SB 200 - AS INTRODUCED
2023 SESSION
23-1001
09/08
SENATE BILL 200
AN ACT relative to optometrists.
SPONSORS: Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13; Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5; Sen. Chandley, Dist 11; Sen. Whitley, Dist 15; Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. Soucy, Dist 18; Sen. Ward, Dist 8; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Sen. Altschiller, Dist 24; Rep. McMahon, Rock. 17; Rep. Merchant, Sull. 6; Rep. W. MacDonald, Rock. 16; Rep. Rochefort, Graf. 1
COMMITTEE: Commerce
-----------------------------------------------------------------
ANALYSIS
This bill removes a variety of prohibitions on the types of care that optometrists may provide to patients.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
23-1001
09/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three
AN ACT relative to optometrists.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Occupations and Professions; Optometry; Definitions. Amend RSA 327:1, III(d) to read as follows:
(d) Antibiotics, sulfonomides, and combinations thereof, which are topically applied or orally administered to treat or alleviate the effects of disease or abnormal conditions of the human eye, adnexa, and eyelids, [excluding the lacrimal gland,] or structures posterior to the iris, approved pursuant to RSA 327:6-a, VI.
2 Occupations and Professions; Optometry; Definitions. Amend RSA 327:1, III(h) to read as follows:
(h) Orally administered analgesic agents used for the purpose of alleviating pain caused by a disease or abnormal condition of the human eye or eyelid, [excluding the lacrimal gland], or structures posterior to the iris. This may include class III and IV controlled substances approved pursuant to RSA 327:6-a, VI and included in the formulary.
3 New Subparagraph; Definitions; Pharmaceutical Agent. Amend RSA 327:1, III by inserting after subparagraph (n) the following new subparagraph:
(o) Influenza, COVID-19, and shingles vaccines which have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to adults.
4 Authorization for Pharmaceutical Agents. Amend RSA 327:6-a to read as follows:
V. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an optometrist who is certified to use pharmaceutical agents in the practice of optometry shall be permitted to administer:
(a) Diphenhydramine, epinephrine or an equivalent medication administered by injection to counter anaphylaxis or anaphylactic reaction.
(b) Vaccines by injection to individuals 18 years of age or older. In order to administer vaccines an optometrist shall
(1) Have completed an immunization training program endorsed by the CDC or the injections course approved by the National Board of Examiners in Optometry or similar equivalent, at a minimum, includes hands-on injection technique, clinical evaluation of indications and contraindications of vaccines, and the recognition and treatment of emergency reactions to vaccines, and shall maintain that training.
(2) Review the vaccine registry or other vaccination records before administering the vaccination.
(3) Record the vaccination in the state vaccine registry in accordance with RSA 141-C:20-f and when required by state or federal law and maintain a record of the vaccination as required by state and federal law.
(4) Provide notice to the primary care provider, when designated by the patient, of the administration of any vaccine.
(5) Submit reports of any adverse reactions following vaccination to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).
5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.