Senators narrowed and advanced a bill April 9 dealing with optometrist\u2019s scope of practice in Nebraska.<\/p>\n
As originally introduced by Omaha Sen. Sara Howard, LB526 would have authorized licensed optometrists in Nebraska who have completed the required training and demonstrated the necessary skills to:
\n\u2022 inject pharmaceutical agents into the eyelid for certain therapeutic purposes;
\n\u2022 perform minor surgical procedures on the eyelid and ocular adnexa; and
\n\u2022 prescribe oral steroids, oral antiglaucoma medication and immunosuppressives.<\/p>\n
Howard offered an amendment on select file that removed all provisions except the authority to inject pharmaceutical agents for therapeutic purposes\u2014including an epinephrine autoinjector for treatment of anaphylaxis\u2014and the authority to prescribe oral steroids, oral antiglaucoma medication and oral immunosuppressive agents.<\/p>\n
The amendment was the result of a compromise between ophthalmologists and optometrists, Howard said, and was an appropriate reflection of the way eye care has evolved since the last time that practice issues for the professions were addressed.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs health care is changing, scope of practice has to change with it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Lincoln Sen. Kathy Campbell supported the amendment. She said the two professions have been at odds for years regarding practice issues and she encouraged senators to support the compromise that the groups had reached.<\/p>\n
\u201cScope of practice is never really worked out on the floor of the Legislature, nor should it be,\u201d Campbell said.<\/p>\n
Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers opposed the amendment, citing concerns about patient care.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t believe these optometrists ought to have any expansion in what they are allowed to do,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The Howard amendment was adopted on a 34-3 vote and the bill was advanced to final reading by voice vote.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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