MA S1308

Bill

MA S1308

Ensuring consumer choice and equal access to eye care

Introduced
01/22/2019

In Committee
01/22/2019

Crossed Over

Passed

Dead
12/31/2020

Introduced Session

191st General Court

Bill Summary

For legislation to ensure consumer choice and equal access to eye care. Public Health.

AI Summary

This bill aims to ensure consumer choice and equal access to eye care by expanding the scope of practice for registered optometrists in Massachusetts. The key provisions are: 1. Defining the "practice of optometry" to include the diagnosis, prevention, correction, management, or treatment of optical deficiencies, diseases, and abnormalities of the human eye and adjacent tissue, using pharmaceutical agents and other corrective procedures. 2. Allowing registered optometrists who are qualified and certified to use and prescribe therapeutic pharmaceutical agents, including those in Schedules III-VI, for the purpose of diagnosing, preventing, correcting, managing, or treating glaucoma and other ocular abnormalities. 3. Establishing an examination and certification process for optometrists to demonstrate their qualifications to use and prescribe therapeutic pharmaceutical agents. 4. Requiring the Department of Public Health to designate hospitals, establish protocols, and set up a data oversight process related to the expanded scope of practice for optometrists. 5. Specifying that the new provisions on the use and prescription of therapeutic pharmaceutical agents by optometrists will apply to those qualified after January 1, 2013.

Committee Categories

Health and Social Services

Sponsors (6)

Brendan Crighton (D), Hannah Kane (R), Jack Lewis (D), Jason Lewis (D), Mike Moore (D), Patrick O'Connor (R),

Last Action

Accompanied a new draft, see S2278 (on 06/27/2019)

Official Document

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/S1308

(13 Companion Bills)

Version:

Document Type	Source Location
State Bill Page	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/S1308
Bill	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/S1308.pdf

Bill	Bill Name	Last Action	Type
H1002	Expanding access to telemedicine services	Accompanied a study order, see H5160	Similar To
H1705	Relative to expanding access and safety of mental health services	Accompanied a study order, see H4450	Similar To
H1988	Relative to access to certain birth records	Accompanied a study order, see H4449	Similar To
H276	To provide increased access to hearing aids	Accompanied a new draft, see H4298	Similar To
H4017	Relative to hospital access to discounted prescription drug prices	Signed by the Governor, Chapter 82 of the Acts of 2019	Similar To
H726	Relative to public access to Long Island in Boston Harbor	Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means	Similar To
H741	Expanding pleasure boat access to Boston Harbor	Accompanied a study order, see H5078	Similar To
H747	To increase access to recycling	Accompanied a study order, see H5124	Similar To
S151	To provide increased access to hearing aids	Accompanied a new draft, see H4298	Similar To
S1936	Promoting net neutrality and consumer protection	Accompanied a study order, see S2552	Similar To
S2278	Ensuring consumer choice and equal access to eye care	New draft substituted, see S2296	Replaced by
S2296	Ensuring consumer choice and equal access to eye care	Read; and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means	Similar To
S728	Providing affordable access to generic medicines	Ought NOT to pass (under Joint Rule 10) and placed in the Orders of the Day for the next session	Similar To

Bill > S1308

summary

Introduced Session

Bill Summary

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Sponsors (6)

Last Action

Official Document

bill text

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