bill 1065 would provide improved patient access to care by allowing optometrists to perform ophthalmic surgery. They describe these procedures as ‘noninvasive,’” reports The Town Talk. “In fact, these bills would allow optometrists to perform more than 120 different surgical procedures inside the eye, behind the eye, and around the eye by scalpel, laser or injection. Their use of the word ‘noninvasive’ betrays a lack of understanding of the surgery and a lack of respect for the complexity of the human body. Surgery by definition is invasive.” Read more.

Alberta ODs Expand Scope of Practice

“The provincial government is extending the eye-care services provided by Alberta optometrists to reduce referrals to specialists,” according to a CBC News report. “’A key strategy in improving the health and well-being of Albertans is providing increased access to primary health-care services in communities,’ said Health Minister Fred Horne in a written statement. The changes, which come into effect this fiscal year, will allow optometrists to do the following: Prescribe certain oral and topical drugs, order lab tests, order and apply ultrasound tests, and treat certain types of glaucoma.” Read more.

Meeting Mandela at the ODs

“I was sitting at the Optometrist waiting for my first pair of glasses and the receptionist said if you wait around a bit longer you will meet the president,” according to News24 based in Capetown, South Africa. “I stupidly said ‘which President.’ Of course she looked at me in horror and said ‘Nelson Mandela who else?’ I was so embarrassed. Never the less I hung around and low and behold a bunch of body guards walked in followed by our president. He chose to sit right next to me and he took my hand and asked me what my name was, what I did, how old I was and general chit-chat.” Read more.

ODs Must Wait Til Next Year

“State Sen. Ed Hernandez is giving up for this year his effort to expand the kinds of medical services optometrists can offer in California,” according to a Sacramento Bee post. “The Democrat from West Covina said Monday that he is pulling his Senate Bill 492 from any further action in the Legislature this year, and will instead push for its passage in 2014. The bill would allow optometrists to diagnose and treat all kinds of ailments related to the eye, including conditions such as diabetes. Read more.

Sleeping Dogs Lie in Louisiana When It Comes to ODs Using Laser

Louisiana “State Rep. Frank Hoffmann says he has pulled his bill that would have allowed optometrists to expand their practices,” reports Ouachita Citizen. “’I'm just going to let it lie,’ said Hoffmann, R-West Monroe. ‘It's just not the right time to do it.’ Under Hoffmann's legislation, House Bill 527, optometrists could have conducted more surgical procedures, including laser eye surgery. The bill also would have granted optometrists the authority to prescribe certain narcotics. Ophthalmologists, including former Congressman Dr. John Cooksey, fiercely opposed the bill. Cooksey is an ophthalmologist.” Read more.

CA Considers Letting ODs Perform Some Medical Tasks

“Legislation that would let optometrists, pharmacists and nurse practitioners perform medical tasks that now are the domain of doctors passed its first committee [in the California legislature],” reports the Press Enterprise. “The measures considered Monday, April 29, are the most far-reaching of several bills pending in the Legislature this year that pit different groups of health care professionals against each other in scope-of-practice fights. Supporters of Monday’s legislation said it would help improve a lack of primary care providers in Inland Southern California and other parts of the state. The problem will worsen as the federal Affordable Care Act adds millions of people to the health-insurance rolls, they say.” Read more.

LA OD Surgery Bill Pulled. FL ODs Prescribe Meds

“A controversial eye care bill has passed out of committee at the Louisiana Legislature that would open up the scope of medical procedures optometrists can perform on patients,” reports KPLC TV. “The bill on Wednesday, however, was pulled from the House floor by its author, Rep. Frank Hoffman, R-West Monroe, amid opposition by the state's ophthalmologists. Hoffman said the measure will be returned to the calendar to be called at a later date.” Read more.

Meanwhile Vision Monday has reported that “Florida Governor Rick Scott signed Florida Senate Bill 278 on Friday, April 19, authorizing optometrists in that state to prescribe ocular pharmaceutical agents.” Read more.

Louisiana House Votes on Bill That Allows ODs to Inject Medication and Perform Surgeries

The Louisiana House of Representatives will debate and hold a vote today (April 24, 2013) on bill that would allow optometrists to perform several eye laser and incisional procedures. Many Louisiana physicians reportedly are interpreting the bill (House Bill 527) as a step back in patient safety and a massive expansion of the optometric scope of practice. The bill would allow optometrists to enter the field of laser cataract surgery by default since the procedure is not specifically excluded in the bill's test on page 4 of the bill. Optometrists, under the current Louisiana Statute 527, are usually limited to prescribing glasses, contact lenses, and treating minor eye conditions such as dry eyes. Current Louisiana Law forbids optometrists from practicing medicine or performing surgery. Additionally, House Bill 527 will legally define all Louisiana optometrists as "optometric physicians." This bill will place the sole jurisdiction of all ophthalmic surgery by optometrists in the hands of the Louisiana State Board of Optometry Examiners, according to page 5 of the engrossed HB 527. Any inquiries should be directed to the Louisiana House Communications Office in Baton Rouge at telephone (225) 342-9795 or fax (225-219-4380)

Cloud-Based Fundus Photographs

“A new tool for ophthalmologists and optometrists is now available online, making it easier to monitor changes in the eye,” according to MedGadget. “EyeIC has released a cloud-based application that allows to easily compare fundus photographs taken at different times of the same patient, or across patients.” Read more.

ODs in FL to Prescribe Oral Meds for Eye Diseases

“Gov. Rick Scott has signed into law a long-debated bill that expands the drug-prescribing powers of optometrists,” reports WFLX. “Scott signed the bill (HB 239) on Friday. The state now allows optometrists to prescribe oral medications - including pills - to treat eye diseases. They had been limited to prescribing medications such as eye drops. Optometrists had to refer patients to ophthalmologists for conditions requiring drugs taken by mouth.” Read more.

Florida MD Claims ODs Asking for Too Much

“As an ophthalmologist, I am proud to say that the citizens of Florida have the best eye care of any state in the country. This is undoubtedly due to the thousands of outstanding ophthalmologists and optometrists who have been working side by side and in cooperation with each other for decades. Unfortunately, that quality of eye care is in serious jeopardy.” So goes a Miami Herald post. “This year a trade group of well financed optometrists — who are not medical doctors — are rushing the Legislature to pass legislation (SB 278 and HB 239) that for the first time in this State’s history would allow optometrists to prescribe a vast arsenal of potentially dangerous oral medications with absolutely no patient safeguards. If passed, this legislation would be one of the most liberal prescribing laws in the country, and would have none of the patient safety measures that are in the laws in other states. Simply put, these bills would give the Board of Optometry unbridled power to authorize optometrists to prescribe any drug except Schedule I and II narcotics.” Read more.

Health Canada Takes Second Look at OD's Billing

“A Saskatchewan optometrist's billings to the federal health program for aboriginals raised red flags with Health Canada, a newly released document shows,” writes the Winnipeg Free Press. “But a departmental review found staff on the ground lacked the tools and know-how to thoroughly look into allegations of wrongdoing. The apparent shortcomings come to light as part of an ongoing, months-long investigation by The Canadian Press into alleged wrongdoing involving the Non-Insured Health Benefits program.” Read more.

OD Refuses to Give Out Rx

"Earlier this month I got my eyes checked for my annual appointment at a new eye doctor," reports the Consumerist. "I went to get a glasses and contact prescription, at the end of the appointment I asked for my contact prescription and my doctor flat out refused to give it to me because he didn't want me ordering contacts over the internet since they price match anyway." Read more.

OD Must Register as a Sex Offender

"Diego Posada, the former Walmart eye doctor accused of molesting children in his office, has been sentenced in a plea deal that avoids a trial on felony charges that could have stripped him of his professional license," according to 9News. "District Court Judge John E. Popovich, Jr sentenced Posada to one year in the Adams County Jail, the maximum for a Class 2 misdemeanor. Posada will be required to register as a sex offender." Read more.

Eye Doc Pleads Out Child Molestation Charge

"[Denver's] 9Wants To Know investigators have learned a plea deal is in the works for the Walmart eye doctor charged with molesting children at his office," according to a post on the stations website. "Doctor Diego Posada will escape the three felony charges against him and plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of child abuse causing bodily injury. He's due in court next month.In 2006, a family told the Commerce City Walmart that Posada molested their daughter. Walmart never told police." Read more; see video.