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AAO focuses energies on opposing optometric surgical initiatives
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Across the U.S., organized ophthalmology has stepped up efforts to protect patient safety and quality of surgical care and thwart legislation aimed at authorizing optometrists to perform eye surgery.
“I am happy to report that in 2011, the [American] Academy [of Ophthalmology] worked closely with state societies to defeat optometric surgical scope initiatives in six states. Subspecialty societies also provided critical support,” Gregory L. Skuta, MD, said during Glaucoma Subspecialty Day preceding the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting in Orlando, Fla.
The Surgery by Surgeons campaign is a partnership between the AAO, ophthalmic subspecialty societies and state societies.
The AAO’s Secretariat for State Affairs and various state societies have led lobbying efforts to remove surgical provisions from scope-of-practice bills in states including Colorado, Nebraska, Texas, Alabama and South Carolina, Dr. Skuta said.
“The Academy continues to support the concept of an integrated eye care team that includes ophthalmologists and optometrists but not optometric surgeons,” he said.
Sweeping law passed in Kentucky
In February 2011, a law was enacted in Kentucky that allows optometrists to perform laser procedures, injections and extraocular scalpel surgical procedures. The law also allows the creation of an independent optometric board with sole jurisdiction over scope of practice in Kentucky.
“What happened … in Kentucky should be a wake-up call for all of us,” Dr. Skuta said.
“What does optometry get with [Kentucky] Senate Bill 110? Several anterior segment laser procedures, some scalpel procedures and other privileges as well,” he said. “Just as troubling is the establishment of an independent state board such that no other board or state agency can question what constitutes the practice of optometry.”
For the sake and safety of patients, organized ophthalmology needs to coalesce around efforts to block similar laws, Dr. Skuta said.
“What can we do to protect quality surgical care for patients and defeat future such bills? We can first focus on developing relationships with legislators and key decision makers,” he said. “Second, we should improve our organizational strength through such initiatives as the Academy’s Leadership Development Program and Advocacy Ambassador Program. Third, we can collaborate with society partners and invest our resources in an absolutely critical tool, the Surgical Scope Fund.”
Leadership, partnership and funding
The AAO’s Surgical Scope Fund (SSF) is devoted to defeating statewide efforts to widen the optometric scope of practice. To date, the SSF has helped 31 state ophthalmology societies reject legislation that included surgical privileges for optometrists, Dr. Skuta said.
“The Surgical Scope Fund is a vital tool in our Surgery by Surgeons campaign,” he said. “Please remember that it is both individual contributions and organizational contributions to the fund that led to our many successes.”
The American Glaucoma Society has donated generously to the SSF, Dr. Skuta said.
“I encourage you to consider the Surgical Scope Fund and OphthPAC as investments — investments in protecting your education and profession and, most importantly, the quality of patient and surgical care,” Dr. Skuta said.
OphthPAC, the AAO’s political action committee, has been organizing advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill for 25 years.
Ophthalmologists should continue to work closely with their colleagues, the AAO, state societies and other advocates, Dr. Skuta said. – by Matt Hasson
For your information:
- Gregory L. Skuta, MD, can be reached at Dean McGee Eye Institute, 608 Stanton L. Young Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73104; 405-271-6363; fax: 405-271-3013; email: greg-skuta@dmei.org.
- Disclosure: Dr. Skuta is a consultant for Alcon and a contributor to OphthPAC and the Surgical Scope Fund.