Bill > SB140

This bill amends Georgia state law to allow doctors of optometry to dispense and sell certain pharmaceutical agents directly to patients under specific conditions. The bill expands the definition of "practitioner" to include optometrists and provides detailed guidelines for pharmaceutical dispensing by optometrists. These guidelines include requirements that the optometrist must be present during dispensing, actively involved in the process, inform patients about proper medication use, document the pharmaceutical agent details in the patient's record, maintain a comprehensive record system, and comply with State Board of Pharmacy regulations. Importantly, the bill specifies that optometrists can only dispense non-controlled substances related to eye and eye socket (adnexa oculi) treatments for legitimate medical purposes. The bill also explicitly states that these provisions do not expand optometrists' administrative or prescriptive authority beyond what is currently permitted by law. The changes aim to provide optometrists with more direct patient care capabilities while maintaining strict oversight and professional standards.

Health and Social Services

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70106