Idaho State Board of Optometry
Minutes
of
August 01, 2003
ROLL CALL:
Scott Taylor, Chair
Gary Walker, Vice Chair
John Rietz, Board Member
Steven Snapp, Board Member
Daniel Tiller, Board Member
ALSO
PRESENT: Rayola
Jacobsen, Bureau Chief
Budd Hetrick, Deputy Bureau Chief
Roger
Hales, Administrative Attorney
Sandee
Hitesman, Office Specialist II
Larry Benton, Executive Director Optometry Association
The meeting was called to order at 1:35
p.m. by Chair, Scott Taylor.
Motion was made by Dr. Walker to accept the
minutes of the May 05, 2003 board meeting as written.
Seconded by Dr. Snapp, carried.
The board welcomed Dr. Daniel Tiller to the
Board of Optometry.
Ms. Jacobsen gave the legislative report.
Ms. Jacobsen welcomed Dr. Tiller as a new member of the board.
Ms. Jacobsen explained that there was a law change stating that no
pre-filed bills could be submitted by agencies for this year.
All agencies can take RS’s to the respective house or senate. The house or senate will than present these to committees.
The committees will make the determination of which RS’s get a number.
Proposed rule changes will be handled as always.
Proposed rule changes are due by August 20, 2003.
Mr. Hetrick gave the financial
report. As of the end of June
2003 the board had $9425.10 left in appropriation.
At the end of fiscal year 2003 the board had $24,109.86 left in the
special account. There is a detail
report link on the website for the bureau financial report and the special
account report. As of June 30,
2003, there were 346 current Optometry licensees.
Mr. Hetrick gave the investigation
report. For fiscal year 2004
there is one complaint under investigation.
There were two complaints for fiscal year 2003.
Both of these are under investigation.
Mr. Hetrick explained the bureau’s policy regarding complaints.
Complaints are investigated and than sent to the prosecutor at the
Attorney Generals office. The Bureau will bring recommendations to the board for the
final determination of all cases. The
board will decide how to proceed at that time.
Mr. Hetrick explained that the identity of the persons involved would
only show on the consent agreement or on a formal complaint.
The Prosecutor may not bring the complaint before the board if they feel
a formal hearing is needed. If this
is the case, a hearing officer will be chosen for the hearing.
The hearing officer will determine what the facts are and will than make
recommendations to the board for disciplinary action.
The board will than decide to accept the recommendations, or pursue other
disciplinary action. It was noted
that the board only has jurisdiction over licensed Optometrists.
The board reviewed a request for state
approval of a continuing education course being offered by licensed California
Optometrist, Monica Slivar. The
board reviewed the process to receive COPE approval.
Motion was made by Dr. Walker to approve the course offered by Monica
Slivar for 2 years, with the suggestion she get COPE approval.
Dr. Slivar will than have to resubmit for approval after 2 years.
Seconded by Dr. Snapp, carried.
Motion was made by Dr. Walker to amend the
motion to approve the course offered by Monica Slivar for 3 years. Seconded by Dr. Tiller, carried.
The board discussed contact lens rule and law change. Rule 54-1510 states it is unlawful for willfully permitting or allowing or causing a person who is not a licensed optometrist or a licensed physician or surgeon to use the optometrist's prescription or optometric finding to fit contact lenses upon a person or member of the public, or supply contact lenses directly to a member of the public. Mr. Hales notes that someone who is not an Optometrist or Physician cannot fit contact lens for a patient. The board discussed submitting a bill to Legislation changing the language in Idaho Statute 54-1510 and 54-1517. The board would like some language stating that the doctor must release the prescription if the patient requests release.
Mr. Benton noted that the Optometry
Association receives 3 to 4 phone calls a week from patients complaining that
their Optometrist will not release their prescription.
Mr. Benton stated that the Optometric Association would be very
interested in a law change. The
board discussed positively identifying the entities receiving these
prescriptions. It was noted that
the entities receiving these prescriptions could be required to register with
the Board of Pharmacy. Mr. Hales
noted this would require a law change. It
was determined that a rule change could be submitted for changing the language
to allow a doctor to release a patient’s prescription.
Mr. Benton noted that the association is working on a recommendation for
a rule change to reflect allowing a doctor to release a patient’s
prescription. The board asked the
association to come up with a conclusion and submit to the board. Mr. Benton
noted the association could have a conclusion within a few days.
The board reviewed licensees coming in
under endorsement. According to the
endorsement rule, licensees must have passed the TMOD examination.
The board noted that the TMOD examination did not exist before about
1988, so anyone coming in under endorsement, who took their national exams
before this date would not have taken the TMOD exam.
Mr. Hales noted a rule change could be submitted stating that anyone who
was licensed after the date the TMOD came into affect, would be required to take
this exam. He also noted that the
board may want to add that anyone coming in under endorsement who was licensed
before the TMOD exam existed, would have to submit verification of taking an
equivalency exam approved by the board, or education attended for therapeutic
privileges. The board decided to
submit proposed language to rule 275 stating; For those licensed in another
state before the date of the TMOD exam, the applicant must document to the board
for approval, the education, training and examination for therapeutic privileges
obtained in the other state and return the state of Idaho law examination.
The board discussed rule 300.05. This rule states that every Optometrist renewing their
license must submit a form on which each
optometrist shall list the name of the courses, the
location, date and hours of attendance, and shall submit the form prior to or
with the renewal application for license filed each year.
The board decided to change this rule to say that each licensee must
affirm that they have met the continuing education requirement, and the board
may conduct audits to confirm that the continuing education requirements are
being met.
Motion
was made by Dr. Walker to adopt the rules as amended and to direct the bureau to
submit these rules to the governor’s office and legislative branch for
approval. Seconded by Dr. Rietz,
carried.
The
board discussed changing the law for the types of Optometry licensure.
The board may want to omit the OD licensure.
There are currently 26 licensed OD’s.
The board discussed changing the law in the future to require a minimum
of diagnostic privileges. It would
be to the benefit of the health of the public to require an Optometrist to at
least be able to dilate.
Dr.
Taylor asked if someone else from the board would be willing to grade
examinations. Dr. Tiller
volunteered to start grading the examinations.
Dr. Taylor will provide a copy of the test with the answers to Dr.
Tiller.
Dr.
Rietz asked the bureau to automatically approve continuing education that meets
the requirement of the law and rule.
Discussion
was held regarding a letter sent to the board regarding injections for
chalazions. The board discussed there was a list made up regarding an
Optometrists scope of practice. The
board noted that an Optometrist is allowed to perform injections within the
confines of the law. The board
asked the bureau to send out a copy of the approved Optometrist scope of
practice to the Dr. who sent the letter.
The
board asked if the Association members who attended the dinner in Twin Falls
with the board of Optometry could be reimbursed for their expenses to this
dinner? The bureau noted that
compensation could only be given to board members.
Ms.
Jacobsen noted that the minutes are now in a different format.
The bureau is no longer using the minute books.
Each book cost about $150.00 to $175.00.
The bureau is now scanning the minutes electronically. This is saving each board the cost of the books.
Mr.
Benton asked the board to consider sponsoring the Children’s Vision for the
Primary Care Optometrist program sponsored by the Idaho Optometric Association
Congress and the Children’s vision initiative.
This is a 6-hour clinical education program that is given.
All Idaho Optometrists are invited free of charge.
Motion was made by Dr. Snapp to approve $10,000.00 in sponsorship for the
Children’s Vision for the Primary Care Optometrist program.
Seconded by Dr. Tiller, carried.
Ms.
Jacobsen noted that the rules that were approved in today’s meeting would be
submitted by Wednesday of next week.
Ms.
Jacobsen noted that the only cost for the Bureau’s system generated wall
certificates is the font used. Printing
the certificates in house is a money saving measure.
The
board discussed a request for an extension on continuing education hours for
fiscal year 2003. Motion was made
by Dr. Walker to approve the request for an extension, and require that the
licensee show verification of 33 hours of continuing education by their fiscal
year 2004 license renewal. Seconded
by Dr. Snapp, carried.
The
board will contact the bureau with the date and time of the next board meeting.
Motion
was made by Dr. Tiller to adjourn at 5:00 p.m.
Dr. Walker seconded, carried.
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Last Modified - June 30, 2006