Senate committee lays over bill to expand optometrists' prescribing and injection authority after hours of testimony

Summary

Senate File 1144, which would expand Minnesota optometrists' authority to prescribe certain oral medications and perform routine injections, was laid over after extensive testimony from optometrists, ophthalmologists and patient advocates; committee members said they will continue negotiations before taking further action.

The Senate Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee laid over Senate File 1144 on Tuesday after a lengthy hearing that featured competing testimony from optometrists seeking expanded scope of practice and ophthalmologists urging caution.

Senator McQuaid, sponsor of SF 1144, told the committee the bill would modernize optometry's scope by allowing doctors of optometry to prescribe oral antivirals for ocular conditions, permit oral steroids for up to 14 days, remove a seven-day limit on certain oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors used to lower eye pressure, and allow routine injections for specified, limited in-office procedures. "This bill isn't doing anything scary or new. It's really just bringing us in line," McQuaid said, noting many neighboring states have broader optometry authorities.

Optometrists and representatives testified in support, saying the changes would…

Senate committee lays over bill to expand optometrists' prescribing and injection authority after hours of testimony

Summary

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