Idaho State Board of Optometry
Meeting Minutes of February 8, 2002
The
meeting of the Idaho State Board of Optometry was called to order by Dr. Dick
Vester, Chair, Friday, February 8, 2002, at 10:10 a.m. at the Bureau of
Occupational Licenses, Owyhee Plaza, 1109 Main Street, Suite 220, Boise, Idaho.
Board Members
Present: Dr. Dick Vester, Chairman; Dr.
James Dean; Dr. Scott Taylor; Dr.
Gary Walker; Dr. Steve Snapp
Also Present:
Rayola Jacobsen, Bureau Chief; Budd
Hetrick, Jr., Deputy Bureau Chief; Roger
Hales, Administrative Attorney; John
Kersey, Chief Investigator; Dee Ann
Randall, Administrative Secretary
Moved by Dr. Walker,
seconded by Dr. Taylor and carried that the minutes of the November 1, 2001
board meeting be approved.
Ms. Jacobsen informed
the Board that their proposed rule changes have passed both the House and Senate
committees and will be effective upon a concurrent resolution.
John Kersey presented
his complaint report for Board review.
Fiscal year 2002,
four (4) complaints were received. Of
those, two (2) are under investigation.
Four (4) complaints
were received in the year 2000. Of
those, one (1) remains under investigation and/or legal review.
Two (2) cases have
been closed without action since the last board meeting.
Mr. Hetrick
distributed the financial reports to the Board for their review.
The current cash balance for the Board in the bureau account is
-$2,070.00. The current cash
balance in the special account is $$72,422.00.
Moved by Dr. Dean,
seconded by Dr. Taylor and carried that the Board authorizes the transfer of
$5,000 from the special fund to the bureau account to bring it to a positive
balance.
Letter from Ruth
Salonen regarding evaluation of her foreign education was reviewed.
Ms. Salonen has had her education reviewed by the International
Consultancy of Foreign Credentials in Delaware.
The Board is not familiar with this entity. The Board requests Ms.
Randall to send a letter to Ms. Salonen along with a current law and rules
booklet referring her to the rules regarding approval of education.
A copy of a contact
lens prescription and release form used by the state of Iowa and submitted to
the Board from Jack Zarybnesky, O.D. was reviewed.
The Board had requested that Roger Hales review this form and advise them
of his findings.
Mr. Hales informed
the Board that the specific wording in question on the form “The dispensing of
lenses from this prescription indicates that the dispenser is a licensed
optometrist or ophthalmologist as required by Iowa state law and the Iowa Health
related boards”, is in conflict with Idaho law and cannot be used in Idaho.
Dr. Vester will contact Dr. Zarybnesky and inform him of this conflict.
Correspondence from
Jonathan Warner, O.D. from Ohio regarding mail order and Internet contact sales
was reviewed by the Board. Dr.
Warner discussed concerns that this issue is becoming a national problem and the
potential that sale of contact lenses may become available for sale over the
counter to everyone.
Mr. Kersey informed
the Board that the Attorney General’s office is aware of this problem and has
asked Mr. Kersey to investigate the matter.
However, the Board has no jurisdiction over unlicensed individuals.
Roger Hales stated that ultimately this is a violation of the Optometry
law, practicing without a license, however, the matter would be referred back to
the Attorney General’s office for prosecution.
Letter received from
Robert Dietz requesting guidance on Idaho Optometry laws and rules regarding a
potential business opportunity in Idaho. This
business would provide a service to eye care providers on establishing a storage
and utilization of a database of prescriptions. Mr. Hales advised the Board that
they are seeking legal advise and unless directed by them to do so, this is
outside the realm of the Board’s responsibilities.
The Board directed Ms. Randall to respond and advise Mr. Dietz to seek
private counsel and send him a current law and rules booklet.
E-mail was received
requesting information on the use of antiviral medications used by optometrists
in Idaho. Dr. Vester will contact Bruce Harrelson, Director of Policy
and Research for the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies and answer his
questions on this matter.
Discussion was held
regarding the referral of telephone calls to individual board members that the
bureau receives and cannot answer questions asked. It was the decision of the
Board that the bureau is to get the information and phone number of the
individual and call a board member with this information and they then can call
the person back.
The ARBO annual
meeting will be held in New Orleans on June 23-25, 2002.
The Board will discuss who will attend this meeting at their May 10, 2002
board meeting.
The bill for annual
membership dues for ARBO has been received in the bureau.
Moved by Dr. Dean, seconded by Dr. Taylor and carried that they authorize
the Bureau to pay the annual membership dues to ARBO.
The discussion of
working toward one license classification was continued.
Dr. Vester informed the Board that Pacific University could offer a 100
hour therapeutic class with a few weeks notice.
Dr.
Vester will research if there are any diagnostic course options available for
the required 55 hour course. Upon
receipt of this information, Dr. Vester will discuss this issue with Roger
Hales, and a proposal as to the course of action will be presented to the Board
at their May 10, 2002 board meeting.
License Renewal
Application
The Board reviewed
the license renewal application for the upcoming renewal period.
Moved by Dr. Snapp, seconded by Dr. Walker and carried the Board approves
the license renewal application for the upcoming renewal period.
Moved by Dr. Dean,
seconded by Dr. Taylor and carried the meeting adjourn at 1:15 p.m.
Approved 5/10/02
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Last Modified - May 23, 2006