- Category: Legal
- Tags: optometry news
Legal
Illinois passes new OD protections against VBMs
Expansion of the state’s 2023 Vision Care Plan Regulation Act, SB 3070 enacts new protections for ECPs and patients—plus greater vision benefit flexibility.
Legal
Connecticut ODs win Medicaid pay parity with ophthalmology
New state law raises reimbursement payments to an additional 2.27M for ODs performing four specific high-volume optometric services.
Legal
Vermont passes bill authorizing optometric laser procedures
Effective in 2028, legislation permits several in-office ophthalmic laser surgeries—plus establishes training, education, and State Board requirements.
Legal
Tennessee passes OD bill authorizing in-office laser procedures
Senate Bill 2076 permits licensed optometrists to perform three in-office laser procedures as well as the administration of local anesthesia.
Legal
New Hampshire governor rejects OD laser legislation
House Bill 349 would have permitted optometrists to perform three ophthalmic procedures; reasoning behind veto included concern over surgical training levels.
Legal
Kansas passes optometry scope of expansion bill for laser procedures
H.B. 2227 permits ODs to perform ophthalmic surgeries such as laser capsulotomy and trabeculoplasty; requires new training and credentialing standards.
Legal
Texas court blocks vision plan law limiting VBMs
District judge strikes down a permanent injunction against House Bill 1696, which restricted vision plans’ power over ODs and patients.
Legal
VA optometrists secure physician-level pay parity
Reform bill changes include increased pay awards, bonuses, and annual evaluations to help close current OD recruitment and retention gap.
Legal
National eyecare organizations launch campaign against NEI consolidation
#SeeWhatMatters initiative is a call to action against the proposed restructuring of the National Eye Institute and federal cuts in vision research funding.
Legal
Minnesota passes OD scope of practice expansion legislation
First new scope update in over two decades permits optometrists to administer some in-office injections and removes restrictions on several prescribing capabilities.
Legal
West Virginia OD bill to permit use of ophthalmic lasers
Effective July 9, Senate Bill 565 will expand optometrists’ scope of practice to enable three specific in-office procedures.
Legal
Montana passes OD scope expansion for laser procedures
Set to take effect on July 1, H.B. 218 permits optometrists to perform in-office laser and surgical procedures across the state.
Legal
New Mexico governor vetoes optometric scope of expansion bill
Legislation proposed permitting in-state-practicing optometrists to perform SLT and YAG capsulotomy; potential future bill may still be considered.
Legal
New North Dakota bill establishes optometric telemedicine guidelines
Legislation prioritizes patient safety and increased access to standardized virtual care across the state.
Legal
Arkansas passes legislation regulating vision benefit managers
Initially set to take effect in August, Act 142 targets improved access to eye health and vision care as well as payment protections and fair reimbursements.Legal
Congress approves physician-level pay scale for VA optometrists
New designation from bipartisan reform legislation will raise entry-level salaries and enable more competitive compensation package.
Legal
Optometry excluded in new DC scope of practice legislation
Bill originally proposed allowing ODs to prescribe and administer controlled substances as well as initiate glaucoma treatment without consulting a patient’s primary physician.
Legal
Florida ODs kill yet another not-a-doctor bill
Just 9 months after the governor’s veto of S.B. 230, legislators failed to continue the state’s ongoing ‘eyeball wars.’
Legal
AAO weighs in on Congress passing Medicare Physician Payment adjustment
Partial funding bill softens the original conversion factor decrease of 3.37% that took effect on Jan. 1, 2024.
Legal