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Optometry board rolls out mobile and home‑visit programs as lawmakers press on caps and scope expansion
Summary
The state Board of Optometry described faster licensing times and two newly implemented programs to increase access — a mobile optometric office permit and a home‑residence program — while lawmakers pressed the board about a statutory cap on mobile units and potential scope‑of‑practice changes including radio‑frequency treatment for dry eye.
The California State Board of Optometry told a joint Assembly–Senate sunset hearing it has reduced licensing turnaround times for graduates from months to days and implemented two programs intended to bring eye care to underserved residents: a mobile optometric office permit program and a home‑residence program.
Board President Dr. Jeffrey Garcia said licensing processing had been a top priority and praised staff work: “Our team identified this as an issue and set on a goal of increasing efficiencies, which is resulting in licensing times now reduced to less than 3 days for completed applications,” he said.
Why it matters: Vision screening and timely eyeglasses can affect school performance, child development and access to care in rural and underserved urban neighborhoods. Mobile clinics have been credited by school‑based programs with quickly identifying children who need glasses.
What the board described - Access programs: The…
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