(Reprinted with amendments adopted on April 21, 2003)

 

Assembly Bill No. 275–Committee on
Commerce and Labor

 

March 11, 2003

____________

 

Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

 

SUMMARY—Makes various changes relating to dispensing opticians and optometrists. (BDR 54‑1218)

 

FISCAL NOTE:  Effect on Local Government: No.

                           Effect on the State: No.

 

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

AN ACT relating to healing arts; eliminating the authority of a dispensing optician to perform the initial fitting of contact lenses; revising the requirements for an optometrist to be certified to treat persons diagnosed with glaucoma; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

1-1  Section 1. NRS 630.375 is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-2  630.375  1.  The form for any prescription which is issued for

1-3  an ophthalmic lens by an ophthalmologist in this state must contain

1-4  lines or boxes in substantially the following form:

 

1-5  Approved for contact lenses.......................

1-6  Not approved for contact lenses................

 

1-7  2.  The prescribing ophthalmologist shall mark or check one of

1-8  the lines or boxes required by subsection 1 each time such a

1-9  prescription is issued by him.

1-10      3.  If the prescription is for a contact lens, the form must set

1-11  forth the expiration date of the prescription, the number of refills

1-12  approved for the patient and such other information as is necessary

1-13  for the prescription to be filled properly.

1-14      4.  The initial fitting of a contact lens must be performed by[:

2-1  (a) A dispensing optician licensed pursuant to NRS 637.122; or

2-2  (b) An] an ophthalmologist or optometrist licensed in this state.

2-3  5.  As used in this section, “initial fitting” means measuring

2-4  the health, integrity and refractive error of the eye to determine

2-5  whether contacts may be approved pursuant to subsection 1.

2-6  Sec. 2.  NRS 636.2893 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-7  636.2893  The Board shall adopt regulations that prescribe the

2-8  requirements for the issuance of a certificate to treat persons

2-9  diagnosed with glaucoma pursuant to NRS 636.2895. The

2-10  requirements must include, without limitation:

2-11      1.  A license to practice optometry in this state;

2-12      2.  The successful completion of the “Treatment and

2-13  Management of Ocular Disease Examination” administered by the

2-14  National Board of Examiners in Optometry on or after January 1,

2-15  1993, or an equivalent examination approved by the Board; and

2-16      3.  Proof that each optometrist who applies for a certificate has

2-17  treated at least 15 persons who were:

2-18      (a) Diagnosed with glaucoma by an ophthalmologist licensed in

2-19  this state; and

2-20      (b) Treated by the optometrist, in consultation with that

2-21  ophthalmologist, for at least [1 year.] 12 consecutive months.

2-22      Sec. 3.  NRS 636.387 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-23      636.387  1.  The form for any prescription which is issued for

2-24  an ophthalmic lens by an optometrist in this state must contain lines

2-25  or boxes in substantially the following form:

 

2-26  Approved for contact lenses......................

2-27  Not approved for contact lenses...............

 

2-28      2.  The prescribing optometrist shall mark or check one of the

2-29  lines or boxes required by subsection 1 each time such a prescription

2-30  is issued by him.

2-31      3.  If the prescription is for a contact lens, the form must set

2-32  forth the expiration date of the prescription, the number of refills

2-33  approved for the patient and such other information as is necessary

2-34  for the prescription to be filled properly.

2-35      4.  The initial fitting of a contact lens must be performed by[:

2-36      (a) A dispensing optician licensed pursuant to NRS 637.122; or

2-37      (b) An] an ophthalmologist or optometrist licensed in this state.

2-38      5.  As used in this section, “initial fitting” means measuring

2-39  the health, integrity and refractive error of the eye to determine

2-40  whether contacts may be approved pursuant to subsection 1.

 

2-41  H