Tennessee bills on anesthetic injection tabled until 2014

Legislation in the Tennessee House and Senate that would permit optometrists in the state to use injectable anesthetic were rolled to January 2014, according to the optometric association’s president.

Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians (TAOP) President David K. Talley, OD, FAAO, told Primary Care Optometry News, “Neither committee heard the bill and voted. There were hearings, but no actual votes in either committee.”

While optometrists in Tennessee have been licensed to perform injections for nearly 20 years, the passage of SB 220/HB 555 would be necessary for them to be able to use injectable anesthetics when performing primary eye care procedures of the eyelid, according to the association.

“This amendment does not allow optometric physicians to perform any new procedures,” the TAOP said in a recent statement.

The Tennessee Academy of Ophthalmology opposes the legislation, saying in a press release that the bill

“would encourage a level of practice beyond the scope of preparedness and education of an optometric physician.”

The TAOP claims that “optometric physicians are trained in the indications and techniques of performing injections as well as the potential contraindications and complications of each in several laboratory and clinical settings throughout their second, third and fourth years of professional study,” according to its statement.

“The legislation is certainly viable, but the committee structure for this year has shut down, as is common toward the end of the first session of the legislative session,” Talley told PCON.

“There was an intense last-minute attempt to negotiate with ophthalmology a bill that we all could support,” Talley said, with no success.

“The officers, board of trustees and legislative committee of TAOP will continue to work with the Tennessee legislators in preparation of the January 2014 vote,” he added.