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Bill would require ODs to disclose non-MD credentials
LAS VEGAS – A meeting of the American Optometric Association’s (AOA’s) Political Action Committee (PAC) here Friday at Optometry’s Meeting discussed proposed federal legislation that would require all non-medical providers to disclose to patients that they are not medical doctors.
The house bill is expected to be introduced next week by Rep. John Sullivan (R-Okla.) and Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas). A press conference is scheduled to be held on the subject next week.
“Needless to say, we are not happy about that,” said Michelle Haranin, OD, chair of the AOA’s Federal Relations Committee.
In other PAC business, Dr. Haranin discussed a joint letter recently issued by the AOA and the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) in opposition to S. 2480, which was introduced by Sen. Robert Bennett (R-Utah). The 1-800-CONTACTS-supported bill seeks to amend the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act and is similar to a contact lens “channels of distribution” amendment that Sen. Bennett attempted to include in a version of the Agriculture Department Appropriations bill in 2005.
In a press release, the AOA urged members of congress to oppose Sen. Bennett’s initiative and support changes to S. 2480 that would provide enhanced prescription verification safeguards for contact lens patients.