Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Consumer Protection and Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1797 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to expand the scope of the practice of optometry by allowing optometrists to use and prescribe, with certain restrictions, pharmaceuticals approved by the Board of Optometry.

The Board of Examiners in Optometry and numerous individuals supported this bill. The Board of Medical Examiners, Hawaii Medical Association, Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association, and many individuals testified in opposition.

Under this bill, therapeutically certified optometrists will be able to use and prescribe pharmaceutical agents, including steroids, without any restrictions. However, the bill does restrict them from administering injectable agents, except for anaphylaxis. Although this bill would enable therapeutically certified optometrists to administer anaphylaxis, your Committees recognize that not all may choose to do so.

In order to become a therapeutically certified optometrist in Hawaii, a person must already be licensed as an optometrist, complete a 100-hour course in the treatment and management of ocular disease prepared and graded by an accredited school of optometry, pass the National Board of Examiners in Optometry's treatment and management of ocular disease examination, and complete at least 100 hours of preceptorship under an ophthalmologist's supervision that includes training in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of ocular diseases. In addition, a therapeutically certified optometrist must remain up to date with current knowledge by completing at least 36 hours of approved continuing education every two years.

Your Committees were informed that the vast majority of states allow optometrists to prescribe and use certain pharmaceuticals and that 47 other states allow optometrists to treat glaucoma.

By allowing optometrists to perform a full range of services for which they are qualified, your Committees find that Hawaii residents will have greater access to quality eye care.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Consumer Protection and Commerce that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1797 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.