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TPA victories abound
HONOLULU—State optometric associations across the country are experiencing great success, orchestrating a string of legislative victories to expand optometric scope of practice.
Hawaii is poised to become the 48th state to grant optometrists therapeutic pharmaceutical agent (TPA) privileges. The state's ODs are nearing the conclusion of a long legislative battle as their bill decisively passed the State's House and Senate. The bill permits the use of most oral drugs but prohibits glaucoma treatment and controlled substances. As of April 29, Gov. Ben Cayetano, has 45 days to veto the bill or it becomes law. However, as part of the legislative compromise, the bill does not take effect until July 1999.
Three other states scored victories in TPA amplification bills. Connecticut Gov. John Rowland, signed a bill May 8 that allows ODs there to use diagnostic lasers, treat glaucoma and prescribe oral drugs for inflammation and controlled substances for pain. The bill goes into effect in October.
Maine's Gov. Angus King, recently signed a bill allowing optometrists to treat glaucoma and to prescribe five classifications of oral drugs: antibiotics, antivirals, antihistamines, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories and schedule III-V analgesics.
In Maine, the independent treatment of glaucoma will follow a 50-case trial period where ODs will comanage cases with a physician. That bill also goes into effect in October.
And Virginia passed a new law, which takes effect July 1, allowing optometrists to prescribe oral drugs, including steroids and glaucoma agents. ODs will also be permitted to treat most forms of glaucoma with prior consultation.
When asked whether they had plans for future amplifications, Bruce Keeney, the Virginia Optometric Association's executive director, perhaps summed up the nationwide trend in optometric legislation: "The Virginia Optometric Association maintains a policy to advocate a scope of practice for optometry that is commensurate with the profession's clinical training."